Spanning 107 miles, this route from Jefferson to West New York is a straightforward journey typically lasting 2 hours and 13 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, it functions perfectly as a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate the New Jersey Turnpike and its Eastern Spur, which keep the travel time efficient. Budgeting approximately $18 for fuel will cover your transit across the Northeast region. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that connects two points in New Jersey with minimal fuss, making it an ideal choice for travelers prioritizing speed over scenic detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.5 miles from Jefferson, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
92.6 mi
1h 48m
New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
6.2 mi
8m
Swedesboro Road
3 mi
5m
Bridgeton Pike
1 mi
1m
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
0.9 mi
2m
Bergenline Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
NJ 495
0.5 mi
<1m
30th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 92.6 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson, NJ and West New York, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 45
1.0 mi·1 min·Bridgeton Pike
2
Continue on NJ 45
347 ft·9 sec·North Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 322; CR 536
3.0 mi·5 min·Swedesboro Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward NJTP Toll: New Jersey TurnpikeUse the left lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ Turnpike North, New York City
6
Merge onto NJTP
36 mi·41 min·New Jersey Turnpike
7
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
56 mi·1 hr 6 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
6.2 mi·8 min·New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 16EToward NJ 495 East: Lincoln TunnelUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on NJ 495
0.5 mi·37 sec·NJ 495
11
Take the exit
263 ft·6 sec
Toward Kennedy BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on 30th Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·30th Street
13
Turn left onto CR 501
296 ft·16 sec·John F Kennedy Boulevard
14
Continue on CR 501
0.9 mi·2 min·John F. Kennedy Boulevard
15
Turn right onto 49th Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·49th Street
16
At end of road, turn left onto Bergenline Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Bergenline Avenue
17
Turn right onto 60th Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·60th Street
18
Arrive at destination
60th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 107-mile trek, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience without needing a rigid itinerary. Given the highway-heavy nature of the route, try to time your departure to avoid peak commuting hours on the Turnpike to ensure you stay within that 2-hour and 13-minute estimate. Because there are no scheduled stops in this plan, ensure your fuel tank is ready for the $18 cost before you merge onto the main highway. Keep a close eye on traffic reports for the Eastern Spur, as conditions can shift quickly on this major artery. Your best strategy is to maintain a steady pace, as the lack of planned stops allows you to complete the trip in one efficient push.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 53.5 miles from Jefferson, NJ, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 24 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.5 miles or 1h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West New York, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jefferson, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jefferson, NJ
This is one driving day of about 107 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Jefferson, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 92.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 103.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4 mi into trip|~7m in
Turn left toward NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
6
4.2 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ Turnpike North, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ Turnpike North, New York City
6
40.9 mi into trip|~50m in|NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
97.3 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
103.5 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Take the exit toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16E
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.74 one way
$35.48 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$19.43
$38.86
premium
$4.93
$20.75
$41.50
diesel
$5.61
$23.62
$47.25
Estimated Tolls: $13.83
New Jersey Turnpike
(98.8 mi)$13.83
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Tolls
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.1
0
$11.24
$5.14
Efficient EV
26.8
0
$9.36
$4.28
EV Truck/SUV
42.8
0
$14.98
$6.85
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (65% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Jefferson, NJ
Late night
in Jefferson on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West New York, NJ
Late night
in West New York on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 13m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 103.3
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 81.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 93% of your journey takes place on high-speed roads. The character of this drive is defined by the New Jersey Turnpike, which accounts for a significant 92.6-mile uninterrupted stretch. While you begin with shorter segments on Swedesboro Road, the transition to the Eastern Spur quickly settles you into a consistent interstate rhythm. You should prepare for a steady, monotonous pace that prioritizes throughput over technical maneuvering. It is a functional drive designed to move you efficiently from point A to point B without the complexity of winding local backroads.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92.6 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 107 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.9 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
175 ft2 ft
Total Climb
317 ft
Total Descent
287 ft
Highest Point
175 ft
~107 mi in
Elevation Range
173 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 107 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 92.6 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $13.83 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 West New York, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.9 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 West New York, NJ before heading back.
