Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
11.9 mi
19 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mountainside, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
This short 11.9-mile drive from Newark to Mountainside, New Jersey, is a quick 22-minute trip perfect for a single day. Primarily utilizing US 22 and the Garden State Parkway, it’s a highway-focused journey with about 63% of the route on these main roads. With an estimated fuel cost of just $2, this is an economical option for getting between these two Northeast locations. You won't need to plan for an overnight stay, making it an easy addition to your travel plans. The overall feel is practical and efficient, designed to get you to your destination with minimal fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 22 | 5.4 mi | 9m |
| Springfield Avenue | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Garden State Parkway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Ball Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Lyons Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Union Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| New Providence Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Newark, NJ and Mountainside, NJ.
Start on CR 510
Turn left onto CR 510; CR 603
Turn left onto Washington Avenue
Continue on Ball Street
Turn right onto CR 602
Turn left onto Union Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto GSP
Take the exit
Merge onto US 22
Take the exit
Turn right onto CR 645
Turn right onto Birch Hill Road
Turn right onto Watchung Avenue
Turn left
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 5.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Union Avenue
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway South
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 22, NJ 82 East: Elizabeth, Somerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$1.97 one way
$3.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.16 | $4.32 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.31 | $4.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.63 | $5.25 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.12
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$0
Total
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.25 | $0.57 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.04 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.67 | $0.76 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Late night in Newark on Sunday
Local time
4:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Scattered Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Mountainside on Sunday
Local time
4:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
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.
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 11.9-mile trip, with 63% of your travel time spent on main roads like US 22 and the Garden State Parkway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.4 miles on US 22, allowing for a consistent pace. While it's not a winding scenic route, the transition from urban Newark to the suburban feel of Mountainside offers a subtle change in environment. This drive prioritizes directness and efficiency over elaborate vistas.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 22 and Springfield Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in near Washington Avenue.
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 11.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles (Washington Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (Union Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
288 ft
Total Descent
176 ft
Highest Point
196 ft
~1.7 mi in
Elevation Range
164 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Newark, NJ and Mountainside, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp South: Garden State Parkway South and Somerville.
Gsp South: Garden State Parkway South
Somerville
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 11.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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