Origin
Newark, NJ
Night in Newark on Thursday
Local time
11:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newark, NJ to North Plainfield, NJ
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
29m
Distance
16.8 mi
27 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Plainfield, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 16.8-mile drive from Newark to North Plainfield, New Jersey, is designed as a single-day trip, taking approximately 29 minutes to complete. With a projected fuel cost of around $3, it's an economical option for a short journey. The route primarily utilizes US 22, Springfield Avenue, and the Garden State Parkway, making it a straightforward transit through the Northeast region. Its highway-focused profile suggests a focus on efficient travel rather than leisurely sightseeing. Given the short duration, no overnight stays are necessary, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 16.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a drive that is predominantly highway-focused, with 74% of the journey on faster roads. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 10.4 miles on US 22, which forms the backbone of this trip. The route offers a mix of efficient travel, as indicated by its highway-centric nature, and likely transitions to more local access roads as you approach your destination. This means you can anticipate periods of steady cruising punctuated by changes in speed and environment.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 10.4 miles.
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 10 decision points packed into just 16.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
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 10 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 North Plainfield, 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 | 10.4 mi | 16m |
| 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 |
| North Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Lyons Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Union Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 22
— 10.4 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newark, NJ and North Plainfield, 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
10 mi
·
16 min
·
US 22
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
305 ft
·
10 sec
12
Turn left onto North Drive
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Drive
13
Arrive at destination
Norwood Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.79 one way
$5.57 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.05 | $6.10 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.26 | $6.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.71 | $7.42 |
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
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.9 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 | 5 | 0 | $1.76 | $0.81 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
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
North Plainfield, NJ
Night in North Plainfield on Thursday
Local time
11:54 PM
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
29m 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 North Plainfield, NJ covers 16.8 miles and takes about 29m 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 8.4 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 $2.79 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 10 decision points packed into just 16.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
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 North Plainfield, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp South: Garden State Parkway South and Somerville.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
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