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Trip from West Caldwell, NJ to Bayonne, NJ

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

36m

Distance

22.3 mi

36 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 33m ★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States

West Caldwell, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States

Bayonne, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from West Caldwell, NJ to Bayonne, NJ covers 22.3 miles and takes about 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Essex Freeway, New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension, Passaic Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9 miles on Essex Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.70 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

11.2 miles from West Caldwell, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 36m highway drive covering 22.3 miles, with most of the trip on Essex Freeway and New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension. The longest continuous stretch is about 9 miles on Essex Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 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 9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Essex Freeway and New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.6 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 22.3 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 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
11.6 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the exit toward First Street, Branch Brook Park, Rutgers Health Sciences, NJIT

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 13 Toward First Street, Branch Brook Park, Rutgers...
8
14.7 mi into trip | ~22m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 78 East: Newark Airport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 78 East: Newark Airport
8
15 mi into trip | ~23m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City
8
15.9 mi into trip | ~24m in

Take the exit toward NJTP, I 95, US 1-9, NJ 21, US 22: Port Newark

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 58A-B Toward NJTP, I 95, US 1-9, NJ 21, US 22: Port N...
7
20.5 mi into trip | ~31m in

Take the exit toward NJ 440: Bayonne

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 14A Toward NJ 440: Bayonne

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 Bayonne, NJ, road signs point toward Branch Brook Park, Rutgers Health Sciences, Njit, New York City and Njtp.

Branch Brook Park

11.6 mi in | ~16m

Rutgers Health Sciences

11.6 mi in | ~16m

Njit

11.6 mi in | ~16m

New York City

15 mi in | ~23m

Njtp

15.9 mi in | ~24m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Essex Freeway 9 mi 11m
New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension 3.3 mi 4m
Passaic Avenue 1.9 mi 3m
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway 1.6 mi 2m
Irvine Turner Boulevard 1.4 mi 3m
Broadway 1.3 mi 3m
West Market Street 0.4 mi 1m
1st Street 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Essex Freeway — 9 mi, about 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Caldwell, NJ and Bayonne, 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

9.0 mi · 11 min · Essex Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Exit 13 Toward First Street, Branch Brook Park, Rutgers Health Sciences, NJIT Use the slight left lane.
7

Turn right onto 1st Street

0.4 mi · 48 sec · 1st Street
Use the right lane.
8

Turn left onto West Market Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · West Market Street
Use the left lane.
9

Turn right onto Norfolk Street

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Norfolk Street
10

Continue on Jones Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Jones Street
11

Continue on Irvine Turner Boulevard

1.4 mi · 3 min · Irvine Turner Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
12

Take the ramp

474 ft · 11 sec
Toward I 78
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 78 East: Newark Airport Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City Use the slight left lane.
15

Merge onto I 78

0.6 mi · 45 sec · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 20 sec
Exit 58A-B Toward NJTP, I 95, US 1-9, NJ 21, US 22: Port Newark Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Merge onto I 78

1.0 mi · 1 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto I 78; NJTP

3.3 mi · 4 min · New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension
19

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 14A Toward NJ 440: Bayonne Use the slight right lane.
20

Take the exit

247 ft · 8 sec
Toward East 53rd Street
21

Continue on East 53rd Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · East 53rd Street
22

Turn left onto Broadway

1.3 mi · 3 min · Broadway
Use the left lane.
23

Arrive at destination

Broadway

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 11.2 miles from West Caldwell, NJ, or about 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9 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 22.3 miles or 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 11.2 miles or 15m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 29m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bayonne, 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 22.3 miles and 36m.

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 9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 11.2 mi from West Caldwell, NJ · 15m into the drive

most populous city in the United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

New York City, NY

11 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New York City, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 11.2 miles from West Caldwell, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bayonne, NJ

The final approach into Bayonne, 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 Bayonne, NJ.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...

1 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 near mile 7.7
Park Closure: Glenmont Mansion and Grounds Closed
View on nps.gov
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...

8 mi from route ~20 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Morristown National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...

12 mi from route ~29 min detour Free near mile 2.3
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area

Gateway National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...

13 mi from route ~31 min detour Free near mile 20.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.70 one way

$7.39 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 8 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $4.05 $8.10
premium $4.93 $4.32 $8.65
diesel $5.61 $4.92 $9.85

Estimated Tolls: $0.47

New Jersey Turnpike (3.3 mi) $0.47

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

$4

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: 7.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6.7 0 $2.34 $1.07
Efficient EV 5.6 0 $1.95 $0.89
EV Truck/SUV 8.9 0 $3.12 $1.43

Gas CO2

8 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (63% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

West Caldwell, NJ

Evening in West Caldwell on Tuesday

Local time

5:33 PM

EDT

Current temp

87°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 12 mph 18% chance Live forecast

Destination

Bayonne, NJ

Evening in Bayonne on Tuesday

Local time

5:33 PM

EDT

Current temp

60°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

27 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

36m 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 West Caldwell, NJ to Bayonne, NJ covers 22.3 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Essex Freeway, New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension, Passaic Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.2 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 $3.70 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 18 significant decision points across 22.3 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 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between West Caldwell, NJ and Bayonne, NJ, road signs point toward Branch Brook Park, Rutgers Health Sciences, Njit, New York City and Njtp.

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