Origin
Elizabethport, NJ
Morning in Elizabethport on Sunday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elizabethport, NJ to Lake Hopatcong, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
40.2 mi
65 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabethport, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Lake Hopatcong, NJ
Mathias Reding
Trip Overview
Planning a quick escape from Elizabethport, NJ, to Lake Hopatcong, NJ? This 40.2-mile journey is perfectly suited for a single day trip, taking just about 59 minutes to complete. You'll be navigating primarily via the Essex Freeway and Christopher Columbus Highway before transitioning to NJ 15 North. With a modest fuel cost of around $7, this drive offers a straightforward and efficient way to reach your destination. Given its short duration and the Northeast region connecting both points, it's an easy addition to any weekend itinerary or a convenient commute.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Essex Freeway | 12.5 mi | 15m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 11.4 mi | 13m |
| NJ 15 North | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| NJ 21 | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| US 1 | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| East Jersey Street | 1.3 mi | 4m |
| Spring Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| CR 615 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Essex Freeway
— 12.5 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabethport, NJ and Lake Hopatcong, NJ.
1
Start on Broadway
370 ft
·
21 sec
·
Broadway
2
Turn left onto 2nd Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
2nd Street
3
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
1.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Jersey Street
4
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Spring Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; US 9
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
NJ 21
Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto Raymond Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Raymond Boulevard
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on Lock Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Lock Street
9
Continue on Nesbitt Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Nesbitt Street
10
Turn left onto Orange Street
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Orange Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 280 West: Garden State Parkway
Use the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 280
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Essex Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 280 West, I 80 West
14
Merge onto I 80
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 34B
Toward NJ 15 North: Sparta, Jefferson
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on NJ 15
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 15 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
431 ft
·
15 sec
18
Continue on CR 615
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
CR 615
19
At end of road, turn left onto CR 615
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Espanong Road
20
Arrive at destination
CR 615
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.1 miles from Elizabethport, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 34 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 1; US 9 / Spring Street
Turn right onto US 1; US 9 / Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
2.5 mi into trip
|
~6m 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
4.7 mi into trip
|
~9m 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
6
9.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the ramp toward I 280 West: Garden State Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 280 West: Garden State Parkway
8
34 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward NJ 15 North: Sparta, Jefferson
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 34B
Toward NJ 15 North: Sparta, Jefferson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.66 one way
$13.33 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.30 | $14.60 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.80 | $15.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.88 | $17.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.22 | $1.93 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.52 | $1.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.63 | $2.57 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Lake Hopatcong, NJ
Morning in Lake Hopatcong on Sunday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Concord, NY
20 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
9 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
59m 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?
This route offers a mixed driving experience, with 55% of the journey taking place on highways. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced driving, including a significant 12.5-mile segment on the Essex Freeway, before the character of the drive shifts. As you progress, expect a blend of highway travel and potentially more localized roads as you approach your destination. The transition from the more urbanized initial segments to the approach of Lake Hopatcong should provide a noticeable change in scenery and traffic patterns.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.5 mi on Essex Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near US 1; US 9 / Spring Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 40.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (US 1; US 9 / Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (US 1; US 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles (NJ 21): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Elizabethport, NJ and Lake Hopatcong, NJ, road signs point toward Downtown and Jefferson.
Downtown
4.7 mi in
|
~9m
|
via NJ 21
Jefferson
34 mi in
|
~49m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 40.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.5 miles on Essex Freeway. 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 Lake Hopatcong, 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 1.5 miles (US 1; US 9 / Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (US 1; US 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles (NJ 21): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Lake Hopatcong, 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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