Origin
Jersey City, NJ
Late night in Jersey City on Sunday
Local time
12:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jersey City, NJ to Lake Hopatcong, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
38 mi
61 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Hopatcong, NJ
Mathias Reding
Trip Overview
This 38-mile drive from Jersey City, NJ, to Lake Hopatcong, NJ, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in under an hour, making it perfect for a single-day excursion. You'll navigate primarily on the Essex Freeway and Christopher Columbus Highway before transitioning to NJ 15 North. With a modest fuel cost of around $6, this route offers a practical way to travel within the Northeast region without significant expense. The mixed drive profile means you'll experience a blend of highway speeds and potentially some local road transitions, so plan for a smooth, efficient journey. Given its short distance and duration, this trip is ideal for a day out, allowing plenty of time at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Essex Freeway | 12.5 mi | 15m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 11.4 mi | 13m |
| NJ 15 North | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Raymond Boulevard | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| US 1 Truck | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| CR 615 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Espanong Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Orange Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Essex Freeway
— 12.5 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jersey City, NJ and Lake Hopatcong, NJ.
1
Start on Olean Avenue
316 ft
·
15 sec
·
Olean Avenue
2
Turn right onto Duncan Avenue
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Duncan Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Use the left lane.
4
Take the exit onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Newark Airport, Port Newark Elizabeth Seaport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on Raymond Boulevard
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Raymond Boulevard
Toward Raymond Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Continue on Raymond Boulevard
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Raymond Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on Lock Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Lock Street
8
Continue on Nesbitt Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Nesbitt Street
9
Turn left onto Orange Street
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Orange Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 280 West: Garden State Parkway
Use the left lane.
11
Merge onto I 280
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Essex Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 280 West, I 80 West
13
Merge onto I 80
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 34B
Toward NJ 15 North: Sparta, Jefferson
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on NJ 15
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 15 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
431 ft
·
15 sec
17
Continue on CR 615
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
CR 615
18
At end of road, turn left onto CR 615
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Espanong Road
19
Arrive at destination
CR 615
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19 miles from Jersey City, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 31.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Turn left onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Take the exit onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Newark Airport, Port Newark Elizabeth Seaport
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 US 1 South, US 9 South: Newark Airport,...
6
7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the ramp toward I 280 West: Garden State Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 280 West: Garden State Parkway
6
19.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 280 West, I 80 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 280 West, I 80 West
8
31.8 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward NJ 15 North: Sparta, Jefferson
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 34B
Toward NJ 15 North: Sparta, Jefferson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.30 one way
$12.60 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.90 | $13.80 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.37 | $14.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.39 | $16.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Lake Hopatcong, NJ
Late night in Lake Hopatcong on Sunday
Local time
12:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°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
8 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
53m 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 drive that's about half highway, with 51% of the total mileage on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12.5 miles on the Essex Freeway, providing a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. The 'mixed drive' profile suggests you'll transition between more open highway sections and potentially some more controlled or slower-paced segments as you approach Lake Hopatcong. This variety means you won't be stuck in a monotonous interstate grind, but rather experience a dynamic change in road conditions throughout the 53-minute journey.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.5 mi on Essex Freeway.
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 0.5 miles in near US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck.
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 38 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7 miles: 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 Jersey City, NJ to Lake Hopatcong, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Jefferson along the way.
Jefferson
31.8 mi in
|
~42m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 38 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.5 miles on Essex Freeway. 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 Lake Hopatcong, 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 0.5 miles (US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (5 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 Lake Hopatcong, 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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