Origin
Newark, NJ
Late night in Newark on Saturday
Local time
1:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newark, NJ to Mountainside, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
11.9 mi
19 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mountainside, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 11.9-mile drive from Newark to Mountainside, New Jersey, is a quick 22-minute trip perfect for a single day. Primarily utilizing US 22 and the Garden State Parkway, it’s a highway-focused journey with about 63% of the route on these main roads. With an estimated fuel cost of just $2, this is an economical option for getting between these two Northeast locations. You won't need to plan for an overnight stay, making it an easy addition to your travel plans. The overall feel is practical and efficient, designed to get you to your destination with minimal fuss.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 11.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 11.9-mile trip, with 63% of your travel time spent on main roads like US 22 and the Garden State Parkway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.4 miles on US 22, allowing for a consistent pace. While it's not a winding scenic route, the transition from urban Newark to the suburban feel of Mountainside offers a subtle change in environment. This drive prioritizes directness and efficiency over elaborate vistas.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 22 is the longest continuous segment at about 5.4 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
196 ft
32 ft
Total Climb
288 ft
Total Descent
176 ft
Highest Point
196 ft
~1.7 mi in
Elevation Range
164 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 22 and Springfield Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in near Washington Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 11.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles (Washington Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (Union Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Washington Avenue
Turn left onto Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Union Avenue
Turn left onto Union Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
3.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway South
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway South
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~7m 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.
8
5.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward US 22, NJ 82 East: Elizabeth, 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.
Exit 140B
Toward US 22, NJ 82 East: Elizabeth, Somerville
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 Mountainside, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp South: Garden State Parkway South and Somerville.
Gsp South: Garden State Parkway South
3.7 mi in
|
~7m
Somerville
5.9 mi in
|
~10m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 22 | 5.4 mi | 9m |
| Springfield Avenue | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Garden State Parkway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Ball Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Lyons Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Union Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| New Providence Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 22
— 5.4 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newark, NJ and Mountainside, NJ.
1
Start on CR 510
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Market Street
2
Turn left onto CR 510; CR 603
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Springfield Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto Washington Avenue
450 ft
·
11 sec
·
Washington Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on Ball Street
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Ball Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto CR 602
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Lyons Avenue
6
Turn left onto Union Avenue
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Union Avenue
7
Take the ramp
475 ft
·
11 sec
Toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway South
8
Merge onto GSP
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 140B
Toward US 22, NJ 82 East: Elizabeth, Somerville
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto US 22
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
US 22
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
404 ft
·
11 sec
12
Turn right onto CR 645
471 ft
·
11 sec
·
New Providence Road
13
Turn right onto Birch Hill Road
306 ft
·
15 sec
·
Birch Hill Road
14
Turn right onto Watchung Avenue
185 ft
·
9 sec
·
Watchung Avenue
15
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.97 one way
$3.95 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.16 | $4.32 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.31 | $4.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.63 | $5.25 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.12
Garden State Parkway
(2.1 mi)
$0.12
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$0
Total
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 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 | 3.6 | 0 | $1.25 | $0.57 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.04 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.67 | $0.76 |
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.
Destination
Mountainside, NJ
Late night in Mountainside on Saturday
Local time
1:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°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
16 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
22m 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 Mountainside, NJ covers 11.9 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 22, Springfield Avenue, 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 6 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 $1.97 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 short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 11.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles (Washington Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (Union Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Between Newark, NJ and Mountainside, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp South: Garden State Parkway South and Somerville.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 32 ft to 196 ft elevation with about 288 ft of total climbing.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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