Edison, NJ to Northfield, NJ is 101 miles and takes about 2h 3m via the Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive entirely within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its relatively short distance and duration, it's perfectly suited for a single-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major parkways and interstates, making for an efficient journey. Plan this trip when you need a quick and easy transit between these two New Jersey locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.5 miles from Edison, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
91.6 mi
1h 47m
Tilton Road
2 mi
3m
I 287
2 mi
2m
Lincoln Highway
1.9 mi
3m
NJ 440
1.8 mi
2m
Plainfield Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
Zion Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Reed Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 91.6 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Edison, NJ and Northfield, NJ.
1
Start on this road
175 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Continue on Reed Street
348 ft·20 sec·Reed Street
3
Turn left onto Central Avenue
345 ft·18 sec·Central Avenue
4
Turn right onto CR 529
0.4 mi·1 min·Plainfield Avenue
5
Turn left onto NJ 27
1.9 mi·3 min·Lincoln Highway
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 287 South, NJTP, GSP
7
Merge onto I 287
2.0 mi·2 min·I 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on NJ 440
1.8 mi·2 min·NJ 440
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward GSP SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto GSP
1.7 mi·2 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi·49 sec·Garden State Parkway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
89 mi·1 hr 43 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 36Toward CR 563: Northfield, Margate CityUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto CR 563
2.0 mi·3 min·Tilton Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto CR 615
0.1 mi·21 sec·Zion Road
16
Arrive at destination
CR 615
Trip Plan
For this 101-mile trip, leaving Edison, NJ, anytime during daylight hours will allow you to complete it within a single day. Since the drive is under 3 hours, you likely won't need extensive stops, but rest areas are available along the Garden State Parkway if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 91.6-mile stretch on the Garden State Parkway, as services can be spaced out. A good tip is to fill up before you depart Edison to ensure you have ample fuel for the entire journey and avoid any potential delays searching for a gas station mid-route.
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 50.5 miles from Edison, NJ, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.6 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 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.5 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Northfield, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Edison, 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 Edison, NJ
This is one driving day of about 101 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Edison, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 91.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 98.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.7 mi into trip|~6m in|I 287
Merge onto I 287
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
6.5 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward GSP South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward GSP South
5
6.9 mi into trip|~12m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
9.4 mi into trip|~15m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
98.6 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward CR 563: Northfield, Margate City
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 36
Toward CR 563: Northfield, Margate City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.74 one way
$33.49 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$18.34
$36.68
premium
$4.93
$19.59
$39.18
diesel
$5.61
$22.30
$44.60
Estimated Tolls: $5.49
Garden State Parkway
(91.6 mi)$5.49
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
$17
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.3
0
$10.60
$4.85
Efficient EV
25.3
0
$8.84
$4.04
EV Truck/SUV
40.4
0
$14.14
$6.46
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Edison, NJ
Night
in Edison on Saturday
Local time
10:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Northfield, NJ
Night
in Northfield on Saturday
Local time
10:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
25 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
2h 3m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 20.9
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the journey utilizing major roadways like the Garden State Parkway and I-287. You'll experience long, uninterrupted stretches, including one segment of 91.6 miles solely on the Garden State Parkway. Expect a consistent pace for the majority of your travel, characterized by smooth driving conditions on well-maintained parkways and interstates. While the profile is heavily highway-oriented, the final approach may involve local roads like Tilton Road as you reach your destination.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.6 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Tilton Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 287.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 101 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 2.7 miles (I 287): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
On the drive from Edison, NJ to Northfield, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp South along the way.
Gsp South
6.5 mi in|~11m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 101 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 91.6 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.49 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Northfield, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 287): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway National Recreation Area, Morristown National Historical Park and Thomas Edison National Historical Park (4 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 Northfield, NJ before heading back.
