Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
16.6 mi
27 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Menlo Park, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick commute between Menlo Park and Newark, this 16.6-mile trip is a straightforward transit across New Jersey. Expect to spend about 26 minutes behind the wheel, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. With a fuel budget of just $3, it is an incredibly economical route to navigate. You will primarily utilize the Garden State Parkway, Springfield Avenue, and the Lincoln Highway to complete your journey. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent urban and suburban environment throughout the entire drive. This route is best viewed as a practical connection rather than a sightseeing tour, providing a reliable path for those needing to get between these two points efficiently.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 11.7 mi | 15m |
| Springfield Avenue | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Lincoln Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Ball Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Philip Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cleremont Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Menlo Park, NJ and Newark, NJ.
Start on Philip Street
At end of road, turn left onto NJ 27
Take the ramp
Continue on this road
Merge onto GSP
Take the exit
Turn left onto Cleremont Avenue
Continue on Ball Street
Continue on Washington Avenue
Turn right onto CR 603
Continue on CR 510
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 13.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto NJ 27 / Lincoln Highway
Navigation decision point
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Irvington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Cleremont Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto CR 603 / Springfield Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.75 one way
$5.50 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.01 | $6.03 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.22 | $6.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.67 | $7.33 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.70
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$1
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5 | 0 | $1.74 | $0.80 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.45 | $0.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.32 | $1.06 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Menlo Park on Sunday
Local time
12:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Newark on Sunday
Local time
12:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 70% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Garden State Parkway, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 11.7 miles. The experience is characterized by a transition from the suburban feel of Menlo Park onto high-speed transit corridors before eventually shifting into the local road network of Newark. Because the route is quite short, you won't encounter the fatigue associated with long-haul interstate driving. It remains a functional, high-traffic transit experience, so keep your focus sharp as you merge onto the Parkway and navigate the eventual transition onto Springfield Avenue and the Lincoln Highway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Springfield Avenue. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near NJ 27 / Lincoln Highway.
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 16.6 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: at 0.2 miles (NJ 27 / Lincoln Highway): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
192 ft
Total Descent
298 ft
Highest Point
185 ft
~14.2 mi in
Elevation Range
153 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Menlo Park, NJ to Newark, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Irvington along the way.
Irvington
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 16.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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