Origin
Garfield, NJ
Morning in Garfield on Sunday
Local time
7:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Garfield, NJ to Jersey City, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
15.3 mi
25 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Garfield, NJ
C. M.
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Garfield to Jersey City, you are facing a quick 16-mile journey that typically takes about 28 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough to handle in one go without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate through the Northeast region using a combination of local streets like Outwater Lane and Ackerman Avenue, eventually connecting to NJ 21 South. With a fuel cost of just $3, it is an incredibly budget-friendly commute. Because this is a straightforward local transit, you will find it easy to plan around your own schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 3 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| NJ 21 | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| Tonnelle Avenue | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Outwater Lane | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Duncan Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Ackerman Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Olean Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 3
— 5.7 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Garfield, NJ and Jersey City, NJ.
1
Start on this road
154 ft
·
15 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
403 ft
·
30 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto CR 42
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
Outwater Lane
4
Continue on Ackerman Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Ackerman Avenue
5
Turn left
198 ft
·
5 sec
6
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
this road
Toward NJ 21 South: Newark
7
Merge onto NJ 21
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
NJ 21
8
Take the exit
368 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 9
Toward NJ 3: Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 3 East: Lincoln Tunnel
Use the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward NJ 3 East
11
Merge onto NJ 3
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 1; US 9
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto CR 501
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
15
Turn right onto Duncan Avenue
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Duncan Avenue
16
Turn right onto Olean Avenue
316 ft
·
13 sec
·
Olean Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Olean Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 13.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
8
4.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward NJ 3: Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
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 9
Toward NJ 3: Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
7
4.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 3 East: Lincoln Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward NJ 3 East: Lincoln Tunnel
5
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 3 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NJ 3 East
8
13.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
US 1; US 9 / Tonnelle Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9 / Tonnelle Avenue toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hob...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.54 one way
$5.07 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.78 | $5.56 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.97 | $5.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.38 | $6.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.73 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.34 | $0.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
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
Jersey City, NJ
Morning in Jersey City on Sunday
Local time
7:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
2 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
22m 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 turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than offering a monotonous highway grind. You will spend 0% of your time on major highways, as the route relies entirely on surface roads to get you to your destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on Outwater Lane, meaning you should expect frequent turns and a steady pace through local neighborhoods. Because the route is entirely local, the drive feels consistent from start to finish. It is a practical, no-frills experience that prioritizes navigation through local infrastructure over high-speed travel.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.7 mi on NJ 3.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 12 decision points packed into just 15.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Garfield, NJ to Jersey City, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Pulaski Skyway along the way.
Pulaski Skyway
13.6 mi in
|
~18m
|
via US 1; US 9
About the Cities
Arriving in Jersey City, NJ
Full guide →Jersey City is New Jersey's second-largest city. Jersey City sits in Hudson County in the northeastern section of the state, across the Hudson from its older and bigger cousin, New York City, and south of Hoboken. It is frequently referred to as New York’s “sixth borough”. Until the early 1600s, the area was inhabited by Lenape Indians. The Dutch then settled here as a part of the colony of New Amsterdam. It evolved into an industrial powerhouse, with railroads winding up and down the city (some of these lines are still used today). Although Jersey City declined in the 1960s, an upswing began in the 1980s, and the city was transformed into what it is today.
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 22m. Total distance: 15.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.7 miles on NJ 3. 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 Jersey City, 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 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison 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 Jersey City, 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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