Origin
Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
Late night in Ho-Ho-Kus on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
28 mi
45 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
Malcolm Garret
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 28-mile drive from Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ, to Elizabeth, NJ, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 40 minutes. Primarily a highway-focused experience, 94% of this route utilizes major roadways, making it a quick trip. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $5, this is an economical option for a single-day outing. No specific overnight stays are recommended, and with no planned stops, you can tailor your timing to fit your schedule. This route keeps you within the Northeast region, offering a familiar landscape for those traveling within New Jersey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 21 | 14.3 mi | 20m |
| Garden State Parkway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| NJ 17 | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| US 1 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| US 46 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Race Track Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Arbor Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 21
— 14.3 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on Arbor Drive
0.1 mi
·
41 sec
·
Arbor Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto CR 112
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Race Track Road
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
4
Merge onto NJ 17
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
NJ 17
Use the right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll South: Parkway South, Shore Points
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto GSP
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Garden State Parkway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 157
Toward US 46 West: Garfield
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 46
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 46
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21
14 mi
·
20 min
·
NJ 21
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 1; US 9
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
US 1; US 9
11
Continue on US 1; US 9
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Jersey Street
13
Turn right
34 ft
·
2 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 10.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 112 / Race Track Road
At end of road, turn left onto CR 112 / Race Track Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
NJ 17
Merge onto NJ 17
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
4.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward GSP Toll South: Parkway South, Shore Points
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.
Toward GSP Toll South: Parkway South, Shore Poi...
7
8.6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward US 46 West: Garfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 157
Toward US 46 West: Garfield
6
10.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
NJ 21
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.64 one way
$9.28 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.08 | $10.17 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.43 | $10.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.18 | $12.36 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.23
Garden State Parkway
(3.8 mi)
$0.23
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$0
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.94 | $1.34 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.45 | $1.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.92 | $1.79 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Elizabeth, NJ
Late night in Elizabeth on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
13 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
40m 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 predominantly highway-focused drive on this route, with 94% of the journey taking place on major roads like NJ 21, the Garden State Parkway, and NJ 17. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch at 14.3 miles on NJ 21, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. While not a winding scenic byway, the highway nature ensures efficient travel between your starting point in Ho-Ho-Kus and your destination in Elizabeth. The profile suggests a smooth, albeit perhaps monotonous, experience for those prioritizing speed and directness.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.3 mi on NJ 21.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 21 and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR 112 / Race Track Road.
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 11 decision points packed into just 28 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR 112 / Race Track Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.5 miles (NJ 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll South: Parkway South and Shore Points.
Gsp Toll South: Parkway South
4.3 mi in
|
~7m
Shore Points
4.3 mi in
|
~7m
About the Cities
Arriving in Elizabeth, NJ
Full guide →Elizabeth is the fourth largest city in New Jersey.
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 40m. Total distance: 28 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.3 miles on NJ 21. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.23 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 Elizabeth, 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 0.1 miles (CR 112 / Race Track Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.5 miles (NJ 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elizabeth, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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