Origin
Highland Lake, NJ
Afternoon in Highland Lake on Wednesday
Local time
4:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Highland Lake, NJ to Middletown, NJ
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 38m
Distance
80.3 mi
129 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 31m
★
6 AM
1h 39m
8 AM
1h 54m
10 AM
1h 44m
12 PM
1h 43m
3 PM
1h 45m
5 PM
1h 53m
8 PM
1h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highland Lake, NJ
Enric Cruz López
Middletown, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Highland Lake to Middletown, expect a straightforward journey covering 80.3 miles. You should set aside approximately 1 hour and 38 minutes of drive time to complete the transit. Given the duration and distance, this is easily manageable as a single-day outing, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Budgeting about $13 for fuel will keep your vehicle powered for the duration of the trip. Since both locations are situated within the Northeast, you will remain in the same geographic region throughout your travel. This route is a practical choice for those who prefer navigating local roads over navigating complex highway systems.
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
40.1 miles from Highland Lake, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind. With 0% of the route on highways, you will be navigating surface streets like Lakeside Drive East, Coon Den Road, and Lookover Lane for the entire 80.3-mile distance. Because this is entirely local driving, you won't encounter any long, uninterrupted stretches that you might find on a major expressway. The road requires your full attention as you navigate the frequent curves and turns inherent to this local path. You will find that the character of the drive remains consistent from start to finish, keeping you engaged behind the wheel throughout the hour and 38 minutes.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lakeside Drive East is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Highland Lake, NJ to Middletown, NJ is easy. At 1h 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Highland Lake, NJ to Middletown, NJ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lakeside Drive East | — | — |
| Coon Den Road | — | — |
| Lookover Lane | — | — |
| Canistear Road | — | — |
| I 80 East | — | — |
| US 46 East | — | — |
| GSP Toll South | — | — |
| Garden State Parkway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Lakeside Drive East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland Lake, NJ and Middletown, NJ.
1
Start on Glen Road
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
Glen Road
2
Turn left onto Lakeside Drive East
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
Lakeside Drive East
3
Turn left onto Coon Den Road
0.1 mi
·
46 sec
·
Coon Den Road
4
Turn left onto Lookover Lane
312 ft
·
20 sec
·
Lookover Lane
5
At the end of the road, turn right onto Canistear Road
7.0 mi
·
16 min
·
Canistear Road
6
Turn left
14 mi
·
16 min
7
Keep slight left
6.2 mi
·
7 min
8
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 East, US 46 East: New York, Clifton
299 ft
·
7 sec
·
I 80 East, US 46 East: New York, Clifton
9
Keep slight right to continue on US 46 East: Clifton
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 46 East: Clifton
10
Merge slight right
2.1 mi
·
2 min
11
Continue straight
1.6 mi
·
1 min
12
Turn slight left
1.3 mi
·
1 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward GSP Toll South
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
GSP Toll South
14
Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway
22 mi
·
30 min
·
Garden State Parkway
15
Continue on Garden State Parkway Southbound
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Garden State Parkway Southbound
16
Keep slight left to continue on Garden State Parkway
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Garden State Parkway
17
Keep slight left to continue on Garden State Parkway
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Garden State Parkway
18
Take the exit slight right toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, Keyport
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, Keyport
19
Keep slight left
164 ft
·
4 sec
20
Keep slight right to continue on NJ 35: Hazlet
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
NJ 35: Hazlet
21
Merge slight left
5.3 mi
·
8 min
22
Turn right onto New Monmouth Road
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
New Monmouth Road
23
At the end of the road, turn right onto Kings Highway
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Kings Highway
24
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak local traffic. There are no mandatory stops scheduled, though you should plan your own breaks as needed since the route is entirely local. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the drive makes it important to stay alert and follow navigation closely to avoid missing turns on smaller roads. Because you are avoiding highways, your fuel efficiency may differ from standard interstate driving, so keep that $13 fuel budget in mind as a baseline. A helpful tip for this specific route is to double-check your GPS settings to ensure you are comfortable navigating the local roads of Highland Lake and Middletown before you pull out of your driveway.
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 40.1 miles from Highland Lake, NJ, or about 49m into the drive.
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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.1 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Middletown, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Highland Lake, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Highland Lake, NJ
This is one driving day of about 80.3 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Highland Lake, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.1 mi from Highland Lake, NJ · 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.1 miles from Highland Lake, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Middletown, NJ
The final approach into Middletown, 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
$13.31 one way
$26.63 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $14.58 | $29.16 |
| premium | $4.93 | $15.57 | $31.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.73 | $35.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.43 | $3.85 |
| Efficient EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.03 | $3.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.1 | 0 | $11.24 | $5.14 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Middletown, NJ
Afternoon in Middletown on Wednesday
Local time
4:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
19 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 38m 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 Highland Lake, NJ to Middletown, NJ covers 80.3 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lakeside Drive East, Coon Den Road, Lookover Lane. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.1 miles from Highland Lake, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.31 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.
The drive from Highland Lake, NJ to Middletown, NJ is easy. At 1h 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Highland Lake, NJ to Middletown, NJ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Highland Lake, NJ to Middletown, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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