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Trip from Newark, NJ to Brookdale, NJ

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

16m

Distance

11.1 mi

18 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 15m ★
6 AM
0h 16m
8 AM
0h 19m
10 AM
0h 17m
12 PM
0h 17m
3 PM
0h 17m
5 PM
0h 19m
8 PM
0h 15m ★

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Brookdale, NJ, NJ

Brookdale, NJ

Joel Zar

Trip Overview

The drive from Newark, NJ to Brookdale, NJ covers 11.1 miles and takes about 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on McCarter Highway, NJ 3, West Passaic Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 5.8 miles on McCarter Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.84 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

5.5 miles from Newark, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a 16m drive with frequent turns across 11.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
McCarter Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 5.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Broad Street.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 11.1 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 0.8 miles (Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.8 mi into trip | ~1m in | Broad Street

Turn left onto Broad Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
7.1 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the exit toward NJ 3: Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel

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 9 Toward NJ 3: Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
7
7.4 mi into trip | ~10m in

Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 3 West: Clifton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
7
9.5 mi into trip | ~12m in

Take the exit toward Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield, Passaic, Clifton

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 Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield, Passaic,...
8
9.6 mi into trip | ~13m in | CR 622 / Bloomfield Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto CR 622 / Bloomfield Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Newark, NJ and Brookdale, NJ, road signs point toward Bloomfield, Passaic and Clifton.

Bloomfield

9.5 mi in | ~12m

Passaic

9.5 mi in | ~12m

Clifton

9.5 mi in | ~12m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
McCarter Highway 5.8 mi 6m
NJ 3 1.7 mi 1m
West Passaic Avenue 0.9 mi 1m
Washington Street 0.6 mi 1m
Broad Street 0.5 mi <1m
Bloomfield Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Market Street 0.1 mi <1m
Clay Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: McCarter Highway — 5.8 mi, about 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Newark, NJ and Brookdale, NJ.

1

Start on CR 510

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Market Street
2

Turn right

217 ft · 7 sec
3

Turn straight onto Washington Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Turn left onto Broad Street

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Broad Street
Use the left lane.
5

Turn right

150 ft · 5 sec
Use the right lane.
6

Continue on CR 506 Spur

518 ft · 13 sec · Clay Street
7

Turn left onto NJ 21

5.8 mi · 6 min · McCarter Highway
Use the left lane.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Exit 9 Toward NJ 3: Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton Use the slight right lane.
10

Continue on NJ 3

1.7 mi · 1 min · NJ 3
11

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 27 sec
Toward Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield, Passaic, Clifton Use the slight right lane.
12

At end of road, turn left onto CR 622

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Bloomfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
13

Continue on CR 622

411 ft · 9 sec · Darling Avenue
14

Turn right onto CR 622

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Passaic Avenue
15

Turn right onto CR 509

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Broad Street
16

Turn left onto Irwin Place

473 ft · 20 sec · Irwin Place
17

Arrive at destination

Irwin Place

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 5.5 miles from Newark, NJ, or about 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.8 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 11.1 miles or 16m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 5.5 miles or 7m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 12m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brookdale, NJ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Newark, 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 Newark, NJ

This is one driving day of about 11.1 miles and 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Newark, 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 McCarter Highway for about 5.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 5.5 mi from Newark, NJ · 7m into the drive

most populous city in the United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

New York City, NY

6 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

New York City, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New York City, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 5.5 miles from Newark, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Brookdale, NJ

The final approach into Brookdale, 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 Brookdale, NJ.

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.

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

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...

4 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 near mile 1.9
Park Closure: Glenmont Mansion and Grounds Closed
View on nps.gov
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

5 mi from route ~13 min detour Free near mile 9.5
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area

Gateway National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

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...

18 mi from route ~45 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Morristown National Historical Park

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...

19 mi from route ~48 min detour Free near mile 0.4
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.84 one way

$3.68 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $2.02 $4.03
premium $4.93 $2.15 $4.31
diesel $5.61 $2.45 $4.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 3.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.3 0 $1.17 $0.53
Efficient EV 2.8 0 $0.97 $0.44
EV Truck/SUV 4.4 0 $1.55 $0.71

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Newark, NJ

Night in Newark on Tuesday

Local time

10:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Brookdale, NJ

Night in Brookdale on Tuesday

Local time

10:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

59°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

2 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

16m 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 Newark, NJ to Brookdale, NJ covers 11.1 miles and takes about 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are McCarter Highway, NJ 3, West Passaic Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.5 miles from Newark, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.84 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 12 significant decision points across 11.1 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 0.8 miles (Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Newark, NJ and Brookdale, NJ, road signs point toward Bloomfield, Passaic and Clifton.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Brookdale, NJ to Newark, NJ

Plan the drive back the other way.

10.6 mi 15m

Continue From Brookdale, NJ

Union City, NJ 11.2 mi · 16m

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