Origin
Manalapan, NJ
Morning in Manalapan on Sunday
Local time
8:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Manalapan, 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
1h 4m
Distance
48.5 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manalapan, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
East Orange, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 48.5-mile drive from Manalapan, NJ, to East Orange, NJ, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 4 minutes. Designed as a single-day excursion, it has a minimal fuel cost estimated at $8. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 95% of the journey on major roadways, making it an efficient way to travel within the Northeast region. You'll mainly be on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and NJ 33. Given its short duration and highway nature, this route is ideal for a quick transit or a day trip without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 22.9 mi | 26m |
| Garden State Parkway | 15.5 mi | 21m |
| NJ 33 | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| South Oraton Parkway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Maybaum Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Parkway Drive | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Speedway Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Eastern Parkway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 22.9 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manalapan, NJ and East Orange, NJ.
1
Start on CR 527A
314 ft
·
7 sec
·
Iron Ore Road
2
Turn left onto NJ 33
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
NJ 33
3
Turn straight onto NJ 33
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
NJ 33
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto I 95; NJTP
23 mi
·
26 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 11
Toward US 9, GSP: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto GSP
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 144
Toward CR 510
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto Eastern Parkway
518 ft
·
17 sec
·
Eastern Parkway
10
Continue on Speedway Avenue
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Speedway Avenue
11
At end of road, turn left onto CR 510
511 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Orange Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
12
Turn slight right onto Maybaum Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Maybaum Avenue
13
Continue on Birchwood Avenue
362 ft
·
9 sec
·
Birchwood Avenue
14
Continue on South Oraton Parkway
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
South Oraton Parkway
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto South Oraton Parkway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Oraton Parkway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto Parkway Drive
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Parkway Drive
17
Turn sharp left onto North Arlington Avenue
343 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Arlington Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Turn slight left onto Parkway Drive
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Parkway Drive
19
Arrive at destination
Parkway Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.2 miles from Manalapan, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 29 and 48.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
29 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward US 9, GSP: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
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 11
Toward US 9, GSP: Garden State Parkway, Woodbri...
7
29.5 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
7
45.8 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward CR 510
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 144
Toward CR 510
8
46.3 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
CR 510 / South Orange Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto CR 510 / South Orange Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
8
48.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
North Arlington Avenue
Turn sharp left onto North Arlington Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.04 one way
$16.08 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.81 | $17.61 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.41 | $18.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.71 | $21.42 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.13
New Jersey Turnpike
(22.9 mi)
$3.20
Garden State Parkway
(15.5 mi)
$0.93
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$4
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.09 | $2.33 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.10 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
24 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 4m 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 journey, with 95% of the drive taking place on major expressways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.9 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, offering a chance to maintain a consistent speed. While the specific road conditions and scenery are not detailed, the profile suggests a predominantly high-speed, direct drive rather than a winding or particularly scenic path. This type of route prioritizes efficiency and getting you to your destination quickly.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.9 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29 miles in.
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 48.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Manalapan, NJ and East Orange, NJ, road signs point toward Woodbridge and Cr 510.
Woodbridge
29 mi in
|
~35m
Cr 510
45.8 mi in
|
~59m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 48.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.9 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.13 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 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: at 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From East Orange, NJ
More from Manalapan, NJ
More trips to East Orange, NJ
Explore more options from Manalapan, NJ or browse trips ending in East Orange, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.