Origin
Brass Castle, NJ
Afternoon in Brass Castle on Sunday
Local time
3:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brass Castle, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
54.2 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brass Castle, NJ
Joel Zar
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 54.2-mile drive from Brass Castle to Elizabeth, New Jersey, is an efficient journey that can be completed in about 1 hour and 13 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. With a fuel cost estimated at $9, this route is quite budget-friendly for a quick hop within the Northeast region. You won't need to worry about overnight stays or complex itinerary planning, as the main roads, including Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and NJ 31, are designed for direct travel. This trip is all about getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 36.2 mi | 41m |
| NJ 31 | 10 mi | 14m |
| Spring Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Broad Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Brass Castle Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Washington Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Hillside Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
— 36.2 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brass Castle, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on Forces Hill Road
74 ft
·
3 sec
·
Forces Hill Road
2
Turn straight onto CR 623
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Brass Castle Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto NJ 57
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Washington Avenue
4
Turn right onto South Lincoln Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Lincoln Avenue
5
Turn left
230 ft
·
18 sec
6
At end of road, turn right onto NJ 31
10 mi
·
14 min
·
NJ 31
7
Take the exit onto ramp to I-78/US 22 East
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
ramp to I-78/US 22 East
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Newark
8
Merge onto I 78; US 22
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 54
Toward Hillside, Irvington
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
Toward Hillside
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on Winans Avenue
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Winans Avenue
14
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Liberty Avenue
15
Turn left onto CR 628
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Hillside Avenue
16
Continue on CR 628
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Hillside Avenue
17
At end of road, turn right onto CR 623
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
18
Turn left onto NJ 439
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Avenue
19
Turn right onto Spring Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Spring Street
20
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Jersey Street
21
Turn right
34 ft
·
2 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.1 miles from Brass Castle, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 49.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
NJ 57 / West Washington Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto NJ 57 / West Washington Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
26.7 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
43.3 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
49.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m 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
49.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Hillside
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Hillside
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.99 one way
$17.97 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.84 | $19.68 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.51 | $21.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.97 | $23.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.69 | $2.60 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.59 | $3.47 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Afternoon in Elizabeth on Sunday
Local time
3:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Bedminster, NJ
27 mi in
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
5 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 13m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a primarily highway-focused experience on this 54.2-mile route, with 86% of the drive taking place on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 36.2 miles along the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, offering a sustained period of highway travel. While the specific road types vary, the overall feel is one of consistent motion, punctuated by transitions between major arteries like the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and NJ 31. This isn't a winding scenic byway, but rather a practical connection designed for efficient transit.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.2 mi on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and NJ 31. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near NJ 57 / West Washington Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.2 miles you will encounter 17 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 miles (NJ 57 / West Washington Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 26.7 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.3 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Brass Castle, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Hillside and Irvington.
Hillside
49.2 mi in
|
~1h 3m
Irvington
49.2 mi in
|
~1h 3m
About the Cities
Arriving in Elizabeth, NJ
Full guide →Elizabeth is the fourth largest city in New Jersey.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 54.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.2 miles on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Elizabeth, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (NJ 57 / West Washington Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 26.7 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.3 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elizabeth, NJ before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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