Origin
Mountain Lakes, NJ
Morning in Mountain Lakes on Sunday
Local time
10:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mountain Lakes, NJ to Newark, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
31m
Distance
21.6 mi
35 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mountain Lakes, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward, efficient connection between Mountain Lakes and Newark, this 21.6-mile trip is an ideal candidate for a quick day journey. You can expect to spend about 31 minutes behind the wheel, making it a highly manageable trek within the Northeast region. With a fuel budget of roughly $4, this route is as economical as it is brief. Because of the short duration, there is no need for an overnight stay or complex planning. Whether you are commuting or heading into the city for an afternoon, the path provides a direct link between these two New Jersey locations without requiring multiple stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Essex Freeway | 13.3 mi | 16m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| I 287 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Fanny Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| University Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Parsippany Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Glen Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Essex Freeway
— 13.3 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mountain Lakes, NJ and Newark, 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
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 287
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
Toward ramp to I-80 Eastbound, NYC
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 80
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 47A
Toward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
10
Continue on I 280
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Essex Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 14
Toward Martin Luther King Boulevard, Broad Street Station, Rutgers University, Essex County College
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
269 ft
·
9 sec
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Use the right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
140 ft
·
11 sec
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
14
Turn left onto Orange Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Orange Street
15
Turn right onto University Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
University Avenue
16
Turn left onto CR 510
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Market Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
CR 510
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 21.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward ramp to I-80 Eastbound, NYC
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward ramp to I-80 Eastbound, NYC
6
6.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
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
Exit 47A
Toward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
8
20.4 mi into trip
|
~28m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 14
Toward Martin Luther King Boulevard, Broad Stre...
6
20.5 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Turn right onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
21.4 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
CR 510 / Market Street
Turn left onto CR 510 / Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.58 one way
$7.16 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.92 | $7.84 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.19 | $8.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.77 | $9.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Newark, NJ
Morning in Newark on Sunday
Local time
10:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
17 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
31m 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?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 68% of your journey spent navigating major thoroughfares like the Essex Freeway, the Christopher Columbus Highway, and I-287. You will find that the personality of the road is defined by its efficiency, specifically during the longest stretch of 13.3 miles on the Essex Freeway. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience rather than a winding, scenic cruise. As you transition between these key roads, the route maintains a steady flow, making it a functional choice for drivers who prioritize speed and reliability over leisurely backroads.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.3 mi on Essex Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Essex Freeway and Christopher Columbus Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 21.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 31m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
490 ft
32 ft
Total Climb
273 ft
Total Descent
731 ft
Highest Point
490 ft
Elevation Range
458 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 Newark, NJ, road signs point toward Ramp To I-80 Eastbound, Nyc, Broad Street Station, Rutgers University and Essex County College.
Ramp To I-80 Eastbound
3.9 mi in
|
~7m
Nyc
3.9 mi in
|
~7m
Broad Street Station
20.4 mi in
|
~28m
Rutgers University
20.4 mi in
|
~28m
Essex County College
20.4 mi in
|
~28m
About the Cities
Arriving in Newark, NJ
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 21.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.3 miles on Essex Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Newark, 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 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Newark, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Newark, NJ
More from Mountain Lakes, NJ
More trips to Newark, NJ
Explore more options from Mountain Lakes, NJ or browse trips ending in Newark, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.