Origin
Elizabeth, NJ
Late night in Elizabeth on Tuesday
Local time
4:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elizabeth, NJ to Rutherford, NJ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
14 mi
23 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Rutherford, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 14-mile drive from Elizabeth, NJ to Rutherford, NJ is designed for a single day, taking approximately 24 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate major roadways like NJ 21 and US 1, with Riverside Avenue also playing a role. Given its brevity and focus on highway travel, this route is easily manageable in one go and fits within a modest $2 fuel budget. It's a straightforward journey within the Northeast region, connecting two points within New Jersey without requiring an overnight stay. Consider this a quick transit rather than an extensive exploration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 21 | 8.1 mi | 13m |
| US 1 | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Riverside Avenue | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Spring Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Park Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Rutherford Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Kingsland Avenue | 0.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 21
— 8.1 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth, NJ and Rutherford, NJ.
1
Start on this road
34 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto East Jersey Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Jersey Street
3
Turn left onto US 1; US 9
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Spring Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; US 9
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21
8.1 mi
·
13 min
·
NJ 21
Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 8
Toward Nutley, Lyndhurst
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto Kingsland Avenue
0.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Kingsland Avenue
8
Turn left onto CR 507
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Riverside Avenue
9
Turn right onto CR S-30
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Rutherford Avenue
10
Turn left onto CR 30
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Park Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
CR 30
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 13.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 1; US 9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; US 9
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
3.5 mi into trip
|
~5m 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
8
11.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward Nutley, Lyndhurst
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 8
Toward Nutley, Lyndhurst
5
11.8 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
Kingsland Avenue
Turn right onto Kingsland Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
13.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
CR 30 / Park Avenue
Turn left onto CR 30 / Park Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.32 one way
$4.64 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.54 | $5.08 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.72 | $5.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.09 | $6.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
| Efficient EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.22 | $0.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.96 | $0.90 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Rutherford, NJ
Late night in Rutherford on Tuesday
Local time
4:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
1 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
24m 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 highway-focused experience on this route, with 73% of the drive utilizing faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.1 miles on NJ 21, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. While predominantly highway, the inclusion of roads like Riverside Avenue might introduce brief moments of varied traffic conditions. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, prioritizing directness between your starting and ending points within New Jersey.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.1 mi on NJ 21.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 21 and US 1. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near US 1; US 9.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 14 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (US 1; US 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles (NJ 21): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Elizabeth, NJ and Rutherford, NJ, road signs point toward Downtown, Nutley and Lyndhurst.
Downtown
3.5 mi in
|
~5m
|
via NJ 21
Nutley
11.6 mi in
|
~18m
Lyndhurst
11.6 mi in
|
~18m
About the Cities
Starting in Elizabeth, NJ
Full guide →Elizabeth is the fourth largest city in New Jersey.
Arriving in Rutherford, NJ
Full guide →Rutherford is a cute suburb in Bergen County, New Jersey, becoming incredibly expensive to live in.
Top landmarks
- • Rutherford — New Jersey Transit railroad station
- • Woman's Club of Rutherford — women's club in Rutherford, 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 24m. Total distance: 14 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.1 miles on NJ 21. 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 Rutherford, 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 1.3 miles (US 1; US 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles (NJ 21): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rutherford, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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