Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
42.2 mi
68 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newark, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Lafayette, NJ
Kelly
Newark to Lafayette is 42.2 miles and takes about 57 minutes via NJ 15 North and Essex Freeway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward, same-day trip stays within New Jersey, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. The route is primarily highway, making it a quick connection between these two points. It’s a practical choice if you’re looking for an efficient drive with minimal fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 15 North | 15.1 mi | 22m |
| Essex Freeway | 12.5 mi | 15m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 11.4 mi | 13m |
| Raymond Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Orange Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Lock Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Nesbitt Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 150 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~5,015 veh/hr typical · worst 5,922
Quietest
1 AM
~456 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Newark, NJ and Lafayette, NJ.
Start on CR 510
Turn right
Turn straight onto Washington Street
Turn left onto Raymond Boulevard
Continue on Lock Street
Continue on Nesbitt Street
Turn left onto Orange Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 280
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Continue on NJ 15
Turn right onto Meadows Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.1 miles from Newark, 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 1.2 and 26.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Orange Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 280 West: Garden State Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 280 / Essex Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 280 West, I 80 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NJ 15 North: Sparta, Jefferson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$7.25 one way
$14.50 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $7.96 | $15.92 |
| premium | $5.13 | $8.52 | $17.04 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $9.91 | $19.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.43 | $2.03 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Morning in Newark on Saturday
Local time
6:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Morning in Lafayette on Saturday
Local time
6:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
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 drive is mostly highway, with 66% of the route on freeways. You'll encounter the longest stretch without exiting on NJ 15 North for 15.1 miles. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely feel gradual as you approach your destination. Expect a steady pace with fewer stops needed due to the highway focus.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 15 North and Essex Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near Orange Street.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 42.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (Orange Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (I 280 / Essex Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,297 ft
Total Descent
770 ft
Highest Point
1,046 ft
~33.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,014 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Newark, NJ to Lafayette, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Jefferson along the way.
Jefferson
Founded 1666
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.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 42.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. 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 options from Newark, NJ or browse trips ending in Lafayette, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.
