Origin
Mahwah, NJ
Morning in Mahwah on Sunday
Local time
8:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mahwah, NJ to East Orange, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
26.9 mi
43 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mahwah, NJ
Dajana Blakcori
East Orange, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 26.9-mile drive from Mahwah, NJ to East Orange, NJ is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 37 minutes. The route relies heavily on major roadways, with 97% of the journey on highways, making it a quick and efficient transit. You can expect a fuel cost of around $4 for this short hop within the Northeast region. Given its brevity and highway focus, this drive is best suited for those needing to get from point A to point B without extensive detours. It's designed for speed and convenience rather than leisurely exploration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 14.4 mi | 19m |
| NJ 17 | 9.7 mi | 13m |
| Franklin Turnpike | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Parkway Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Airmount Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 14.4 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mahwah, NJ and East Orange, NJ.
1
Start on West Airmount Road
167 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Airmount Road
2
Turn right onto CR 507
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Franklin Turnpike
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
4
Merge onto NJ 17
9.7 mi
·
13 min
·
NJ 17
Use the right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll South: Parkway South, Shore Points
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto GSP
14 mi
·
19 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 147
Toward East Orange
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto Parkway Drive
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Parkway Drive
Use the straight lane.
9
Arrive at destination
Parkway Drive
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 26.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 507 / Franklin Turnpike
Turn right onto CR 507 / Franklin Turnpike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
NJ 17
Merge onto NJ 17
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
11.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward GSP Toll South: Parkway South, Shore Points
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 GSP Toll South: Parkway South, Shore Poi...
5
11.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
26.2 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward East Orange
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 147
Toward East Orange
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.46 one way
$8.92 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.88 | $9.77 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.22 | $10.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.94 | $11.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.97
Garden State Parkway
(14.4 mi)
$0.87
Franklin Turnpike
(1.4 mi)
$0.10
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.82 | $1.29 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% 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
East Orange, NJ
Morning in East Orange on Sunday
Local time
8:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
37m 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 the majority of this 26.9-mile trip, as 97% of the route is on high-speed roads. The primary artery is the Garden State Parkway, where you'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 14.4 miles. You'll also navigate sections of NJ 17 and Franklin Turnpike, which may offer brief diversions from the Parkway's flow but remain largely within a highway context. This drive is characterized by efficient travel, minimizing local road exposure and maximizing consistent speed.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.4 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 17. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 507 / Franklin Turnpike.
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 26.9 miles you will encounter 6 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 (CR 507 / Franklin Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (NJ 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Mahwah, NJ and East Orange, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll South: Parkway South and Shore Points.
Gsp Toll South: Parkway South
11.3 mi in
|
~15m
Shore Points
11.3 mi in
|
~15m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 26.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.4 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.97 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. 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 East Orange, 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 (CR 507 / Franklin Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (NJ 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Morristown National Historical Park (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 East Orange, 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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