Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
54.2 mi
87 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
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.
Middletown, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Demarest, NJ
Garrison Gao
Middletown, NJ to Demarest, NJ is 54.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 19 minutes via New Jersey Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward drive. It's a short enough distance that you can easily complete it in a single day without feeling rushed.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 14 mi | 17m |
| New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur | 12.6 mi | 16m |
| Garden State Parkway | 10.6 mi | 13m |
| NJ 35 | 5.2 mi | 8m |
| South Washington Avenue | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Teaneck Road | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Hardenburgh Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Degraw Avenue | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Middletown, NJ and Demarest, NJ.
Start on CR 50
Turn left onto CR 50
Turn left onto NJ 35
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto GSP
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on this road
Continue on this road
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; NJTP
Take the exit
Turn slight right
Continue on CR 56
Turn right onto CR 39
Continue on CR 49; CR 39
Continue on CR 39
Turn right onto CR 80
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.1 miles from Middletown, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.7 and 45.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward GSP: Clark Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward Local, All Exits
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Leonia, Teaneck
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$9.06 one way
$18.11 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $9.97 | $19.93 |
| premium | $5.01 | $10.69 | $21.39 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $11.95 | $23.89 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.36
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$4
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.69 | $2.60 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.59 | $3.47 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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 Middletown on Friday
Local time
1:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Demarest on Friday
Local time
1:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
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 route is mostly highway, with 78% of the drive on major roadways. You'll encounter a continuous stretch of 14 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike. Expect a high number of exits and entries as you navigate this well-traveled corridor. The highway portion concludes around the 42-mile mark, transitioning to surface streets.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
142 ft
Total Descent
230 ft
Highest Point
127 ft
Elevation Range
131 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Middletown, NJ and Demarest, NJ, road signs point toward Local, All Exits, Njtp: New York City, Trenton, Njtp North: New York City and Leonia - among others.
Local
All Exits
Njtp: New York City
Trenton
Njtp North: New York City
Leonia
Teaneck
Founded 1693
Middletown is a bedroom community of New York City in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Middletown sits on the Raritan Bay within the Raritan Valley region. This article also covers Highlands borough. Residents like Middletown for its central location and proximity to the rest of the Jersey Shore.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 54.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). 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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