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Trip from Denville, NJ to Chatham, NJ

Data updated 5 hours ago

Drive Time

24m

Distance

16.6 mi

27 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 22m ★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 25m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States

Denville, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Chatham, NJ, NJ

Chatham, NJ

Aisling Kerr

Trip Overview

The drive from Denville, NJ to Chatham, NJ covers 16.6 miles and takes about 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on NJ 24, Christopher Columbus Highway, I 287 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 6.3 miles on NJ 24. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.75 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

8.3 miles from Denville, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .

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Drive Character

The drive from Denville, NJ to Chatham, NJ covers 16.6 miles and takes about 24m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 6.3 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

567 ft 183 ft

Total Climb

206 ft

Total Descent

475 ft

Highest Point

567 ft

~1.2 mi in

Elevation Range

384 ft

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 4 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 16.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

8
4 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the exit toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah

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 43 Toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah
9
4.2 mi into trip | ~5m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 287 South: Morristown, Somerville

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 287 South: Morristown, Somerville
7
7.8 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward NJ 24 East: Springfield

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 37 Toward NJ 24 East: Springfield
8
14.8 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward NJ 124 East: River Road, John F. Kennedy Parkway

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 7 Toward NJ 124 East: River Road, John F. Kennedy...
6
15.6 mi into trip | ~21m in | Chatham Road

Turn right onto Chatham Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Denville, NJ and Chatham, NJ, road signs point toward Mahwah and Somerville.

Mahwah

4 mi in | ~5m

Somerville

4.2 mi in | ~5m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
NJ 24 6.3 mi 7m
Christopher Columbus Highway 3.6 mi 4m
I 287 3.4 mi 4m
River Road 0.4 mi 1m
Summit Avenue 0.4 mi 1m
Main Street 0.3 mi <1m
Chatham Road 0.3 mi <1m
John F. Kennedy Parkway 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: NJ 24 — 6.3 mi, about 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Denville, NJ and Chatham, NJ.

1

Start on Broadway Avenue

89 ft · 4 sec · Broadway Avenue
2

Turn right onto Center Street

260 ft · 13 sec · Center Street
3

Turn right onto Bloomfield Avenue

236 ft · 8 sec · Bloomfield Avenue
4

Turn left onto NJ 53

0.1 mi · 24 sec · East Main Street
5

Turn left

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward I 80 East
6

Merge onto I 80

3.6 mi · 4 min · Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Exit 43 Toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward I 287 South: Morristown, Somerville Use the slight right lane.
9

Merge onto I 287

3.4 mi · 4 min · I 287
10

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 37 Toward NJ 24 East: Springfield Use the slight right lane.
11

Continue on NJ 24

6.3 mi · 7 min · NJ 24
Use the straight lane.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 7 Toward NJ 124 East: River Road, John F. Kennedy Parkway Use the slight right lane.
13

Turn slight right onto CR 649

0.2 mi · 33 sec · John F. Kennedy Parkway
14

Continue on CR 649

0.4 mi · 1 min · River Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
15

Turn right onto Chatham Road

0.3 mi · 52 sec · Chatham Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
16

Continue on Summit Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · Summit Avenue
17

At end of road, turn left onto NJ 124

0.3 mi · 52 sec · Main Street
18

Arrive at destination

NJ 124

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 8.3 miles from Denville, NJ, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.3 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 16.6 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 8.3 miles or 11m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chatham, NJ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Denville, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Denville, NJ

This is one driving day of about 16.6 miles and 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Denville, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on NJ 24 for about 6.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 8.3 mi from Denville, NJ · 11m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

8 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 8.3 miles from Denville, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Chatham, NJ

The final approach into Chatham, NJ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Chatham, NJ.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Morristown National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...

5 mi from route ~14 min detour Free near mile 9.2
Park Closure: Partial Reopening: Cross Estate Gardens
Caution: Passaic River Trail Bridge washed out
View on nps.gov
Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...

7 mi from route ~19 min detour $10 near mile 14.3
View on nps.gov
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...

13 mi from route ~33 min detour Free near mile 4
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area

Gateway National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...

27 mi from route ~66 min detour Free near mile 15.4
View on nps.gov
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Situated within the most densely populated region of the United States, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides a unique opportunity to experience tranquil landscapes, rich human history,...

29 mi from route ~74 min detour $10
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.75 one way

$5.50 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $3.01 $6.03
premium $4.93 $3.22 $6.44
diesel $5.61 $3.67 $7.33

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$28–$53

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 5.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5 0 $1.74 $0.80
Efficient EV 4.2 0 $1.45 $0.66
EV Truck/SUV 6.6 0 $2.32 $1.06

Gas CO2

6 kg

EV CO2

2 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.

Forecast data refreshed 4 days ago

Origin

Denville, NJ

Night in Denville on Tuesday

Local time

10:32 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chatham, NJ

Night in Chatham on Tuesday

Local time

10:32 PM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

25 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

24m 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 Denville, NJ to Chatham, NJ covers 16.6 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NJ 24, Christopher Columbus Highway, I 287. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.3 miles from Denville, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.75 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 demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 16.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Denville, NJ and Chatham, NJ, road signs point toward Mahwah and Somerville.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 183 ft to 567 ft elevation with about 206 ft of total climbing.

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