The drive from Kingwood, NJ to Middletown, NJ covers 61.1 miles and takes about 1h 31m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 287, US 202, Garden State Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.3 miles on I 287.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.13 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.
Midpoint
30.6 miles from Kingwood, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 61.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 31m highway drive covering 61.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 287 and US 202. The longest continuous stretch is about 14.3 miles on I 287.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 287 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 I 287 and US 202. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.6 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.1 miles you will encounter 21 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 12.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 26.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
12.6 mi into trip|~25m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
26.1 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward US 22 East: New York, Somerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 22 East: New York, Somerville
8
26.2 mi into trip|~44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 22 East: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 22 East: New York
8
54.6 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, Keyport
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 117
Toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, Keyport
8
55.2 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 35: Hazlet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 35: Hazlet
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kingwood, NJ and Middletown, NJ, road signs point toward Somerville, Gsp South and Keyport.
Somerville
26.1 mi in|~44m
Gsp South
45.1 mi in|~1h 8m
Keyport
54.6 mi in|~1h 20m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 287
14.3 mi
16m
US 202
13.3 mi
18m
Garden State Parkway
9.1 mi
10m
Frenchtown-Flemington Road
8 mi
14m
NJ 35
5.3 mi
8m
Kingwood Road
4 mi
9m
US 22
2.3 mi
3m
NJ 440
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 287
— 14.3 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kingwood, NJ and Middletown, NJ.
1
Start on Kingwood-Locktown Road
73 ft·6 sec·Kingwood-Locktown Road
2
Turn right onto CR 519
381 ft·10 sec·Kingwood Own Road
3
Continue on CR 519
4.0 mi·9 min·Kingwood Road
4
Turn right onto NJ 12
7.5 mi·13 min·Frenchtown-Flemington Road
5
Enter roundabout onto NJ 12
354 ft·7 sec·Frenchtown-Flemington Road
6
Continue on NJ 12
0.4 mi·47 sec·Frenchtown-Flemington Road
7
Continue on NJ 12
0.2 mi·23 sec·Parker Avenue
8
Enter roundabout onto NJ 12
303 ft·5 sec·Packer Avenue
9
Continue on NJ 12
0.2 mi·23 sec·Packer Avenue
10
Enter roundabout
384 ft·7 sec
11
Continue
0.2 mi·23 sec
12
Merge onto US 202
13 mi·18 min·US 202
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
460 ft·12 sec
Toward US 22 East: New York, SomervilleUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward US 22 East: New YorkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto US 22
2.3 mi·3 min·US 22
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 287 South: Perth AmboyUse the slight left / straight lanes.
17
Merge onto I 287
14 mi·16 min·I 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on NJ 440
1.8 mi·2 min·NJ 440
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward GSP SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto GSP
1.7 mi·2 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi·49 sec·Garden State Parkway
22
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
6.6 mi·7 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 117Toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, KeyportUse the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork
165 ft·4 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward NJ 35: HazletUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto NJ 35
5.3 mi·8 min·NJ 35
27
Turn right onto CR 50
0.3 mi·31 sec·New Monmouth Road
28
At end of road, turn right onto CR 50
0.2 mi·20 sec·Kings Highway
29
Arrive at destination
CR 50
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 30.6 miles from Kingwood, NJ, or about 50m 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 13 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.6 miles or 50m 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 17m
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 Kingwood, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kingwood, NJ
This is one driving day of about 61.1 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Kingwood, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 287 for about 14.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.6 mi from Kingwood, NJ
· 50m into the drive
The midpoint is around 30.4 miles from Kingwood, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 27.3
Park Closure: Partial Reopening: Cross Estate Gardens
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 58.7
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 37.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.13 one way
$20.26 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$11.09
$22.19
premium
$4.93
$11.85
$23.70
diesel
$5.61
$13.49
$26.98
Estimated Tolls: $0.54
Garden State Parkway
(9.1 mi)$0.54
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.3
0
$6.42
$2.93
Efficient EV
15.3
0
$5.35
$2.44
EV Truck/SUV
24.4
0
$8.55
$3.91
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% 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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Kingwood, NJ
Morning
in Kingwood on Saturday
Local time
8:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Middletown, NJ
Morning
in Middletown on Saturday
Local time
8:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
22 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 31m 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 Kingwood, NJ to Middletown, NJ covers 61.1 miles and takes about 1h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 287, US 202, Garden State Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.6 miles from Kingwood, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.13 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 61.1 miles you will encounter 21 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 12.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 26.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Kingwood, NJ and Middletown, NJ, road signs point toward Somerville, Gsp South and Keyport.
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.
