Origin
Hamilton, NJ
Afternoon in Hamilton on Sunday
Local time
12:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hamilton, NJ to Mountainside, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
40.8 mi
66 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 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hamilton, NJ
Garrison Gao
Mountainside, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hamilton, NJ to Mountainside, NJ is 40.8 miles and takes about 1 hour via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within the Northeast region, specifically crossing from one part of New Jersey to another. It’s a quick trip, ideal for when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without a lot of fuss. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained parkways, making it a predictable and easy journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 34.2 mi | 42m |
| Central Avenue | 2.9 mi | 8m |
| Mountain Avenue East | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| New Providence Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| NJ 33 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Old Corlies Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Exit 135 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Birch Hill Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 34.2 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hamilton, NJ and Mountainside, NJ.
1
Start on Gully Road
155 ft
·
5 sec
·
Gully Road
2
Turn left onto (17)
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Old Corlies Avenue
3
Turn left onto NJ 33
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 33
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
5
Merge onto GSP
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
7
Continue on GSP
32 mi
·
39 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto Exit 135
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Exit 135
Exit 135
Toward Clark, Westfield
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward Westfield, Brant Avenue, Rahway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto CR 613
2.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
At end of road, turn right onto CR 509
193 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Broad Street
12
Turn left onto CR 613
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Mountain Avenue East
13
Turn left onto CR 645
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
New Providence Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Birch Hill Road
306 ft
·
15 sec
·
Birch Hill Road
15
Turn right onto Watchung Avenue
185 ft
·
9 sec
·
Watchung Avenue
16
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
17
Arrive at destination
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 40.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.4 miles from Hamilton, 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 1.1 and 40 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
35.7 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
Exit 135
Take the exit onto Exit 135 toward Clark, Westfield
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 135
Toward Clark, Westfield
9
35.9 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Westfield, Brant Avenue, Rahway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Westfield, Brant Avenue, Rahway
5
36 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
CR 613 / Central Avenue
Turn left onto CR 613 / Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
40 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
CR 645 / New Providence Road
Turn left onto CR 645 / New Providence Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.76 one way
$13.53 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.41 | $14.82 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.91 | $15.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.01 | $18.02 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.05
Garden State Parkway
(34.2 mi)
$2.05
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 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 | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.57 | $1.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
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
Mountainside, NJ
Afternoon in Mountainside on Sunday
Local time
12:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with 85% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a largely continuous drive, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 34.2 miles on the Garden State Parkway. Expect a consistent pace for the majority of your journey, as the route prioritizes efficient travel over varied road types. The profile suggests a smooth ride primarily on parkways, minimizing complex intersections or slower local road segments.
85% 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: 34.2 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Central Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near GSP / Garden State Parkway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.8 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 1.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.7 miles (Exit 135): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.9 miles: 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 Hamilton, NJ and Mountainside, NJ, road signs point toward Clark, Westfield and Rahway.
Clark
35.7 mi in
|
~45m
|
via Exit 135
Westfield
35.7 mi in
|
~45m
|
via Exit 135
Rahway
35.9 mi in
|
~45m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 40.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.2 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.05 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.
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 Mountainside, 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 1.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.7 miles (Exit 135): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown 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 Mountainside, 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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