Origin
Freehold, NJ
Late night in Freehold on Sunday
Local time
5:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Freehold, NJ to Newark, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
38.5 mi
62 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Freehold, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Trip Overview
Freehold, NJ to Newark, NJ is 38.5 miles and takes about 57 minutes via New Jersey Turnpike, US Highway 9, and NJ 18, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its short duration and highway-focused profile, it's an efficient option for moving between these locations. Consider this drive when you need a direct and relatively quick transit, as it doesn't involve significant detours or scenic exploration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 9.5 mi | 11m |
| US Highway 9 | 7 mi | 9m |
| NJ 18 | 5 mi | 5m |
| Garden State Parkway | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| NJ 21 | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| South Main Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| US 1 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Marlboro Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 9.5 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Freehold, NJ and Newark, 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
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Garden State Parkway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 129
Toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
13
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
14
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
this road
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
16
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
9.5 mi
·
11 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 13A
Toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
Use the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto NJ 81
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
NJ 21
Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
229 ft
·
7 sec
·
Chestnut Street
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto Mulberry Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Mulberry Street
24
Turn left onto CR 510
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Market Street
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
CR 510
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.2 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 8.9 and 35.7 — 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
8
21.2 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton
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 129
Toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton
6
22.3 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
8
32.3 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
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 13A
Toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
8
35.7 mi into trip
|
~51m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.38 one way
$12.77 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.99 | $13.98 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.47 | $14.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.50 | $17.00 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.60
New Jersey Turnpike
(9.5 mi)
$1.33
Garden State Parkway
(4.6 mi)
$0.27
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 62% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.04 | $1.85 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.39 | $2.46 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (62% 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
Newark, NJ
Late night in Newark on Sunday
Local time
5:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
16 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
57m 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 leans heavily into highway driving, with 79% of the journey on major roads. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the New Jersey Turnpike, including a continuous stretch of 9.5 miles. Expect a profile that is predominantly highway-focused, meaning you'll encounter higher speeds and more consistent traffic flow compared to local roads. While not particularly winding or technical, the mix of the Turnpike and other main arteries like US Highway 9 and NJ 18 provides a functional driving experience.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.5 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike 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 18 decision points packed into just 38.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
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 21.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Freehold, NJ and Newark, NJ, road signs point toward New York, Njtp: New York City, Trenton, Njtp North: New York City, Newark Airport and Elizabeth Seaport - among others.
New York
8.9 mi in
|
~12m
Njtp: New York City
21.2 mi in
|
~30m
Trenton
21.2 mi in
|
~30m
Njtp North: New York City
22.2 mi in
|
~33m
Newark Airport
32.3 mi in
|
~46m
Elizabeth Seaport
32.3 mi in
|
~46m
Downtown
35.7 mi in
|
~51m
|
via NJ 21
About the Cities
Arriving in Newark, NJ
Full guide →Newark is New Jersey's largest city and second largest in Metro New York. Although one of the great historic cities of the Northeast and the most culture-rich city in the state, Newark is often overlooked in favor of Goliath-like Manhattan and towns along the Hudson River, such as Jersey City and Hoboken. While no longer the industrial powerhouse it once was, Newark remains one of America's major shipping, rail, and air hubs. Public transportation is abundant, making it easy to get to, from, and around the city. Newark has been economically disadvantaged for some time, and suffers from a bad reputation, often informed by negative stereotyping. Thanks in large part to a nationally high-profile mayor (Cory Booker, now a U.S.
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 57m. Total distance: 38.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.5 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.60 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. 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 Newark, 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 21.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area (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 Newark, 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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