Origin
West Caldwell, NJ
Evening in West Caldwell on Tuesday
Local time
6:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Caldwell, NJ to Jersey City, NJ
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
29m
Distance
19.1 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 27m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Caldwell, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from West Caldwell, NJ to Jersey City, NJ covers 19.1 miles and takes about 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Essex Freeway, Passaic Avenue, Lincoln Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 10.1 miles on Essex Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.17 one way before food or hotel costs.
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 West Caldwell, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from West Caldwell, NJ to Jersey City, NJ covers 19.1 miles and takes about 29m, 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 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Essex Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 10.1 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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near CR 611 / Eagle Rock Avenue.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 19.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.9 miles (CR 611 / Eagle Rock Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (CR 609 / Eisenhower Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 12.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CR 611 / Eagle Rock Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto CR 611 / Eagle Rock Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CR 609 / Eisenhower Parkway
Turn right onto CR 609 / Eisenhower Parkway
Navigation decision point
8
12.8 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward NJ 21: Newark, Belleville, Prudential Center
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 15
Toward NJ 21: Newark, Belleville, Prudential Ce...
6
13 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
McCarter Highway
Turn right onto McCarter Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
7
18 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Take the exit onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck toward US 1 Truck North, US 9 Truck North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 1 Truck North, US 9 Truck North
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between West Caldwell, NJ and Jersey City, NJ, road signs point toward Belleville and Prudential Center.
Belleville
12.8 mi in
|
~17m
Prudential Center
12.8 mi in
|
~17m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Essex Freeway | 10.1 mi | 13m |
| Passaic Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Lincoln Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Ferry Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Market Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| McCarter Highway | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Raymond Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| US 1 Truck | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Essex Freeway
— 10.1 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Caldwell, NJ and Jersey City, NJ.
1
Start on CR 613
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Passaic Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto CR 611
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Eagle Rock Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 609
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Eisenhower Parkway
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 280 East
5
Merge onto I 280
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Essex Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 15
Toward NJ 21: Newark, Belleville, Prudential Center
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto McCarter Highway
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
McCarter Highway
Use the left / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto Raymond Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Raymond Boulevard
Use the left lane.
9
Turn straight onto Market Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Market Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on Ferry Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Ferry Street
11
Continue on Raymond Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Raymond Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Lincoln Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Toward US 1 Truck North, US 9 Truck North
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Duncan Avenue
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Duncan Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto Olean Avenue
316 ft
·
13 sec
·
Olean Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Olean Avenue
Trip Plan
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 West Caldwell, NJ, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.1 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 19.1 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.6 miles or 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jersey City, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Caldwell, 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 West Caldwell, NJ
This is one driving day of about 19.1 miles and 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from West Caldwell, 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 Essex Freeway for about 10.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.6 mi from West Caldwell, NJ · 13m 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 19.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.6 miles from West Caldwell, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Jersey City, NJ
The final approach into Jersey City, 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 Jersey City, 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
$3.17 one way
$6.33 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.47 | $6.94 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.70 | $7.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.22 | $8.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.7 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 | 5.7 | 0 | $2.01 | $0.92 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.67 | $0.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.67 | $1.22 |
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
Jersey City, NJ
Evening in Jersey City on Tuesday
Local time
6:41 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
3 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
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 West Caldwell, NJ to Jersey City, NJ covers 19.1 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Essex Freeway, Passaic Avenue, Lincoln Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.6 miles from West Caldwell, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.17 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 19.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.9 miles (CR 611 / Eagle Rock Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (CR 609 / Eisenhower Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 12.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between West Caldwell, NJ and Jersey City, NJ, road signs point toward Belleville and Prudential Center.
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