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Trip from Dayton, NJ to Newark, NJ

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

53m

Distance

37.8 mi

61 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 49m ★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Dayton, NJ, NJ

Dayton, NJ

Tashaud Bullock

Trip Overview

The drive from Dayton, NJ to Newark, NJ covers 37.8 miles and takes about 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on New Jersey Turnpike, NJ 21, US 1 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.1 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.27 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 37.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 53m highway drive covering 37.8 miles, with most of the trip on New Jersey Turnpike and NJ 21. The longest continuous stretch is about 27.1 miles on New Jersey Turnpike.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New Jersey Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 27.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and NJ 21. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in.

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 37.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
1.9 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the exit toward NJ 32 East: New Jersey Turnpike

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward NJ 32 East: New Jersey Turnpike
6
3.6 mi into trip | ~7m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95, NJTP North: New York City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 95, NJTP North: New York City
6
4 mi into trip | ~8m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
8
31.7 mi into trip | ~41m in

Take the exit toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport

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 13A Toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
8
35.1 mi into trip | ~47m in | NJ 21

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21 toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Dayton, NJ and Newark, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll, Njtp North: New York City, Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport and Downtown.

Njtp Toll

3 mi in | ~6m

Njtp North: New York City

3.6 mi in | ~7m

Newark Airport

31.7 mi in | ~41m

Elizabeth Seaport

31.7 mi in | ~41m

Downtown

35.1 mi in | ~47m | via NJ 21

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
New Jersey Turnpike 27.1 mi 32m
NJ 21 1.9 mi 3m
US 1 1.7 mi 2m
Georges Road 1.1 mi 2m
Forsgate Drive 0.8 mi 1m
US 130 0.8 mi 1m
NJ 81 0.7 mi 1m
Mulberry Street 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: New Jersey Turnpike — 27.1 mi, about 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dayton, NJ and Newark, NJ.

1

Start on this road

22 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto CR 697

1.1 mi · 2 min · Georges Road
3

Take the ramp

419 ft · 11 sec
4

Merge onto US 130

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 130
5

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 24 sec
Toward NJ 32 East: New Jersey Turnpike Use the slight right lane.
6

Turn left

293 ft · 14 sec
7

Continue on this road

340 ft · 7 sec · this road
Toward NJ 32 East: Jamesburg Use the left / straight lanes.
8

Continue on NJ 32

0.8 mi · 1 min · Forsgate Drive
9

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward NJTP Toll, I 95 Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Toward I 95, NJTP North: New York City
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Merge onto I 95; NJTP

27 mi · 32 min · New Jersey Turnpike
13

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 13A Toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport Use the slight right lane.
14

Merge onto NJ 81

0.7 mi · 1 min · NJ 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 44 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on US 1; US 9

1.7 mi · 2 min · US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21

1.9 mi · 3 min · NJ 21
Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18

Turn left onto Chestnut Street

229 ft · 7 sec · Chestnut Street
Use the left lane.
19

Turn right onto Mulberry Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Mulberry Street
20

Turn left onto CR 510

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Market Street
Use the left lane.
21

Arrive at destination

CR 510

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 18.9 mi from Dayton, NJ · 26m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

19 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

New York City, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Linden, NJ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.9 miles from Dayton, 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

$6.27 one way

$12.53 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $6.86 $13.73
premium $4.93 $7.33 $14.66
diesel $5.61 $8.35 $16.69

Estimated Tolls: $3.79

New Jersey Turnpike (27.1 mi) $3.79

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Tolls

$4

Total

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.3 0 $3.97 $1.81
Efficient EV 9.5 0 $3.31 $1.51
EV Truck/SUV 15.1 0 $5.29 $2.42

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Dayton, NJ

Morning in Dayton on Friday

Local time

7:51 AM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Newark, NJ

Morning in Newark on Friday

Local time

7:51 AM

EDT

Current temp

90°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 10 mph 4% chance 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

19 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

53m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Dayton, NJ to Newark, NJ covers 37.8 miles and takes about 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are New Jersey Turnpike, NJ 21, US 1. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 18.9 miles from Dayton, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.27 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 37.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Between Dayton, NJ and Newark, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll, Njtp North: New York City, Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport and Downtown.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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