This 78.1-mile drive from Laurel Springs, NJ, to Elizabeth, NJ, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. Primarily utilizing the New Jersey Turnpike and I-295, this route focuses on efficient highway travel. You can expect a fuel cost of around $13 for this journey. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, it's an excellent option for a quick trip within the Northeast region, requiring no overnight stays. The direct nature of this drive makes it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39 miles from Laurel Springs, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
63.4 mi
1h 13m
I 295
4.1 mi
4m
Burnt Mill Road
2.8 mi
5m
US 1
1 mi
1m
Laurel Road
0.7 mi
1m
White Horse Road West
0.6 mi
1m
Bayway
0.3 mi
<1m
Stone Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 63.4 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laurel Springs, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on Tomlinson Avenue
0.1 mi·33 sec·Tomlinson Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Atlantic Avenue
297 ft·13 sec·West Atlantic Avenue
3
Turn slight left onto CR 669
0.3 mi·51 sec·Stone Road
4
Turn right onto CR 673
0.7 mi·1 min·Laurel Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on CR 673
0.6 mi·1 min·White Horse Road West
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto CR 670
2.8 mi·5 min·Burnt Mill Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto CR 561
0.1 mi·10 sec·Haddonfield-Berlin Road
8
Continue on CR 561
0.1 mi·11 sec·Berlin Road
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 295 North
10
Merge onto I 295
4.1 mi·4 min·I 295
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 36AToward NJ 73 South: BerlinUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto NJ 73
0.2 mi·18 sec·NJ 73
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJTP: New Jersey Turnpike
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJTP North: New YorkUse the straight / right lanes.
15
Merge onto NJTP
15 mi·16 min·New Jersey Turnpike
16
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
49 mi·56 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
1.4 mi·2 min
Exit 13Toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten IslandUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 278 West, NJ 439: Elizabeth, Linden
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·35 sec
Toward NJ 439: Elizabeth
20
Continue on NJ 439
0.3 mi·41 sec·Bayway
21
Turn right onto CR 623
0.3 mi·52 sec·South Broad Street
22
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
1.0 mi·1 min·US 1; US 9
23
Turn right
60 ft·6 sec
24
Turn right
383 ft·28 sec
25
Turn right
278 ft·22 sec
26
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.3 mi·50 sec·East Jersey Street
27
Turn right
34 ft·2 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this efficient 1 hour and 40-minute journey, flexibility is your best friend. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid the peak rush hour on the New Jersey Turnpike. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your own brief breaks as needed, perhaps around the halfway mark or when you feel a need to stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the 63.4-mile stretch of the New Jersey Turnpike, to ensure you have enough to reach Elizabeth comfortably with the estimated $13 fuel cost. The direct highway nature means most of your focus will be on navigating the road itself.
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 39 miles from Laurel Springs, NJ, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.4 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39 miles or 51m 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 22m
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 Laurel Springs, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Laurel Springs, NJ
This is one driving day of about 78.1 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Laurel Springs, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 63.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 74.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in|CR 670 / Burnt Mill Road
Turn left onto CR 670 / Burnt Mill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
9.1 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward NJ 73 South: Berlin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 36A
Toward NJ 73 South: Berlin
7
10.2 mi into trip|~17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJTP North: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward NJTP North: New York
6
25.3 mi into trip|~35m in|NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
74.1 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
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 13
Toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.95 one way
$25.90 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.18
$28.36
premium
$4.93
$15.15
$30.29
diesel
$5.61
$17.24
$34.49
Estimated Tolls: $8.87
New Jersey Turnpike
(63.4 mi)$8.87
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
$13
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.4
0
$8.20
$3.75
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.83
$3.12
EV Truck/SUV
31.2
0
$10.93
$5.00
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 15, 2026
Origin
Laurel Springs, NJ
Afternoon
in Laurel Springs on Saturday
Local time
2:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Elizabeth, NJ
Afternoon
in Elizabeth on Saturday
Local time
2:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Bristol, PA
39 mi in
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
1 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
1h 40m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
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
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 75.4
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...
17 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 78.1
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...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 78.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a decidedly highway-focused experience for this trip, with 88% of the drive on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 63.4 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, indicating a significant period of consistent driving. While the profile is largely consistent, you'll navigate segments of I-295 and Burnt Mill Road, offering some variation in the immediate road environment before returning to the main thoroughfares. This route prioritizes forward momentum over varied scenery.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.4 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and I 295. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near CR 670 / Burnt Mill Road.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.1 miles you will encounter 22 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 1.8 miles (CR 670 / Burnt Mill Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Laurel Springs, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike, Njtp North: New York and Staten Island.
Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike
9.7 mi in|~15m
Njtp North: New York
10.2 mi in|~17m
Staten Island
74.1 mi in|~1h 31m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 78.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63.4 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $8.87 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Elizabeth, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (CR 670 / Burnt Mill Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elizabeth, NJ before heading back.
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.
