Origin
Kinnelon, NJ
Late night in Kinnelon on Sunday
Local time
5:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kinnelon, 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
44m
Distance
32.6 mi
52 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 41m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kinnelon, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Kinnelon to Elizabeth is 32.6 miles and takes about 44m via NJ 23, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive entirely within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a quick trip with minimal fuss, ideal for a short, efficient journey. Given its short duration, this route is best suited for a same-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 23 | 10.3 mi | 12m |
| NJ 21 | 9 mi | 14m |
| NJ 3 | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| US 46 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| US 1 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Kinnelon Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Maple Lake Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 23
— 10.3 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kinnelon, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on Kiel Avenue
103 ft
·
6 sec
·
Kiel Avenue
2
Turn left onto Maple Lake Road
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Maple Lake Road
3
Turn right onto CR 618
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Kinnelon Road
4
Turn right onto NJ 23
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 23
5
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 23
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
NJ 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
297 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 46 East: New York, Clifton
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward US 46 East: Clifton
8
Merge onto US 46
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 46
9
Continue on US 46
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 46
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn slight left onto NJ 3
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 21 South: Newark
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto NJ 21
9.0 mi
·
14 min
·
NJ 21
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto US 1; US 9
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
US 1; US 9
14
Continue on US 1; US 9
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Jersey Street
16
Turn right
34 ft
·
2 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 20 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
4.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
NJ 23
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 23
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
11 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East, US 46 East: New York, Clifton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 East, US 46 East: New York, Clifton
5
11 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 46 East: Clifton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 46 East: Clifton
6
19.5 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward NJ 21 South: Newark
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 21 South: Newark
5
20 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
NJ 21
Merge onto NJ 21
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.40 one way
$10.81 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.92 | $11.84 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.32 | $12.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.20 | $14.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.42 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.85 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.09 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Elizabeth, NJ
Late night in Elizabeth on Sunday
Local time
5:57 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
10 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
44m 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 is heavily highway-focused, with 94% of the drive taking place on major roadways. You'll primarily be on NJ 23, NJ 21, and NJ 3, offering a consistent, fast-paced experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.3 miles on NJ 23, allowing for a significant period of steady driving. The character of the drive remains largely consistent, emphasizing efficient travel over varied scenery.
94% 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: 10.3 mi on NJ 23.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 23 and NJ 21. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in near NJ 23.
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 32.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 44m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.7 miles (NJ 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Kinnelon, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Clifton along the way.
Clifton
11 mi in
|
~13m
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 44m. Total distance: 32.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m 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 10.3 miles on NJ 23. 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 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 4.7 miles (NJ 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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