Origin
Sparta, NJ
Night in Sparta on Thursday
Local time
10:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sparta, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
43.3 mi
70 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sparta, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sparta, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ covers 43.3 miles and takes about 1h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NJ 24, Christopher Columbus Highway, NJ 15 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.3 miles on NJ 24. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.18 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 43.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Sparta, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ covers 43.3 miles and takes about 1h 1m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NJ 24 is the longest continuous segment at about 9.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.3 miles you will encounter 22 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: at 19.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
19.4 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah
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 43
Toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah
9
19.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 287 South: Morristown, Somerville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 287 South: Morristown, Somerville
7
23.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward NJ 24 East: Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 37
Toward NJ 24 East: Springfield
8
38.3 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward Hillside, Irvington
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 54
Toward Hillside, Irvington
8
38.5 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Hillside
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Hillside
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sparta, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Mahwah, Somerville, New York City, Newark, Hillside and Irvington.
Mahwah
19.4 mi in
|
~27m
Somerville
19.5 mi in
|
~27m
New York City
33.1 mi in
|
~45m
Newark
33.1 mi in
|
~45m
Hillside
38.3 mi in
|
~51m
Irvington
38.3 mi in
|
~51m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 24 | 9.3 mi | 10m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| NJ 15 | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| I 287 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Woodport Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Spring Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Broad Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 24
— 9.3 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sparta, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on this road
93 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
69 ft
·
7 sec
3
Turn right onto NJ 181
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Woodport Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward NJ 15 South
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto NJ 15
7.7 mi
·
11 min
·
NJ 15
6
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 East: New York
7
Merge onto I 80
8.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 43
Toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 287 South: Morristown, Somerville
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 287
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 287
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 37
Toward NJ 24 East: Springfield
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on NJ 24
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
NJ 24
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City, Newark
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 78 East Local: Newark
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 78
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 54
Toward Hillside, Irvington
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
Toward Hillside
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on Winans Avenue
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Winans Avenue
19
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Liberty Avenue
20
Turn left onto CR 628
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Hillside Avenue
21
Continue on CR 628
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Hillside Avenue
22
At end of road, turn right onto CR 623
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
23
Turn left onto NJ 439
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Avenue
24
Turn right onto Spring Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Spring Street
25
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Jersey Street
26
Turn right
34 ft
·
2 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.7 mi from Sparta, NJ · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.7 miles from Sparta, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elizabeth, NJ
The final approach into Elizabeth, NJ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.18 one way
$14.36 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.86 | $15.72 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.40 | $16.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.56 | $19.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.55 | $2.08 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.06 | $2.77 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Elizabeth, NJ
Night in Elizabeth on Thursday
Local time
10:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Partly Sunny
SW 10 mph
3% chance
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
50 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
1h 1m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Sparta, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ covers 43.3 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NJ 24, Christopher Columbus Highway, NJ 15. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.7 miles from Sparta, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.18 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 43.3 miles you will encounter 22 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: at 19.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Sparta, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Mahwah, Somerville, New York City, Newark, Hillside and Irvington.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Morristown National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.
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