Origin
Jersey City, NJ
Morning in Jersey City on Sunday
Local time
9:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jersey City, NJ to Lake Mohawk, 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 9m
Distance
46.4 mi
75 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Mohawk, NJ
Mathias Reding
Trip Overview
Jersey City, NJ to Lake Mohawk, NJ is 46.4 miles and takes about 1h 9m via Essex Freeway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, beginning in a busy urban area and heading towards a more recreational destination. The majority of this drive is on highways, making it a straightforward journey. It's a relatively short drive, perfect for a quick getaway or a scenic afternoon excursion without requiring an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Essex Freeway | 12.5 mi | 15m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 11.4 mi | 13m |
| NJ 15 North | 10 mi | 13m |
| Raymond Boulevard | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| US 1 Truck | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Sparta Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| West Shore Trail | 1.5 mi | 5m |
| 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 Mohawk, 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
10.0 mi
·
13 min
·
NJ 15 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
Toward CR 517: Sparta, Franklin
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto CR 517
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Sparta Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto Pine Terrace
245 ft
·
12 sec
·
Pine Terrace
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto North Shore Trail
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Shore Trail
20
At end of road, turn right onto West Shore Trail
425 ft
·
19 sec
·
West Shore Trail
21
Continue on West Shore Trail
1.4 mi
·
5 min
·
West Shore Trail
22
Arrive at destination
West Shore Trail
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.2 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 42.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
7
42.4 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward CR 517: Sparta, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CR 517: Sparta, Franklin
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.69 one way
$15.39 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.43 | $16.85 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.00 | $18.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.24 | $20.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.06 | $1.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.50 | $2.97 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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 Mohawk, NJ
Morning in Lake Mohawk on Sunday
Local time
9:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Bloomingdale, NJ
23 mi in
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
1h 9m 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 route offers a mixed drive, with 54% of it on highways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the Essex Freeway and Christopher Columbus Highway, providing a faster pace for much of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12.5 miles on the Essex Freeway. As you progress, the character of the drive shifts from urban expressways towards NJ 15 North, which will feel more like a typical state highway leading you toward your destination.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 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 0.9 miles in near US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.4 miles you will encounter 15 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 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; at 19.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Jersey City, NJ and Lake Mohawk, NJ, road signs point toward Jefferson, Cr 517: Sparta and Franklin.
Jefferson
31.8 mi in
|
~42m
Cr 517: Sparta
42.4 mi in
|
~58m
Franklin
42.4 mi in
|
~58m
About the Cities
Starting in Jersey City, NJ
Full guide →Jersey City is New Jersey's second-largest city. Jersey City sits in Hudson County in the northeastern section of the state, across the Hudson from its older and bigger cousin, New York City, and south of Hoboken. It is frequently referred to as New York’s “sixth borough”. Until the early 1600s, the area was inhabited by Lenape Indians. The Dutch then settled here as a part of the colony of New Amsterdam. It evolved into an industrial powerhouse, with railroads winding up and down the city (some of these lines are still used today). Although Jersey City declined in the 1960s, an upswing began in the 1980s, and the city was transformed into what it is today.
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 1h 9m. Total distance: 46.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). 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 Mohawk, 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 0.9 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; at 19.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Mohawk, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Lake Mohawk, NJ
Explore more options from Jersey City, NJ or browse trips ending in Lake Mohawk, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.