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Trip from West Long Branch, NJ to Newark, NJ

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 2m

Distance

44.1 mi

71 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 57m ★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m

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

Downtown West Long Branch, NJ, NJ

West Long Branch, NJ

Malcolm Garret

Trip Overview

This 44.1-mile drive from West Long Branch, NJ, to Newark, NJ, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 2 minutes, making it ideal for a single day. Primarily utilizing the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike, with a brief stint on NJ 36, this route is heavily highway-focused, with 89% of the drive on high-speed roads. Given its short duration and budget-friendly fuel cost of around $7, an overnight split isn't necessary. This journey stays within the Northeast region, offering a practical way to navigate between two points in New Jersey without extensive planning.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 44.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience on this 44.1-mile journey, with 89% of your time spent on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.5 miles on the Garden State Parkway, providing a consistent pace for a significant portion of the drive. You'll primarily be on major parkways and turnpikes, so anticipate a steady flow of traffic and limited opportunities for scenic detours. The character of the road remains largely consistent, emphasizing efficient travel over varied landscapes.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 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 22.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 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 44.1 miles you will encounter 19 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 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

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

8
3.6 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight right at fork toward GSP Notrh: Woodbridge

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward GSP Notrh: Woodbridge
6
14.5 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward Crossover to Express Roadway

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

Use the slight left lane. Toward Crossover to Express Roadway
8
26.9 mi into trip | ~35m in

Take the exit toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton

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 129 Toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton
8
38 mi into trip | ~50m in

Take the exit toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport

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 13A Toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
8
41.4 mi into trip | ~56m in | NJ 21

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21 toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown

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

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between West Long Branch, NJ and Newark, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Notrh: Woodbridge, Crossover To Express Roadway, Njtp: New York City, Trenton, Njtp North: New York City and Newark Airport - among others.

Gsp Notrh: Woodbridge

3.6 mi in | ~6m

Crossover To Express Roadway

14.5 mi in | ~19m

Njtp: New York City

26.9 mi in | ~35m

Trenton

26.9 mi in | ~35m

Njtp North: New York City

27.9 mi in | ~37m

Newark Airport

38 mi in | ~50m

Elizabeth Seaport

38 mi in | ~50m

Downtown

41.4 mi in | ~56m | via NJ 21

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Garden State Parkway 22.5 mi 27m
New Jersey Turnpike 9.5 mi 11m
NJ 36 2.8 mi 4m
NJ 21 1.9 mi 3m
US 1 1.7 mi 2m
NJ 81 0.7 mi 1m
Mulberry Street 0.6 mi 1m
Parker Road 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 22.5 mi, about 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Long Branch, NJ and Newark, NJ.

1

Start on CR 15

104 ft · 9 sec · Locust Avenue
2

Turn left onto Parker Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Parker Road
3

Turn right onto NJ 71

0.4 mi · 39 sec · Monmouth Road
4

Turn left onto NJ 36

2.8 mi · 4 min · NJ 36
5

Take the exit

221 ft · 5 sec
Toward GSP: Garden State Parkway
6

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward GSP Notrh: Woodbridge Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 25 sec
8

Merge onto GSP

10 mi · 12 min · Garden State Parkway
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 12 sec
Toward Crossover to Express Roadway Use the slight left lane.
10

Merge onto GSP

12 mi · 15 min · Garden State Parkway
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Exit 129 Toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 16 sec
13

Continue on this road

0.5 mi · 1 min · this road
14

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 16 sec · this road
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
15

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
16

Merge onto I 95; NJTP

9.5 mi · 11 min · New Jersey Turnpike
17

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 13A Toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport Use the slight right lane.
18

Merge onto NJ 81

0.7 mi · 1 min · NJ 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 44 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Continue on US 1; US 9

1.7 mi · 2 min · US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21

1.9 mi · 3 min · NJ 21
Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
22

Turn left onto Chestnut Street

229 ft · 7 sec · Chestnut Street
Use the left lane.
23

Turn right onto Mulberry Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Mulberry Street
24

Turn left onto CR 510

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Market Street
Use the left lane.
25

Arrive at destination

CR 510

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 22.1 mi from West Long Branch, NJ · 29m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 22.1 miles from West Long Branch, 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.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.31 one way

$14.62 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $8.01 $16.01
premium $4.93 $8.55 $17.11
diesel $5.61 $9.74 $19.47

Estimated Tolls: $2.68

Garden State Parkway (22.5 mi) $1.35
New Jersey Turnpike (9.5 mi) $1.33

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Tolls

$3

Total

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 15.4 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 13.2 0 $4.63 $2.12
Efficient EV 11 0 $3.86 $1.76
EV Truck/SUV 17.6 0 $6.17 $2.82

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

West Long Branch, NJ

Night in West Long Branch on Thursday

Local time

11:23 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Newark, NJ

Night in Newark on Thursday

Local time

11:23 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

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

15 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 2m 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 Long Branch, NJ to Newark, NJ covers 44.1 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, NJ 36. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.1 miles from West Long Branch, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.31 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 44.1 miles you will encounter 19 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 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between West Long Branch, NJ and Newark, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Notrh: Woodbridge, Crossover To Express Roadway, Njtp: New York City, Trenton, Njtp North: New York City and Newark Airport - among others.

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