Origin
Hamilton, NJ
Night in Hamilton on Friday
Local time
11:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hamilton, NJ to Mountainside, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
40.8 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hamilton, NJ
Garrison Gao
Mountainside, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hamilton, NJ to Mountainside, NJ is 40.8 miles and takes about 1 hour via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within the Northeast region, specifically crossing from one part of New Jersey to another. It’s a quick trip, ideal for when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without a lot of fuss. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained parkways, making it a predictable and easy journey.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 40.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 85% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a largely continuous drive, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 34.2 miles on the Garden State Parkway. Expect a consistent pace for the majority of your journey, as the route prioritizes efficient travel over varied road types. The profile suggests a smooth ride primarily on parkways, minimizing complex intersections or slower local road segments.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 34.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Central Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near GSP / Garden State Parkway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.8 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.7 miles (Exit 135): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
35.7 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
Exit 135
Take the exit onto Exit 135 toward Clark, Westfield
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 135
Toward Clark, Westfield
9
35.9 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Westfield, Brant Avenue, Rahway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Westfield, Brant Avenue, Rahway
5
36 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
CR 613 / Central Avenue
Turn left onto CR 613 / Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
40 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
CR 645 / New Providence Road
Turn left onto CR 645 / New Providence Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hamilton, NJ and Mountainside, NJ, road signs point toward Clark, Westfield and Rahway.
Clark
35.7 mi in
|
~45m
|
via Exit 135
Westfield
35.7 mi in
|
~45m
|
via Exit 135
Rahway
35.9 mi in
|
~45m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 34.2 mi | 42m |
| Central Avenue | 2.9 mi | 8m |
| Mountain Avenue East | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| New Providence Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| NJ 33 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Old Corlies Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Exit 135 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Birch Hill Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 34.2 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hamilton, NJ and Mountainside, NJ.
1
Start on Gully Road
155 ft
·
5 sec
·
Gully Road
2
Turn left onto (17)
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Old Corlies Avenue
3
Turn left onto NJ 33
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 33
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
5
Merge onto GSP
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
7
Continue on GSP
32 mi
·
39 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto Exit 135
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Exit 135
Exit 135
Toward Clark, Westfield
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward Westfield, Brant Avenue, Rahway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto CR 613
2.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
At end of road, turn right onto CR 509
193 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Broad Street
12
Turn left onto CR 613
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Mountain Avenue East
13
Turn left onto CR 645
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
New Providence Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Birch Hill Road
306 ft
·
15 sec
·
Birch Hill Road
15
Turn right onto Watchung Avenue
185 ft
·
9 sec
·
Watchung Avenue
16
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.4 mi from Hamilton, NJ · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.4 miles from Hamilton, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Mountainside, NJ
The final approach into Mountainside, NJ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.76 one way
$13.53 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.41 | $14.82 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.91 | $15.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.01 | $18.02 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.05
Garden State Parkway
(34.2 mi)
$2.05
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.57 | $1.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Mountainside, NJ
Night in Mountainside on Friday
Local time
11:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 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 Hamilton, NJ to Mountainside, NJ covers 40.8 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Central Avenue, Mountain Avenue East. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.4 miles from Hamilton, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.76 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.8 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.7 miles (Exit 135): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Hamilton, NJ and Mountainside, NJ, road signs point toward Clark, Westfield and Rahway.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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