Origin
Mountain Lakes, NJ
Morning in Mountain Lakes on Sunday
Local time
10:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mountain Lakes, NJ to Middletown, 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 13m
Distance
53 mi
85 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mountain Lakes, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Middletown, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 53-mile drive from Mountain Lakes, NJ to Middletown, NJ is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 13 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Garden State Parkway and NJ 24, this route is an excellent option for a single-day excursion, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, it's an economical choice for exploring within the Northeast region. The journey is almost entirely highway-focused, making it a predictable and efficient way to travel between these two New Jersey locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 17.9 mi | 22m |
| NJ 24 | 9.3 mi | 10m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| NJ 35 | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| I 287 | 5 mi | 6m |
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| Fanny Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 17.9 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mountain Lakes, NJ and Middletown, NJ.
1
Start on Glen Road
0.2 mi
·
59 sec
·
Glen Road
2
Turn right onto CR 618
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Boulevard
3
Turn sharp right onto Fanny Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Fanny Road
4
Continue on US 202; CR 511
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Parsippany Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 287 South, I 80 South: Morristown
6
Merge onto I 287
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 287
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 37
Toward NJ 24 East: Springfield
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on NJ 24
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
NJ 24
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City, Newark
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 78 East Local: Newark
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 78
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 52
Toward GSP: G.S. Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP South
14
Merge onto GSP
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on Garden State Parkway
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Garden State Parkway
17
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 117
Toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, Keyport
Use the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
165 ft
·
4 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward NJ 35: Hazlet
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto NJ 35
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
NJ 35
22
Turn right onto CR 50
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
New Monmouth Road
23
At end of road, turn right onto CR 50
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Kings Highway
24
Arrive at destination
CR 50
Where to Stop
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.5 miles from Mountain Lakes, 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 7.5 and 47.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
7.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward NJ 24 East: Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 37
Toward NJ 24 East: Springfield
7
17.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 78 East Local: Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 78 East Local: Newark
7
21.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward GSP: G.S. Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 52
Toward GSP: G.S. Parkway
8
46.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, Keyport
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 117
Toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, Keyport
8
47.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 35: Hazlet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 35: Hazlet
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.79 one way
$17.57 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.62 | $19.25 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.28 | $20.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.70 | $23.40 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.45
Garden State Parkway
(24.1 mi)
$1.45
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.56 | $2.54 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.64 | $2.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.42 | $3.39 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Middletown, NJ
Morning in Middletown on Sunday
Local time
10:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
2 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 13m 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 drive for 89% of this 53-mile trip. You'll be spending most of your time on the Garden State Parkway, including a continuous stretch of 17.9 miles. This route is designed for efficient travel, with minimal time spent on slower local roads. The character of the drive is consistent, prioritizing speed and directness as you make your way south through New Jersey.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.9 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53 miles you will encounter 19 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 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
490 ft
-5 ft
Total Climb
256 ft
Total Descent
619 ft
Highest Point
490 ft
Elevation Range
495 ft
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 Mountain Lakes, NJ and Middletown, NJ, road signs point toward New York City, Newark, Gsp South and Keyport.
New York City
17.5 mi in
|
~24m
Newark
17.5 mi in
|
~24m
Gsp South
21.7 mi in
|
~29m
Keyport
46.5 mi in
|
~1h 2m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 53 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.9 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.45 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 Middletown, 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 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls 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 Middletown, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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