Origin
Newark, NJ
Morning in Newark on Sunday
Local time
10:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newark, NJ to South Old Bridge, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
29.4 mi
47 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Old Bridge, NJ
Malcolm Garret
Trip Overview
Newark, NJ to South Old Bridge, NJ is 29.4 miles and takes about 45m via New Jersey Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short trip entirely within the Northeast region of New Jersey. Given its brevity, it's ideal for a quick hop or an add-on to a longer journey. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 9.4 mi | 11m |
| US Highway 9 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Garden State Parkway | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Old Bridge-Matawan Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| US 1 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| McCarter Highway | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Exit to GSP and US Route 9 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| NJ 81 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 9.4 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newark, NJ and South Old Bridge, 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 left at fork
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
10
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
9.4 mi
·
11 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
11
Take the exit onto Exit 11
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Exit to GSP and US Route 9
Exit 11
Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
Use the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP Southbound entrance
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
GSP Southbound entrance
Toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto GSP
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Garden State Parkway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 123
Toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge
Use the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto US 9
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
US Highway 9
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward CR 516 West: Old Bridge
20
Turn straight onto CR 516
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Old Bridge-Matawan Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto Southwood Drive
286 ft
·
17 sec
·
Southwood Drive
22
Continue on Southwood Drive
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Southwood Drive
23
Arrive at destination
Southwood Drive
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 21.6 — 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
8
15.2 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9
Take the exit onto Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9 toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
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 11
Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbri...
8
16.6 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Pa...
7
16.9 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
GSP Southbound entrance
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP Southbound entrance toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway
8
21.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge
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 123
Toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.87 one way
$9.75 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.34 | $10.68 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.70 | $11.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.49 | $12.98 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.56
New Jersey Turnpike
(9.4 mi)
$1.31
Garden State Parkway
(4.2 mi)
$0.25
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$2
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.09 | $1.41 |
| Efficient EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.57 | $1.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.12 | $1.88 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
South Old Bridge, NJ
Morning in South Old Bridge on Sunday
Local time
10:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°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
10 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
45m 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 drive is mostly highway, with 76% of the 29.4 miles on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 9.4 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a high volume of exits and potential for merging traffic as you navigate these busy corridors.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.4 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and US Highway 9. 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 18 decision points packed into just 29.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
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 15.2 miles (Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 South Old Bridge, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp South: Trenton, Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South and Perth Amboy.
Njtp South: Trenton
5.4 mi in
|
~11m
Gsp
15.2 mi in
|
~23m
|
via Exit 11
Woodbridge
15.2 mi in
|
~23m
|
via Exit 11
Gsp South
16.6 mi in
|
~25m
Perth Amboy
16.6 mi in
|
~25m
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 45m. Total distance: 29.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.4 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.56 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.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 South Old Bridge, 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 15.2 miles (Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 South Old Bridge, 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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