Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
31m
Distance
21.2 mi
34 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
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
Mountain Lakes, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Newark, NJ to Mountain Lakes, NJ is 21.2 miles and takes about 31 minutes via Essex Freeway and Interstate 80 West, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Northeast region and entirely within New Jersey, making it a convenient local hop. You'll primarily be on major roadways, so expect typical highway conditions rather than winding country lanes. It's a straightforward drive, ideal for a quick errand or connecting to further travel in the area.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Essex Freeway | 12.5 mi | 15m |
| Interstate 80 West | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| I 287 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Fanny Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Raymond Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Orange Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Lock Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
8 AM
~4,644 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~178 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
26.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 74 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Newark, NJ and Mountain Lakes, 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 right at fork
Continue on I 80W
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 287
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 202; CR 511
Turn right onto Fanny Road
Turn sharp left onto CR 618
Turn left onto Glen Road
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.5 and 19.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 287 North: Mahwah, Littleton Road, Smith Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 287 North: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Intervale Road, Mountain Lakes
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto US 202; CR 511 / Intervale Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$3.64 one way
$7.29 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $4.00 | $8.00 |
| premium | $5.13 | $4.28 | $8.56 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $4.98 | $9.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.23 | $1.02 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.86 | $0.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Newark on Saturday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Mountain Lakes on Saturday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
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 route is mostly highway, with 77% of the 21.2 miles on major roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 12.5 miles along the Essex Freeway. After this, you'll transition to Interstate 80 West and then I 287, which maintain a highway feel. You can expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate through populated areas.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Essex Freeway and Interstate 80 West. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.5 miles in.
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 16 decision points packed into just 21.2 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 14.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
689 ft
Total Descent
232 ft
Highest Point
490 ft
~21.2 mi in
Elevation Range
458 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Newark, NJ to Mountain Lakes, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Mahwah along the way.
Mahwah
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
Founded 1924
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 21.2 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 (77%). 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 Mountain Lakes, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.
