Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Elizabeth, NJ to Prospect Park, NJ

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

34m

Distance

23.5 mi

38 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 32m ★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Elizabeth, NJ, NJ

Elizabeth, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Prospect Park, NJ, NJ

Prospect Park, NJ

Collis

Trip Overview

The drive from Elizabeth, NJ to Prospect Park, NJ covers 23.5 miles and takes about 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on NJ 21, McLean Boulevard, US 1 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.7 miles on NJ 21. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.90 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

11.8 miles from Elizabeth, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 34m highway drive covering 23.5 miles, with most of the trip on NJ 21 and McLean Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch is about 14.7 miles on NJ 21.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NJ 21 is the longest continuous segment at about 14.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 21 and McLean Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Jersey Street.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 23.5 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: near the start (East Jersey Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 1; US 9 / Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (US 1; US 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Jersey Street

Turn left onto East Jersey Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 1; US 9 / Spring Street

Turn left onto US 1; US 9 / Spring Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
1.3 mi into trip | ~2m in | US 1; US 9

Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; US 9

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
3.5 mi into trip | ~5m 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
7
18.4 mi into trip | ~25m in | NJ 20 / McLean Boulevard

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 20 / McLean Boulevard toward NJ 20 North: Paterson

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward NJ 20 North: Paterson

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

On the drive from Elizabeth, NJ to Prospect Park, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.

Downtown

3.5 mi in | ~5m | via NJ 21

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
NJ 21 14.7 mi 20m
McLean Boulevard 2.7 mi 3m
US 1 2.1 mi 3m
Spring Street 1.1 mi 1m
CR 650 0.9 mi 1m
10th Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
Lafayette Street 0.5 mi 1m
US 46 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: NJ 21 — 14.7 mi, about 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth, NJ and Prospect Park, NJ.

1

Start on this road

34 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto East Jersey Street

0.2 mi · 36 sec · East Jersey Street
3

Turn left onto US 1; US 9

1.1 mi · 1 min · Spring Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; US 9

2.1 mi · 3 min · US 1; US 9
Use the straight lane.
5

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21

15 mi · 20 min · NJ 21
Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6

Merge onto US 46

0.2 mi · 15 sec · US 46
7

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 20

2.7 mi · 3 min · McLean Boulevard
Toward NJ 20 North: Paterson Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Turn slight left

239 ft · 10 sec
9

Continue on 10th Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · 10th Avenue
10

At end of road, turn right onto East 16th Street

242 ft · 10 sec · East 16th Street
11

Turn left onto CR 650

0.5 mi · 1 min · Lafayette Street
12

Turn slight left onto CR 650

0.9 mi · 1 min · CR 650
13

Turn right onto Wagaraw Boulevard

0.2 mi · 55 sec · Wagaraw Boulevard
14

Arrive at destination

Wagaraw Boulevard

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 11.8 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, or about 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.7 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 23.5 miles or 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 11.8 miles or 16m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Prospect Park, 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 23.5 miles and 34m.

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 NJ 21 for about 14.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 11.8 mi from Elizabeth, NJ · 16m into the drive

most populous city in the United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

New York City, NY

12 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

Ramapo, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New York City, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 11.8 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Prospect Park, NJ

The final approach into Prospect Park, 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 Prospect Park, 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.

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...

1 mi from route ~2 min detour Free near mile 22.7
Caution: Limited Amphitheater Accessibility
Caution: Overlook Park Parking Lot - Vehicles Must Be Parked in a Designated Spot
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...

4 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 near mile 8.1
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...

17 mi from route ~41 min detour Free near mile 1.6
View on nps.gov
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...

18 mi from route ~46 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.90 one way

$7.79 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 8 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $4.27 $8.53
premium $4.93 $4.56 $9.12
diesel $5.61 $5.19 $10.38

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.1 0 $2.47 $1.13
Efficient EV 5.9 0 $2.06 $0.94
EV Truck/SUV 9.4 0 $3.29 $1.50

Gas CO2

8 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (63% 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

10:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Prospect Park, NJ

Night in Prospect Park on Tuesday

Local time

10:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

58°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

3 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

34m 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 Prospect Park, NJ covers 23.5 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NJ 21, McLean Boulevard, 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 11.8 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 $3.90 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 9 significant decision points across 23.5 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: near the start (East Jersey Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 1; US 9 / Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (US 1; US 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Elizabeth, NJ to Prospect Park, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More from Elizabeth, NJ

Cape May, NJ 143.2 mi · 2h 54m Wildwood, NJ 140.6 mi · 2h 50m North Wildwood, NJ 139.7 mi · 2h 49m Cape May Court House, NJ 131.9 mi · 2h 38m Port Norris, NJ 120.1 mi · 2h 39m Margate City, NJ 111.6 mi · 2h 17m

More trips to Prospect Park, NJ

Elizabethport, NJ 24.7 mi Jersey City, NJ 20.5 mi Union City, NJ 17.1 mi Passaic, NJ 7.7 mi Clifton, NJ 6.6 mi

Explore more options from Elizabeth, NJ or browse trips ending in Prospect Park, NJ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.

Explore maps for Elizabeth, NJ or Prospect Park, NJ on MapSof.net.