Origin
Lyndhurst, NJ
Late night in Lyndhurst on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lyndhurst, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
12.7 mi
20 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lyndhurst, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 12.7-mile drive from Lyndhurst, NJ, to Elizabeth, NJ, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 22 minutes to complete. You'll primarily be on NJ 21 and US 1, with a significant 87% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $2, making it an economical trip. Since there are no planned stops and the drive is so short, it's perfect for a quick transit or an easy add-on to another adventure within the Northeast region. You won't need an overnight stay for this particular segment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 21 | 7.8 mi | 13m |
| US 1 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Kingsland Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Weart Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| River Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Valley Brook Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Delafield Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 21
— 7.8 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lyndhurst, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on Delafield Avenue
39 ft
·
3 sec
·
Delafield Avenue
2
Turn right onto Valley Brook Avenue
114 ft
·
10 sec
·
Valley Brook Avenue
3
Turn left onto Weart Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Weart Avenue
4
At end of road, turn right onto CR 28
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Kingsland Avenue
5
Turn left onto CR 624
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
River Road
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward NJ 21 South
7
Merge onto NJ 21
7.8 mi
·
13 min
·
NJ 21
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto US 1; US 9
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
US 1; US 9
9
Continue on US 1; US 9
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Jersey Street
11
Turn right
34 ft
·
2 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 1.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Valley Brook Avenue
Turn right onto Valley Brook Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR 28 / Kingsland Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto CR 28 / Kingsland Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
CR 624 / River Road
Turn left onto CR 624 / River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward NJ 21 South
Navigation decision point
Toward NJ 21 South
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~4m 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
$2.11 one way
$4.21 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.31 | $4.61 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.46 | $4.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.80 | $5.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.33 | $0.61 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.11 | $0.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.81 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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 Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
1 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
22m 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 highway-focused experience for most of this 12.7-mile trip, with 87% of the route utilizing high-speed roads. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be about 7.8 miles on NJ 21, offering a consistent pace. While mainly highway, the route does incorporate parts of US 1 and Kingsland Avenue, suggesting some transitions between different types of roadways. The overall profile suggests a drive where you'll maintain steady momentum for the majority of the journey.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.8 mi on NJ 21.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 21 and US 1. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Valley Brook Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 12.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (Valley Brook Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (CR 28 / Kingsland Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (CR 624 / River Road): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Lyndhurst, NJ
Full guide →Bergen County is in the Gateway region at the northeastern corner of New Jersey. Bergen County and its many inner suburbs constitute a highly developed part of the New York City metropolitan area.
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 22m. Total distance: 12.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.8 miles on NJ 21. 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: near the start (Valley Brook Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (CR 28 / Kingsland Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (CR 624 / River Road): 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 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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