Origin
Plainfield, NJ
Night in Plainfield on Sunday
Local time
9:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plainfield, NJ to East Orange, NJ
Drive Time
28m
Distance
16.8 mi
27 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plainfield, NJ
Thomas Parker
East Orange, NJ
Malcolm Garret
Trip Overview
Spanning just 16.8 miles, this quick trip from Plainfield to East Orange is an efficient transit across New Jersey. You can easily complete the entire journey in about 28 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $3 for fuel covers your travel costs, keeping this route highly economical. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region, you will remain in a familiar urban landscape throughout the duration of your drive. Because it is a short, straightforward commute, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule.
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
8.4 miles from Plainfield, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience as 86% of your trip takes place on major thoroughfares. You will navigate via US 22, the Garden State Parkway, and South Oraton Parkway to reach your destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 9.2 miles on US 22, which serves as the primary backbone of your journey. Transitioning between these roads requires focus, but the route maintains a fast, consistent pace once you merge onto the main highways. This isn't a winding scenic tour, but rather a functional, high-speed connection between two North Jersey hubs.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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 9.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 22 and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near CR 642 / Mountain Avenue.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 16.8 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 0.6 miles (CR 642 / Mountain Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 14.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles (CR 510 / South Orange Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 642 / Mountain Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto CR 642 / Mountain Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
14.2 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward CR 510
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 144
Toward CR 510
8
14.7 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
CR 510 / South Orange Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto CR 510 / South Orange Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
6
15.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
South Oraton Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto South Oraton Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
16.6 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
North Arlington Avenue
Turn sharp left onto North Arlington Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Along This Route
Between Plainfield, NJ and East Orange, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North: Paterson and Cr 510.
Gsp Toll North: Paterson
10 mi in
|
~17m
Cr 510
14.2 mi in
|
~23m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 22 | 9.2 mi | 14m |
| Garden State Parkway | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| South Oraton Parkway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Leland Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Maybaum Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Parkway Drive | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Speedway Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Mountain Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 22
— 9.2 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plainfield, NJ and East Orange, NJ.
1
Start on Leland Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Leland Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto CR 642
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Mountain Avenue
3
Merge onto US 22
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 22
Use the none lane.
4
Continue on US 22
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
US 22
Use the none lane.
5
Continue on US 22
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
US 22
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward GSP Toll North: Paterson
7
Merge onto GSP
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 144
Toward CR 510
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto Eastern Parkway
518 ft
·
17 sec
·
Eastern Parkway
10
Continue on Speedway Avenue
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Speedway Avenue
11
At end of road, turn left onto CR 510
511 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Orange Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
12
Turn slight right onto Maybaum Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Maybaum Avenue
13
Continue on Birchwood Avenue
362 ft
·
9 sec
·
Birchwood Avenue
14
Continue on South Oraton Parkway
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
South Oraton Parkway
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto South Oraton Parkway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Oraton Parkway
Use the none lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto Parkway Drive
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Parkway Drive
17
Turn sharp left onto North Arlington Avenue
343 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Arlington Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Turn slight left onto Parkway Drive
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Parkway Drive
19
Arrive at destination
Parkway Drive
Trip Plan
Given the short 28-minute duration, you don't need to worry about planning formal stops or rest breaks along the way. Your primary concern should be timing your departure to avoid peak traffic congestion on the Garden State Parkway, as highway-heavy routes can fluctuate significantly during rush hour. Since you only need about $3 for fuel, fill up before you leave Plainfield to ensure you aren't searching for stations once you hit the tighter corridors near East Orange. Take advantage of the route's simplicity by keeping your itinerary flexible; you can easily head out whenever your schedule allows. Keep a close eye on the transition from US 22 to the Parkway to ensure you don't miss your merge points.
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 8.4 miles from Plainfield, NJ, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9.2 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 16.8 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.4 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Orange, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Plainfield, 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 Plainfield, NJ
This is one driving day of about 16.8 miles and 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Plainfield, 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 US 22 for about 9.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.4 mi from Plainfield, NJ · 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 16.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.4 miles from Plainfield, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in East Orange, NJ
The final approach into East Orange, 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 East Orange, 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
$2.78 one way
$5.56 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $3.04 | $6.08 |
| premium | $4.92 | $3.26 | $6.51 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.73 | $7.46 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.23
Garden State Parkway
(3.8 mi)
$0.23
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
$3
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
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
East Orange, NJ
Night in East Orange on Sunday
Local time
9:34 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
28m 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 Plainfield, NJ to East Orange, NJ covers 16.8 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 22, Garden State Parkway, South Oraton 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 Plainfield, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.78 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 10 significant decision points across 16.8 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 0.6 miles (CR 642 / Mountain Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 14.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles (CR 510 / South Orange Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Plainfield, NJ and East Orange, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North: Paterson and Cr 510.
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