Origin
Newark, NJ
Late night in Newark on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newark, NJ to Port Reading, NJ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
14.9 mi
24 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Port Reading, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Newark to Port Reading, you are looking at a quick 14.9-mile journey through the Northeast. Expect to spend about 28 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You will primarily navigate via Mulberry Street, McCarter Highway, and I-95 South to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of just $2, the trip is highly economical for those needing to move between these two New Jersey locations. Because of the short duration, you won't need to plan for any overnight stays or complex logistics. It is a straightforward commute that gets you from point A to point B without any necessary stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 5 mi | 6m |
| US 1 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| McCarter Highway | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Blair Road | 1.4 mi | 4m |
| NJ 81 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Federal Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Mulberry Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Minue Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 5 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newark, NJ and Port Reading, NJ.
1
Start on CR 510
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Market Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn right onto Mulberry Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Mulberry Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn slight right onto NJ 21
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
McCarter Highway
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto US 1; US 9
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
US 1; US 9
5
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
7
Continue on NJ 81
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
315 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
10
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
this road
11
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 12
Toward Carteret, Rahway
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
237 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Carteret, West Carteret, Rahway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward West Carteret, Rahway
15
Turn straight onto CR 602
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Roosevelt Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Minue Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Minue Street
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on Federal Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Federal Boulevard
18
Turn left onto Blair Road
1.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Blair Road
19
Turn right onto Langford Avenue
487 ft
·
21 sec
·
Langford Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Langford Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 11.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
5.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
7
5.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
8
10.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward Carteret, Rahway
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 12
Toward Carteret, Rahway
8
11.6 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Carteret, West Carteret, Rahway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Carteret, West Carteret, Rahway
7
11.6 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward West Carteret, Rahway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward West Carteret, Rahway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.47 one way
$4.94 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.71 | $5.41 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.89 | $5.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.29 | $6.58 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.70
New Jersey Turnpike
(5 mi)
$0.70
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$1
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.56 | $0.72 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.30 | $0.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6 | 0 | $2.09 | $0.95 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Port Reading, NJ
Late night in Port Reading on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
1 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
28m 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 is a turn-heavy local drive that requires your full attention as you transition between city streets and regional arteries. You will find that the route avoids long highway stretches, as the highway share is 0%, keeping you on more technical local roads for the duration of the trip. Navigating the mix of Mulberry Street and McCarter Highway means you should prepare for frequent changes in traffic flow and intersection management. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this path demands a more active driving style. You won't face any significant long stretches of open road, so anticipate a dynamic experience that keeps you engaged until you arrive in Port Reading.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
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 5.4 miles in.
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 15 decision points packed into just 14.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Newark, NJ and Port Reading, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp South: Trenton, Carteret and Rahway.
Njtp South: Trenton
5.4 mi in
|
~11m
Carteret
10.8 mi in
|
~18m
Rahway
10.8 mi in
|
~18m
About the Cities
Starting 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 28m. Total distance: 14.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.70 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Port Reading, 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 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Port Reading, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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