Origin
South Plainfield, NJ
Night in South Plainfield on Tuesday
Local time
11:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Plainfield, NJ to Newark, NJ
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
34m
Distance
19.3 mi
31 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Plainfield, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 19.3-mile drive from South Plainfield, NJ, to Newark, NJ, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 34 minutes. The route primarily utilizes the Garden State Parkway, Springfield Avenue, and Inman Avenue, offering a mixed driving experience. With a modest fuel cost estimate of $3, this journey is an economical option for local travel within the Northeast region. You won't need to worry about overnight stays, making it a convenient option for a quick transit or a short excursion.
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
9.6 miles from South Plainfield, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 39% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.5 miles along the Garden State Parkway, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. As you transition from the parkway to Springfield Avenue and Inman Avenue, the character of the drive will likely shift to more local roads, potentially with increased traffic and varied speed limits. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway travel and more community-focused segments.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 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 7.5 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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Front Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 19.3 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Front Street
Turn left onto Front Street
Navigation decision point
7
7.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the ramp toward GSP North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward GSP North
7
15.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward Irvington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 143
Toward Irvington
6
15.7 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Cleremont Avenue
Turn left onto Cleremont Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
16.3 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
CR 603 / Springfield Avenue
Turn right onto CR 603 / Springfield Avenue
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 South Plainfield, NJ and Newark, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North and Irvington.
Gsp North
7.8 mi in
|
~16m
Irvington
15.5 mi in
|
~26m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 7.5 mi | 10m |
| Springfield Avenue | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Inman Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Raritan Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Maple Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Oak Ridge Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Feather Bed Lane | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Ball Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 7.5 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Plainfield, NJ and Newark, NJ.
1
Start on South Plainfield Avenue
122 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Plainfield Avenue
2
Turn left onto Front Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Front Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto CR 602
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Maple Avenue
4
Continue on CR 602
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Maple Street
5
Continue on CR 602
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Old Raritan Road
6
Turn right onto CR 602
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Inman Avenue
7
Turn left onto Feather Bed Lane
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Feather Bed Lane
8
Continue on CR 607
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Oak Ridge Road
9
Continue on CR 607
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Raritan Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto CR 613
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward GSP North
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Merge onto GSP
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 143
Toward Irvington
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto Cleremont Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Cleremont Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on Ball Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Ball Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Continue on Washington Avenue
450 ft
·
13 sec
·
Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto CR 603
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Springfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on CR 510
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Market Street
19
Arrive at destination
CR 510
Trip Plan
Given the short 34-minute duration and 19.3-mile distance, this trip offers a lot of flexibility; you can depart at your convenience without needing to plan for extended stops. The estimated fuel cost is a low $3, so you likely won't need extensive refueling. Keep an eye out for the transitions between the Garden State Parkway and the local roads like Springfield Avenue, as these can sometimes involve more complex intersections or traffic patterns. Planning to drive outside of peak commute hours could make for an even smoother 34-minute journey.
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 9.6 miles from South Plainfield, NJ, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.5 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 19.3 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.6 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newark, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South 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 South Plainfield, NJ
This is one driving day of about 19.3 miles and 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from South 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 Garden State Parkway for about 7.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.6 mi from South Plainfield, NJ · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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 19.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.6 miles from South Plainfield, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Newark, NJ
The final approach into Newark, 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 Newark, 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
$3.20 one way
$6.40 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.50 | $7.01 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.74 | $7.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.26 | $8.52 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.45
Garden State Parkway
(7.5 mi)
$0.45
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
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.03 | $0.93 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.24 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Newark, NJ
Night in Newark on Tuesday
Local time
11:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
34m 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 South Plainfield, NJ to Newark, NJ covers 19.3 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Springfield Avenue, Inman Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.6 miles from South Plainfield, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.20 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 19.3 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between South Plainfield, NJ and Newark, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North and Irvington.
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