Origin
Menlo Park, NJ
Evening in Menlo Park on Tuesday
Local time
6:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Menlo Park, NJ to Lyndhurst, NJ
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
37m
Distance
24.1 mi
39 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Menlo Park, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Lyndhurst, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Menlo Park, NJ to Lyndhurst, NJ covers 24.1 miles and takes about 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Garden State Parkway, McCarter Highway, Essex Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.4 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.00 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
12.1 miles from Menlo Park, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 37m highway drive covering 24.1 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and McCarter Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 14.4 miles on Garden State Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 14.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and McCarter Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 24.1 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: at 15.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
15.6 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward I 280, CR 508: Newark, The Oranges
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 145
Toward I 280, CR 508: Newark, The Oranges
9
15.8 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 280 West, I 280 East: Orange, West Orange, Newark, Harrison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 280 West, I 280 East: Orange, West Ora...
8
16 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 280 East: Newark, Harrison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 280 East: Newark, Harrison
8
18 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward NJ 21: Newark, Belleville, Prudential Center
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 15
Toward NJ 21: Newark, Belleville, Prudential Ce...
8
22.8 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward Nutley, Lyndhurst
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8
Toward Nutley, Lyndhurst
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Menlo Park, NJ and Lyndhurst, NJ, road signs point toward Cr 508: Newark, The Oranges, Orange, Newark, Harrison and Belleville - among others.
Cr 508: Newark
15.6 mi in
|
~22m
The Oranges
15.6 mi in
|
~22m
Orange
15.8 mi in
|
~23m
Newark
15.8 mi in
|
~23m
Harrison
15.8 mi in
|
~23m
Belleville
18 mi in
|
~26m
Prudential Center
18 mi in
|
~26m
Nutley
22.8 mi in
|
~33m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 14.4 mi | 19m |
| McCarter Highway | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| Essex Freeway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Lincoln Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Valley Brook Avenue | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| Riverside Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Philip Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Kingsland Avenue | 0.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 14.4 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Menlo Park, NJ and Lyndhurst, NJ.
1
Start on Philip Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Philip Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto NJ 27
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Highway
3
Take the ramp
467 ft
·
11 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
4
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
this road
5
Merge onto GSP
14 mi
·
19 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 145
Toward I 280, CR 508: Newark, The Oranges
Use the slight right lane.
7
Continue on this road
160 ft
·
3 sec
·
this road
Toward I 280, CR 508: Newark, The Oranges
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 280 West, I 280 East: Orange, West Orange, Newark, Harrison
Use the slight left lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 280 East: Newark, Harrison
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 280
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Essex Freeway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 15
Toward NJ 21: Newark, Belleville, Prudential Center
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto NJ 21
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
McCarter Highway
Use the left / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 8
Toward Nutley, Lyndhurst
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto Kingsland Avenue
0.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Kingsland Avenue
15
Turn left onto CR 507
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Riverside Avenue
16
Turn right onto Valley Brook Avenue
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Valley Brook Avenue
17
Turn left onto Delafield Avenue
39 ft
·
1 sec
·
Delafield Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Delafield Avenue
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 12.1 miles from Menlo Park, NJ, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.4 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 24.1 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.1 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lyndhurst, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Menlo Park, 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 Menlo Park, NJ
This is one driving day of about 24.1 miles and 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Menlo Park, 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 Garden State Parkway for about 14.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12.1 mi from Menlo Park, NJ · 18m 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 24.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 12.1 miles from Menlo Park, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lyndhurst, NJ
The final approach into Lyndhurst, 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 Lyndhurst, 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
$4.00 one way
$7.99 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.38 | $8.75 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.67 | $9.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.32 | $10.64 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.86
Garden State Parkway
(14.4 mi)
$0.86
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
$4
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.53 | $1.16 |
| Efficient EV | 6 | 0 | $2.11 | $0.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
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
Lyndhurst, NJ
Evening in Lyndhurst on Tuesday
Local time
6:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
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
37m 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 Menlo Park, NJ to Lyndhurst, NJ covers 24.1 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, McCarter Highway, Essex Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.1 miles from Menlo Park, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.00 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 15 significant decision points across 24.1 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: at 15.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Menlo Park, NJ and Lyndhurst, NJ, road signs point toward Cr 508: Newark, The Oranges, Orange, Newark, Harrison and Belleville - among others.
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