Origin
New Milford, NJ
Morning in New Milford on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New Milford, 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
30m
Distance
20 mi
32 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Milford, NJ
Tashaud Bullock
Trip Overview
This quick 20-mile journey between New Milford and Newark, New Jersey, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking about 30 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate NJ 21 and NJ 17, with a portion on River Road, offering a mixed driving experience. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $3, this route is budget-friendly. Since there are no recommended stops, the drive is straightforward and efficient. Given its short duration and the fact that both the start and end points are within the Northeast region and the state of New Jersey, this trip is ideal for a quick local commute or an easy connection to another adventure.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 21 | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| NJ 17 | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| River Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Hackensack Avenue | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| River Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| NJ 3 | 0.9 mi | <1m |
| University Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Polifly Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 21
— 5.9 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Milford, NJ and Newark, NJ.
1
Start on Plympton Street
270 ft
·
17 sec
·
Plympton Street
2
Turn left onto Cedar Road
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
Cedar Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto CR 41
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
River Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto CR 49
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
New Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on CR 503; CR 49
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Hackensack Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on CR 503; CR 49
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
River Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto CR 56
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Court Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto CR 56
362 ft
·
14 sec
·
Main Street
9
Turn right onto CR 124
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Essex Street
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto CR 55
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Polifly Road
11
Continue on CR 55
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Terrace Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
13
Merge onto NJ 17
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Newark
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto NJ 3
0.9 mi
·
57 sec
·
NJ 3
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward NJ 21: Paterson, Newark
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward NJ 21 North, NJ 21 South
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward NJ 21 South: Newark
Use the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto NJ 21
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
NJ 21
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto CR 506 Spur
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Clay Street
21
Turn left onto Broad Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Broad Street
Use the left lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto University Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
University Avenue
23
Turn left onto CR 510
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Market Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Arrive at destination
CR 510
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 18.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 41 / River Road
At end of road, turn left onto CR 41 / River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
4.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
CR 124 / Essex Street
Turn right onto CR 124 / Essex Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
12 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward NJ 21: Paterson, Newark
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 21: Paterson, Newark
8
12.5 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 21 South: Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 21 South: Newark
7
18.8 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Broad Street
Turn left onto Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.32 one way
$6.63 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.63 | $7.26 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.88 | $7.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.42 | $8.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6 | 0 | $2.10 | $0.96 |
| Efficient EV | 5 | 0 | $1.75 | $0.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8 | 0 | $2.80 | $1.28 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
6:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Scattered Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
E 2 to 9 mph
31% chance
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
12 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
30m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with about 55% of it on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.9 miles along NJ 21. This road will likely feel like a combination of faster-paced highway sections and more local road driving as you make your way through various New Jersey communities. The transition between these road types will define the driving experience, keeping you engaged without being overly demanding. It's a practical drive that balances efficiency with a touch of local flavor.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.9 mi on NJ 21.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.3 miles in near CR 41 / River Road.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 19 decision points packed into just 20 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (CR 41 / River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles (CR 124 / Essex Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 30m. Total distance: 20 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.9 miles on NJ 21. 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 0.3 miles (CR 41 / River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles (CR 124 / Essex Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12 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, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area (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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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