Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
34.6 mi
56 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
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.
Mount Arlington, NJ
Tom Fisk
This 34.6-mile drive from Mount Arlington, NJ to Newark, NJ is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in under an hour, making it ideal for a single-day excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of $6, it's an economical journey. You'll primarily navigate using major arteries like the Essex Freeway and Christopher Columbus Highway, with a significant portion of the drive on highways. The mixed drive profile suggests you'll experience a variety of road types, so be prepared for changing conditions. Since it's a short distance within the Northeast region of New Jersey, no overnight stays are necessary.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Essex Freeway | 13.3 mi | 16m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 11 mi | 12m |
| Rt 15 South | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Howard Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Espanong Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Edison Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| University Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Market Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Arlington, NJ and Newark, NJ.
Start on Mountainview Avenue
Turn right onto CR 615
Continue on CR 615
Turn right onto CR 615
Keep slight right at fork onto Edison Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto NJ 15
Take the exit
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Continue on I 280
Take the exit
Turn right onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Turn left onto Orange Street
Turn right onto University Avenue
Turn left onto CR 510
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.3 miles from Mount Arlington, 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 3.8 and 34.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto NJ 15 / Rt 15 South
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Martin Luther King Boulevard, Broad Street Station, Rutgers University, Essex County College
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto CR 510 / Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$5.74 one way
$11.47 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.28 | $12.56 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.71 | $13.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.64 | $15.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.03 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Late night in Mount Arlington on Sunday
Local time
5:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Newark on Sunday
Local time
5:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Scattered Rain Showers then Partly 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.
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with about 49% of the journey taking place on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 13.3 miles along the Essex Freeway. This means you'll experience periods of faster-paced driving interspersed with sections that may be more local in nature. The road will likely transition between these different driving environments as you progress from Mount Arlington towards Newark, offering a dynamic experience behind the wheel.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in near NJ 15 / Rt 15 South.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 34.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles (NJ 15 / Rt 15 South): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 47m. Total distance: 34.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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