Origin
Garfield, NJ
Late night in Garfield on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Garfield, NJ to Newark, 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
16m
Distance
12.1 mi
19 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 15m
★
6 AM
0h 17m
8 AM
0h 19m
10 AM
0h 18m
12 PM
0h 17m
3 PM
0h 18m
5 PM
0h 19m
8 PM
0h 16m
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
This short 12.2-mile drive from Garfield to Newark, NJ, is a quick 23-minute trip that's perfect for a single day. You'll navigate through local streets, so expect a turn-heavy experience rather than open highway cruising. With a minimal fuel cost of around $2, this route is an economical option for getting between these two Northeast locations. Since it's such a brief journey, there's no need to consider an overnight stay; you can easily complete it in one go. The general feel is that of a typical urban commute, connecting you efficiently within the state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 21 | 9.8 mi | 10m |
| University Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Outwater Lane | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Broad Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Ackerman Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Clay Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 21
— 9.8 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Garfield, NJ and Newark, 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
9.8 mi
·
10 min
·
NJ 21
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto CR 506 Spur
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Clay Street
9
Turn left onto Broad Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Broad Street
Use the left lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto University Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
University Avenue
11
Turn left onto CR 510
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Market Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
CR 510
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 11.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
NJ 21
Merge onto NJ 21
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
10.9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
Broad Street
Turn left onto Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
11.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
CR 510 / Market Street
Turn left onto CR 510 / Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.01 one way
$4.01 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.20 | $4.39 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.35 | $4.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.67 | $5.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.27 | $0.58 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.06 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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 Tuesday
Local time
4:12 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
16m 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 very turn-heavy local drive on this route, with no highway mileage to speak of. Your journey will primarily follow Outwater Lane and Ackerman Avenue before merging onto NJ 21 South. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't a significant factor given the short distance. This drive is characterized by navigating through built-up areas, requiring your attention at frequent intersections. It's a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the road conditions and traffic patterns throughout the entire 12.2 miles.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.8 mi on NJ 21.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 21 and University Avenue. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 12.1 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (NJ 21): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Garfield, NJ
Full guide →Bergen County is in the Gateway region at the northeastern corner of New Jersey. Bergen County and its many inner suburbs constitute a highly developed part of the New York City metropolitan area.
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 16m. Total distance: 12.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.8 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 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (NJ 21): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 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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