The drive from Elizabeth, NJ to Leonardo, NJ covers 31.3 miles and takes about 46m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, NJ 35 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 10.3 miles on Garden State Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.19 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
15.7 miles from Elizabeth, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 22m into the drive
.
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 46m highway drive covering 31.3 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch is about 10.3 miles on Garden State Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Garden State Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 10.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
Route Complexity10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 31.3 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 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles (Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
8
10.1 mi into trip|~14m in|Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9
Take the exit onto Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9 toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
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 11
Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbri...
8
11.5 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Pa...
8
22.6 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, Keyport
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 117
Toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, Keyport
8
23.2 mi into trip|~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 35: Hazlet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 35: Hazlet
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elizabeth, NJ and Leonardo, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll: Nj Turnpike, Njtp South: Trenton, Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South and Perth Amboy - among others.
Njtp Toll: Nj Turnpike
2.3 mi in|~4m
Njtp South: Trenton
2.6 mi in|~5m
Gsp
10.1 mi in|~14m|via Exit 11
Woodbridge
10.1 mi in|~14m|via Exit 11
Gsp South
11.5 mi in|~16m
Perth Amboy
11.5 mi in|~16m
Keyport
22.6 mi in|~30m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
10.3 mi
12m
New Jersey Turnpike
6.9 mi
7m
NJ 35
3.7 mi
5m
Leonardville Road
2 mi
3m
CR 516
1.9 mi
3m
Exit to GSP and US Route 9
1.4 mi
2m
US 1
1.1 mi
1m
Bayway
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 10.3 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth, NJ and Leonardo, NJ.
1
Start on this road
34 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto East Jersey Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·East Jersey Street
3
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
1.1 mi·1 min·US 1; US 9
4
Enter roundabout onto NJ 439
0.1 mi·18 sec·Bayway
5
Continue on NJ 439
0.6 mi·1 min·Bayway
6
Turn right onto Brunswick Avenue
0.1 mi·19 sec·Brunswick Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: NJ Turnpike
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: TrentonUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·37 sec
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
6.9 mi·7 min·New Jersey Turnpike
11
Take the exit onto Exit 11
1.4 mi·2 min·Exit to GSP and US Route 9
Exit 11Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, WoodbridgeUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge, Perth AmboyUse the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP Southbound entrance
0.5 mi·1 min·GSP Southbound entrance
Toward GSP South: Garden State ParkwayUse the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto GSP
3.0 mi·3 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi·49 sec·Garden State Parkway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
6.6 mi·7 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 117Toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, KeyportUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
165 ft·4 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward NJ 35: HazletUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto NJ 35
3.7 mi·5 min·NJ 35
21
Take the exit onto CR 516
0.1 mi·20 sec·CR 516
Use the slight right lane.
22
Continue on CR 516
1.8 mi·3 min·CR 516
Use the left lane.
23
Turn left onto CR 516
2.0 mi·3 min·Leonardville Road
24
Turn left onto Appleton Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Appleton Avenue
25
Turn right onto Highland Avenue
0.1 mi·23 sec·Highland Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
Highland Avenue
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 15.7 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, or about 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.3 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 31.3 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.7 miles or 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leonardo, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elizabeth, 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 Elizabeth, NJ
This is one driving day of about 31.3 miles and 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Elizabeth, 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 Garden State Parkway for about 10.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.7 mi from Elizabeth, NJ
· 22m into the drive
The midpoint is around 15.7 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Leonardo, NJ
The final approach into Leonardo, 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 Leonardo, 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.
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...
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 31.3
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.19 one way
$10.38 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg11 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$5.68
$11.37
premium
$4.93
$6.07
$12.14
diesel
$5.61
$6.91
$13.82
Estimated Tolls: $1.59
New Jersey Turnpike
(6.9 mi)$0.97
Garden State Parkway
(10.3 mi)$0.62
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
9.4
0
$3.29
$1.50
Efficient EV
7.8
0
$2.74
$1.25
EV Truck/SUV
12.5
0
$4.38
$2.00
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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 5 days ago
Origin
Elizabeth, NJ
Night
in Elizabeth on Tuesday
Local time
11:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Leonardo, NJ
Night
in Leonardo on Tuesday
Local time
11:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°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
15 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
46m 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 Elizabeth, NJ to Leonardo, NJ covers 31.3 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, NJ 35. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.7 miles from Elizabeth, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.19 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 23 significant decision points across 31.3 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 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles (Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Elizabeth, NJ and Leonardo, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll: Nj Turnpike, Njtp South: Trenton, Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South and Perth Amboy - among others.
