Origin
Elizabeth, NJ
Evening in Elizabeth on Tuesday
Local time
8:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elizabeth, NJ to Rutherford, NJ
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
24m
Distance
14 mi
23 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Rutherford, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 14-mile drive from Elizabeth, NJ to Rutherford, NJ is designed for a single day, taking approximately 24 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate major roadways like NJ 21 and US 1, with Riverside Avenue also playing a role. Given its brevity and focus on highway travel, this route is easily manageable in one go and fits within a modest $2 fuel budget. It's a straightforward journey within the Northeast region, connecting two points within New Jersey without requiring an overnight stay. Consider this a quick transit rather than an extensive exploration.
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
7 miles from Elizabeth, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience on this route, with 73% of the drive utilizing faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.1 miles on NJ 21, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. While predominantly highway, the inclusion of roads like Riverside Avenue might introduce brief moments of varied traffic conditions. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, prioritizing directness between your starting and ending points within New Jersey.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 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 8.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 21 and US 1. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near US 1; US 9.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 14 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 1.3 miles (US 1; US 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles (NJ 21): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
8
11.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward Nutley, Lyndhurst
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8
Toward Nutley, Lyndhurst
5
11.8 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
Kingsland Avenue
Turn right onto Kingsland Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
13.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
CR 30 / Park Avenue
Turn left onto CR 30 / Park Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
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 Rutherford, NJ, road signs point toward Downtown, Nutley and Lyndhurst.
Downtown
3.5 mi in
|
~5m
|
via NJ 21
Nutley
11.6 mi in
|
~18m
Lyndhurst
11.6 mi in
|
~18m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 21 | 8.1 mi | 13m |
| US 1 | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Riverside Avenue | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Spring Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Park Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Rutherford Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Kingsland Avenue | 0.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 21
— 8.1 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth, NJ and Rutherford, 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
8.1 mi
·
13 min
·
NJ 21
Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 8
Toward Nutley, Lyndhurst
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto Kingsland Avenue
0.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Kingsland Avenue
8
Turn left onto CR 507
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Riverside Avenue
9
Turn right onto CR S-30
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Rutherford Avenue
10
Turn left onto CR 30
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Park Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
CR 30
Trip Plan
With a short duration of just 24 minutes, this drive offers considerable flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, though avoiding peak rush hours in the Elizabeth and Rutherford areas is always a good idea to maintain the estimated travel time. Since the total distance is only 14 miles and the longest stretch is 8.1 miles, you likely won't need extensive stops for fuel or rest. A key tip for this specific journey is to pay close attention to signage for Riverside Avenue, as it serves as a connector between the primary highways and your destination in Rutherford.
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 7 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.1 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 14 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 7 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rutherford, 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 14 miles and 24m.
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 8.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 7 mi from Elizabeth, NJ · 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 7 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Rutherford, NJ
The final approach into Rutherford, 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 Rutherford, NJ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.32 one way
$4.64 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.54 | $5.08 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.72 | $5.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.09 | $6.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
| Efficient EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.22 | $0.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.96 | $0.90 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Rutherford, NJ
Evening in Rutherford on Tuesday
Local time
8:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
1 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
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 Elizabeth, NJ to Rutherford, NJ covers 14 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 21, US 1, Riverside Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 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 $2.32 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 14 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 1.3 miles (US 1; US 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles (NJ 21): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Elizabeth, NJ and Rutherford, NJ, road signs point toward Downtown, Nutley and Lyndhurst.
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