Traveling from Magnolia to Newark covers 81.7 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 43 minutes. This straightforward journey is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it stays entirely within the Northeast region of New Jersey. You should budget approximately $14 for fuel to complete the trek. By utilizing major arteries like the New Jersey Turnpike, I-295, and NJ-21, you can expect a very efficient transit between these two points. Because the drive is relatively short, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations, giving you plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.9 miles from Magnolia, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
66.5 mi
1h 17m
I 295
5.7 mi
6m
NJ 21
1.9 mi
3m
US 1
1.7 mi
2m
Warwick Road North
1.2 mi
2m
NJ 81
0.7 mi
1m
Mulberry Street
0.6 mi
1m
Evesham Avenue West
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 66.5 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Magnolia, NJ and Newark, NJ.
1
Start on Walnut Avenue North
434 ft·24 sec·Walnut Avenue North
2
Turn left onto CR 544
0.3 mi·36 sec·Evesham Avenue West
3
Turn left onto CR 669
1.2 mi·2 min·Warwick Road North
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 295 North: Trenton
5
Merge onto I 295
5.7 mi·6 min·I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 36AToward NJ 73 South: BerlinUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto NJ 73
0.2 mi·18 sec·NJ 73
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJTP: New Jersey Turnpike
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJTP North: New YorkUse the straight / right lanes.
10
Merge onto NJTP
15 mi·16 min·New Jersey Turnpike
11
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
52 mi·1 hr·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 13AToward Newark Airport, Elizabeth SeaportUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto NJ 81
0.7 mi·1 min·NJ 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·44 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.7 mi·2 min·US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21
1.9 mi·3 min·NJ 21
Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, DowntownUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
229 ft·7 sec·Chestnut Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Mulberry Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Mulberry Street
19
Turn left onto CR 510
0.2 mi·29 sec·Market Street
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
CR 510
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 81.7-mile drive, aim to depart during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the Turnpike. Since there are no mandatory stops required for this duration, you have the freedom to drive straight through if your schedule is tight. Keep a close watch on your fuel gauge before merging onto the Turnpike, as the high-speed nature of the road makes pulling over for gas less convenient once you are in the flow of traffic. Having your toll payment method ready will help you navigate the Turnpike segments smoothly. Because the transit time is under two hours, you can easily plan your day around arrival times without needing to build in extensive rest breaks.
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 40.9 miles from Magnolia, NJ, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.5 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.9 miles or 51m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newark, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Magnolia, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Magnolia, NJ
This is one driving day of about 81.7 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Magnolia, 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 66.5 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.5 and 79 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
7.5 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward NJ 73 South: Berlin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 36A
Toward NJ 73 South: Berlin
7
8.6 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJTP North: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward NJTP North: New York
6
23.7 mi into trip|~31m 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.
8
75.6 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13A
Toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
8
79 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|NJ 21
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21 toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.54 one way
$27.09 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.83
$29.67
premium
$4.93
$15.84
$31.69
diesel
$5.61
$18.04
$36.08
Estimated Tolls: $9.30
New Jersey Turnpike
(66.5 mi)$9.30
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
$14
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.5
0
$8.58
$3.92
Efficient EV
20.4
0
$7.15
$3.27
EV Truck/SUV
32.7
0
$11.44
$5.23
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 12, 2026
Origin
Magnolia, NJ
Late night
in Magnolia on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
SE 5 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Newark, NJ
Late night
in Newark on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
West Windsor, NJ
41 mi in
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
4 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
1h 43m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 81.7
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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 76.1
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
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 78.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 94% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted segment spans 66.5 miles directly on the New Jersey Turnpike. While the route lacks the winding character of rural backroads, it offers a consistent, predictable experience for those looking to reach their destination without technical navigation. The transition from the I-295 corridor onto the Turnpike provides a steady, fast-paced flow that defines the character of this commute. Expect a functional, no-nonsense transit that prioritizes speed and directness over scenic variety.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.5 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and I 295. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.7 miles you will encounter 17 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 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.7 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
140 ft13 ft
Total Climb
167 ft
Total Descent
214 ft
Highest Point
140 ft
~44.3 mi in
Elevation Range
127 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Magnolia, NJ and Newark, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike, Njtp North: New York, Newark Airport and Elizabeth Seaport.
Newark is New Jersey's largest city and second largest in Metro New York. Although one of the great historic cities of the Northeast and the most culture-rich city in the state, Newark is often overlooked in favor of Goliath-like Manhattan and towns along the Hudson River, such as Jersey City and Hoboken. While no longer the industrial powerhouse it once was, Newark remains one of America's major shipping, rail, and air hubs. Public transportation is abundant, making it easy to get to, from, and around the city.
Newark has been economically disadvantaged for some time, and suffers from a bad reputation, often informed by negative stereotyping. Thanks in large part to a nationally high-profile mayor (Cory Booker, now a U.S.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 81.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.5 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.30 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 Newark, 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 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.7 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 Newark, NJ before heading back.
