Origin
Montclair, NJ
Night in Montclair on Friday
Local time
10:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Montclair, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
27m
Distance
15.9 mi
26 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Montclair, NJ
James Kampeis
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 15.9-mile drive from Montclair, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ is easily manageable in about 27 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You'll navigate primarily via the Garden State Parkway, with portions on Watchung Avenue and Spring Street contributing to the journey. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $3, this route offers a practical and efficient way to travel within the Northeast region. The mixed drive profile suggests a blend of highway speeds and local road navigation, so expect a dynamic experience without needing an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 27m. Total distance: 15.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route offers a mixed drive, with 45% of it on highways, providing a good balance of speed and local exploration. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.1 miles on the Garden State Parkway, allowing for a period of consistent travel. As you transition between the faster Parkway and local roads like Watchung Avenue and Spring Street, you'll notice a change in the driving pace and environment. This dynamic shift means you won't be stuck in a monotonous highway grind, but rather experience a varied road personality throughout the 15.9 miles.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 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 7.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near CR 655 / Watchung Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 15.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.3 miles (CR 655 / Watchung Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 655 / Watchung Avenue
Turn right onto CR 655 / Watchung Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward GSP Toll South
Navigation decision point
Toward GSP Toll South
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
9.2 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward Irvington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 143C
Toward Irvington
6
10.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
CR 509 / Grove Street
Turn right onto CR 509 / Grove Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Montclair, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll South and Irvington.
Gsp Toll South
1.9 mi in
|
~3m
Irvington
9.2 mi in
|
~14m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 7.1 mi | 10m |
| Watchung Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Spring Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Broad Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Hillside Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Coit Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Ball Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 7.1 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montclair, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on Park Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Park Street
2
Turn right onto CR 655
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Watchung Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward GSP Toll South
4
Merge onto GSP
7.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 143C
Toward Irvington
Use the slight right lane.
6
Turn straight onto Western Parkway
510 ft
·
12 sec
·
Western Parkway
7
Continue on Washington Avenue
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Washington Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on Ball Street
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Ball Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto CR 602
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Lyons Avenue
10
Turn right onto CR 509
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Grove Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on CR 509
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Coit Street
12
Continue on CR 509
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Chestnut Avenue
13
Turn left onto CR 509
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillside Avenue
14
Continue on CR 628
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Hillside Avenue
15
At end of road, turn right onto CR 623
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
16
Turn left onto NJ 439
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Avenue
17
Turn right onto Spring Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Spring Street
18
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Jersey Street
19
Turn right
34 ft
·
2 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.64 one way
$5.27 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.89 | $5.77 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.08 | $6.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.51 | $7.02 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.42
Garden State Parkway
(7.1 mi)
$0.42
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.67 | $0.76 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.39 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.23 | $1.02 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
Elizabeth, NJ
Night in Elizabeth on Friday
Local time
10:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
20 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
27m 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 Montclair, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ covers 15.9 miles and takes about 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Watchung Avenue, Spring Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8 miles from Montclair, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.64 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 15.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.3 miles (CR 655 / Watchung Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Montclair, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll South and Irvington.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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