Skip to main content

Trip from Elizabethport, NJ to West Caldwell, NJ

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

36m

Distance

20.5 mi

33 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 33m ★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m

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

city in and county seat of Union County, New Jersey, United States

Elizabethport, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States

West Caldwell, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Elizabethport, NJ to West Caldwell, NJ covers 20.5 miles and takes about 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Essex Freeway, NJ 21, US 1 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7.9 miles on Essex Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.40 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

10.3 miles from Elizabethport, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 36m highway drive covering 20.5 miles, with most of the trip on Essex Freeway and NJ 21. The longest continuous stretch is about 7.9 miles on Essex Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Essex Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 7.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Essex Freeway and NJ 21. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near US 1; US 9 / Spring Street.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 20.5 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: at 1.5 miles (US 1; US 9 / Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (US 1; US 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles (NJ 21): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

6
1.5 mi into trip | ~4m in | US 1; US 9 / Spring Street

Turn right onto US 1; US 9 / Spring Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
2.5 mi into trip | ~6m 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
4.7 mi into trip | ~9m 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
6
9.2 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the ramp toward I 280 West: Garden State Parkway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 280 West: Garden State Parkway
8
17.4 mi into trip | ~29m in

Take the exit toward CR 527 North: The Caldwells, Livingston

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 5B Toward CR 527 North: The Caldwells, Livingston

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Elizabethport, NJ and West Caldwell, NJ, road signs point toward Downtown, Cr 527 North: The Caldwells and Livingston.

Downtown

4.7 mi in | ~9m | via NJ 21

Cr 527 North: The Caldwells

17.4 mi in | ~29m

Livingston

17.4 mi in | ~29m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Essex Freeway 7.9 mi 10m
NJ 21 2.7 mi 5m
US 1 2.1 mi 3m
East Jersey Street 1.3 mi 4m
Harrison Avenue 1.1 mi 2m
Spring Street 1.1 mi 1m
Raymond Boulevard 1 mi 1m
Passaic Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Essex Freeway — 7.9 mi, about 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elizabethport, NJ and West Caldwell, NJ.

1

Start on Broadway

370 ft · 21 sec · Broadway
2

Turn left onto 2nd Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · 2nd Street
3

Turn right onto East Jersey Street

1.3 mi · 4 min · East Jersey Street
4

Turn right onto US 1; US 9

1.1 mi · 1 min · Spring Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; US 9

2.1 mi · 3 min · US 1; US 9
Use the straight lane.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21

2.7 mi · 5 min · NJ 21
Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7

Turn left onto Raymond Boulevard

1.0 mi · 1 min · Raymond Boulevard
Use the left lane.
8

Continue on Lock Street

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Lock Street
9

Continue on Nesbitt Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Nesbitt Street
10

Turn left onto Orange Street

0.5 mi · 57 sec · Orange Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 280 West: Garden State Parkway Use the left lane.
12

Merge onto I 280

7.9 mi · 10 min · Essex Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Exit 5B Toward CR 527 North: The Caldwells, Livingston Use the slight right lane.
14

Turn straight onto CR 527

0.7 mi · 1 min · CR 527
Use the straight lane.
15

Turn right onto CR 527; CR 611

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Eagle Rock Avenue
16

Turn left onto CR 527

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Roseland Avenue
17

Turn left onto CR 656

1.1 mi · 2 min · Harrison Avenue
Use the left lane.
18

At end of road, turn right onto CR 613

0.8 mi · 1 min · Passaic Avenue
19

Arrive at destination

CR 613

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 10.3 miles from Elizabethport, NJ, or about 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.9 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 20.5 miles or 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 10.3 miles or 20m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 29m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Elizabethport, 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 Elizabethport, NJ

This is one driving day of about 20.5 miles and 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Elizabethport, 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 Essex Freeway for about 7.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 10.3 mi from Elizabethport, NJ · 20m into the drive

most populous city in the United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

New York City, NY

10 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 20.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New York City, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 10.3 miles from Elizabethport, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in West Caldwell, NJ

The final approach into West Caldwell, 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 West Caldwell, 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

$3.40 one way

$6.80 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $3.72 $7.44
premium $4.93 $3.98 $7.95
diesel $5.61 $4.53 $9.05

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: 7.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6.1 0 $2.15 $0.98
Efficient EV 5.1 0 $1.79 $0.82
EV Truck/SUV 8.2 0 $2.87 $1.31

Gas CO2

7 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (71% 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 1 day ago

Origin

Elizabethport, NJ

Evening in Elizabethport on Tuesday

Local time

8:15 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

West Caldwell, NJ

Evening in West Caldwell on Tuesday

Local time

8:15 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

14 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

36m 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 Elizabethport, NJ to West Caldwell, NJ covers 20.5 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Essex Freeway, 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 10.3 miles from Elizabethport, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.40 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 15 significant decision points across 20.5 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: at 1.5 miles (US 1; US 9 / Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (US 1; US 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles (NJ 21): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Elizabethport, NJ and West Caldwell, NJ, road signs point toward Downtown, Cr 527 North: The Caldwells and Livingston.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More trips to West Caldwell, NJ

Explore more options from Elizabethport, NJ or browse trips ending in West Caldwell, NJ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.

Explore maps for Elizabethport, NJ or West Caldwell, NJ on MapSof.net.