Origin
Chester, NJ
Evening in Chester on Thursday
Local time
6:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chester, NJ to Newark, NJ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
49m
Distance
33 mi
53 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
This 33-mile drive from Chester to Newark, New Jersey, is a straightforward option for a single-day trip, taking approximately 49 minutes. You'll navigate primarily via NJ 24 and the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, with about 40% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost is around $5, making it an economical choice. Given its short distance and duration, this route is easily manageable within a day, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times. It offers a mixed driving experience as you transition from the Northeast region's suburban landscapes towards the more urban environment of Newark.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 33 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, blending highway speeds with more local road conditions. Roughly 40% of the 33 miles are on highways, including the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.6 miles on NJ 24. As you progress, the character of the drive will evolve, moving from the more open feel of state routes to potentially busier arterial roads closer to Newark. This dynamic means you'll experience varied traffic patterns and speed changes throughout the 49-minute journey.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NJ 24 is the longest continuous segment at about 7.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.8 miles in near CR 510 / Morris Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 33 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.8 miles (CR 510 / Morris Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 23.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
12.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
CR 510 / Morris Street
Enter roundabout onto CR 510 / Morris Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
23.3 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City, Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City...
7
23.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 78 East Local: Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 78 East Local: Newark
8
28.5 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward Hillside, Irvington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 54
Toward Hillside, Irvington
8
28.7 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Irvington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Irvington
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chester, NJ and Newark, NJ, road signs point toward New York City, Hillside and Irvington.
New York City
23.3 mi in
|
~34m
Hillside
28.5 mi in
|
~40m
Irvington
28.5 mi in
|
~40m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 24 | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| Mendham Road | 5.5 mi | 8m |
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Springfield Avenue | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Washington-Mendham Road E. (Old Rt. 24) | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Columbia Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Grove Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 24
— 7.6 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chester, NJ and Newark, NJ.
1
Start on Perry Street
66 ft
·
4 sec
·
Perry Street
2
Turn right onto CR 513
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street (Old Rt. 24)
3
Turn slight right
221 ft
·
7 sec
Use the right lane.
4
Turn straight onto CR 510
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
5
Continue on CR 510
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Turnpike
6
Continue on CR 510
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Mendham Road
7
Continue on CR 510
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington-Mendham Road E. (Old Rt. 24)
8
Continue on CR 510
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Mendham Avenue (Old Rt. 24)
9
Continue on CR 510
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 202; CR 510
113 ft
·
4 sec
·
West Park Place
11
Continue on US 202; CR 510
401 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Park Place
12
Continue on CR 510
501 ft
·
9 sec
·
Morris Street
13
Enter roundabout onto CR 510
52 ft
·
0 sec
·
Morris Street
14
Continue on CR 510
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Morris Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Continue on CR 510
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Morris Avenue
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Continue on CR 510
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Columbia Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on CR 510
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Columbia Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 24 East: Springfield
19
Merge onto NJ 24
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
NJ 24
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City, Newark
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 78 East Local: Newark
Use the slight right lane.
22
Merge onto I 78
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 54
Toward Hillside, Irvington
Use the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward Irvington
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn straight onto Fabyan Place
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Fabyan Place
26
Turn left onto CR 601
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Chancellor Avenue
27
Turn right onto CR 509
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Coit Street
28
Turn slight left onto CR 509
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Grove Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Turn right onto CR 603
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Springfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Continue on CR 510
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Market Street
31
Arrive at destination
CR 510
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.5 mi from Chester, NJ · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.5 miles from Chester, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Newark, NJ
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Newark, NJ if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.47 one way
$10.94 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.99 | $11.98 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.40 | $12.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.29 | $14.57 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.05
Washington Turnpike
(0.8 mi)
$0.05
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$0
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.47 | $1.58 |
| Efficient EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.89 | $1.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.62 | $2.11 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Newark, NJ
Evening in Newark on Thursday
Local time
6:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
49m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Chester, NJ to Newark, NJ covers 33 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NJ 24, Mendham Road, Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.5 miles from Chester, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.47 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 33 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.8 miles (CR 510 / Morris Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 23.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Chester, NJ and Newark, NJ, road signs point toward New York City, Hillside and Irvington.
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