Origin
Freehold, NJ
Morning in Freehold on Sunday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Freehold, NJ to East Orange, 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
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
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.
Freehold, NJ
Aisling Kerr
East Orange, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Freehold, NJ to East Orange, NJ is 40.2 miles and takes about 59 minutes via Garden State Parkway and US Highway 9, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip within the Northeast region, entirely contained within New Jersey. Expect a drive that's predominantly on highways, making it a quick and efficient way to get from point A to point B. If you're looking for a simple transit between these two areas, this route fits the bill without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 20.9 mi | 29m |
| US Highway 9 | 7 mi | 9m |
| NJ 18 | 5 mi | 5m |
| South Main Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| South Oraton Parkway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Marlboro Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Broadway Road | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Maybaum Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 20.9 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Freehold, NJ and East Orange, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 79; CR 537
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 79
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Broadway Road
3
Continue on NJ 79
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Marlboro Road
4
Continue on NJ 79
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto NJ 18
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
NJ 18
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 30
Toward US 9 North: The Amboys, New York
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 9
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
US Highway 9
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
10
Merge onto GSP
21 mi
·
29 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 144
Toward CR 510
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto Eastern Parkway
518 ft
·
17 sec
·
Eastern Parkway
13
Continue on Speedway Avenue
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Speedway Avenue
14
At end of road, turn left onto CR 510
511 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Orange Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
15
Turn slight right onto Maybaum Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Maybaum Avenue
16
Continue on Birchwood Avenue
362 ft
·
9 sec
·
Birchwood Avenue
17
Continue on South Oraton Parkway
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
South Oraton Parkway
Use the straight lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto South Oraton Parkway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Oraton Parkway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto Parkway Drive
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Parkway Drive
20
Turn sharp left onto North Arlington Avenue
343 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Arlington Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Turn slight left onto Parkway Drive
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Parkway Drive
22
Arrive at destination
Parkway Drive
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 Freehold, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 8.9 and 40 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
8.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward US 9 North: The Amboys, New York
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 30
Toward US 9 North: The Amboys, New York
7
37.5 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward CR 510
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 144
Toward CR 510
8
38 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
CR 510 / South Orange Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto CR 510 / South Orange Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
6
38.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
South Oraton Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto South Oraton Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8
40 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
North Arlington Avenue
Turn sharp left onto North Arlington Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.25
Garden State Parkway
(20.9 mi)
$1.25
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
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
East Orange, NJ
Morning in East Orange on Sunday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
24 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 86% of the journey on major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Garden State Parkway, including a continuous stretch of 20.9 miles. The route utilizes main roads like the Garden State Parkway, US Highway 9, and NJ 18, suggesting a mix of high-speed parkway driving and potentially some arterial road travel. The overall character is one of efficient travel, prioritizing speed over scenic detours.
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: 20.9 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US Highway 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.9 miles in.
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 13 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 8.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 38 miles (CR 510 / South Orange Avenue): 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 Freehold, NJ and East Orange, NJ, road signs point toward New York and Cr 510.
New York
8.9 mi in
|
~12m
Cr 510
37.5 mi in
|
~53m
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 (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.9 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.25 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.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 East Orange, 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 8.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 38 miles (CR 510 / South Orange Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Morristown 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 East Orange, 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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