Origin
Hawthorne, NJ
Night in Hawthorne on Sunday
Local time
9:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hawthorne, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ
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
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
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.
Hawthorne, NJ
Garrison Gao
Elizabeth, NJ
Noé Villalta Photography
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Hawthorne to Elizabeth, you are planning a straightforward 23.5-mile journey through the Northeast. Expect to spend about 34 minutes on the road, making this an easy day trip that requires no overnight stops. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is a highly economical route for your schedule. You will rely primarily on NJ 21, McLean Boulevard, and US 1 to navigate between these two New Jersey hubs. Given the short duration and direct nature of the drive, it is best approached as a quick transit rather than a multi-day excursion.
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 Hawthorne, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 77% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will experience a significant 14.3-mile uninterrupted stretch along NJ 21, which sets the pace for the majority of the ride. While the drive is efficient, be prepared for the fast-moving conditions typical of high-speed corridors. The road transitions from regional highway segments into the denser traffic flow typical of the US 1 corridor as you approach your destination. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and direct connectivity over leisurely backroads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 14.3 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 CR 654 / Diamond Bridge Avenue.
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 (CR 654 / Diamond Bridge Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (CR 69 / Lincoln Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (CR 504; CR 653 / River Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 654 / Diamond Bridge Avenue
Turn left onto CR 654 / Diamond Bridge Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 69 / Lincoln Avenue
Turn right onto CR 69 / Lincoln Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR 504; CR 653 / River Street
Keep slight left at fork onto CR 504; CR 653 / River Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
NJ 20 / 2nd Avenue
Turn left onto NJ 20 / 2nd Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
5.6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
NJ 21
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 21 | 14.3 mi | 20m |
| McLean Boulevard | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| US 1 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Lincoln Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Diamond Bridge Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| US 46 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 21
— 14.3 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hawthorne, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on Royal Avenue
76 ft
·
8 sec
·
Royal Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 654
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Diamond Bridge Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 69
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Avenue
4
Continue on CR 504; CR 653
518 ft
·
9 sec
·
River Street
5
Keep slight left at fork onto CR 504; CR 653
158 ft
·
9 sec
·
River Street
6
Turn left onto NJ 20
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
2nd Avenue
7
Continue on NJ 20
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
McLean Boulevard
8
Continue on NJ 20
0.8 mi
·
51 sec
·
McLean Boulevard
Use the none lane.
9
Merge onto US 46
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 46
10
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21
14 mi
·
20 min
·
NJ 21
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto US 1; US 9
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
US 1; US 9
12
Continue on US 1; US 9
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the none lane.
13
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Jersey Street
14
Turn right
34 ft
·
2 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since the trip takes less than an hour, you have plenty of flexibility when choosing your departure time. However, because the route relies so heavily on major highways, keep an eye on real-time traffic reports to avoid peak congestion periods on these primary roads. You won't need to plan for any formal stops given the short distance, allowing you to reach Elizabeth quickly and efficiently. Budgeting around $4 for fuel should be sufficient for the 23.5-mile trek. As a specific tip, prioritize staying alert during the 14.3-mile stretch on NJ 21, as this is where you will spend the bulk of your time behind the wheel.
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 Hawthorne, NJ, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.3 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 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 17m 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 Elizabeth, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hawthorne, 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 Hawthorne, NJ
This is one driving day of about 23.5 miles and 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hawthorne, 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 14.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.8 mi from Hawthorne, NJ · 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 23.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 11.8 miles from Hawthorne, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elizabeth, NJ
The final approach into Elizabeth, 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 Elizabeth, 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
$3.89 one way
$7.78 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $4.25 | $8.51 |
| premium | $4.92 | $4.55 | $9.11 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.22 | $10.44 |
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, 2026-04-06.
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.
Destination
Elizabeth, NJ
Night in Elizabeth on Sunday
Local time
9:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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 Hawthorne, NJ to Elizabeth, 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 Hawthorne, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.89 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 (CR 654 / Diamond Bridge Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (CR 69 / Lincoln Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (CR 504; CR 653 / River Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Hawthorne, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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