Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge
Near the end, right off the route
Union, New Jersey
Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm
+19083966401
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 19m
Distance
110.6 mi
178 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Port Republic, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Passaic, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Port Republic to Passaic covers 110.6 miles of New Jersey landscape, typically taking about 2 hours and 19 minutes to complete. Because this journey is designed as a direct, highway-focused drive, it works perfectly as a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $18 on fuel, making this a budget-friendly transit across the Northeast region. Since you are staying within the state of New Jersey, the transition between your starting point and final destination is straightforward. Whether you are heading north for business or a quick visit, this route offers a reliable connection between the two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.3 miles from Port Republic, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 103.2 mi | 2h 6m |
| Chestnut Neck Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Bloomfield Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Broadway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Smithville-Port Republic Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Passaic Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Passaic Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| New York Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Port Republic, NJ and Passaic, NJ.
Start on CR 575
At end of road, turn right onto CR 575
Turn slight left onto US 9
Take the ramp onto US 9
Merge onto GSP; US 9
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on GSP
Take the exit
Turn right onto CR 655
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
Turn right onto CR 622
Turn left onto CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Enter roundabout onto CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Turn right onto CR 618
Turn left onto Passaic Avenue
Arrive at destination
Given the 2-hour and 19-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to leave at a time that avoids peak traffic. Since there are no mandatory stops required for this 110.6-mile trek, you can easily power through the entire drive in one session if you prefer. However, keep in mind that the Garden State Parkway is the backbone of your trip, so checking for real-time congestion on that specific corridor before you depart is essential. Budgeting $18 for gas is a solid baseline, but keeping a little extra in reserve for potential idling in heavy traffic is a smart move. Because the route is so highway-heavy, ensure your vehicle is ready for sustained speeds before you pull out of your driveway.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 24 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.3 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Passaic, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Port Republic, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Port Republic, NJ
This is one driving day of about 110.6 miles and 2h 19m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 55.3 miles from Port Republic, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Union, New Jersey
Near the end, right off the route
Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm
+19083966401
Oasis Restaurant
Cranford, New Jersey
Princess Maria's 2 Pizza & Restaurant
Brick Township, New Jersey
Top Coffee Stop
Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey
Near the end, short detour
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+12014259120
Near the end, right off the route
Union, New Jersey
Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm
+19083966401
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Cranford, New Jersey
Hours: 12–9:30 pm
+19089676161
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Brick Township, New Jersey
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+17327146471
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Rutherford, New Jersey
Hours: 5–9:30 pm
+19737213404
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Red Bank, New Jersey
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+17323770404
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Toms River, New Jersey
Hours: 5–9 pm
+17322553323
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
South Orange Village, New Jersey
Hours: 12–3 pm
+19737624440
Visit websiteNear the end, ~9 min detour
Maplewood, New Jersey
Hours: 11 am–11 pm
+19737634460
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+12014259120
Near the start, ~10 min detour
Manahawkin, New Jersey
Hours: 7 am–4 pm
+16095495775
Visit websiteNear the end, ~11 min detour
Montclair, New Jersey
Hours: 7:30 am–5:30 pm
+19733586543
Visit websiteNear the end, ~11 min detour
South Hackensack, New Jersey
Hours: 10 am–7 pm
+12014265898
Visit websiteNear the end, ~12 min detour
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+12012563010
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Tinton Falls, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18665761495
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Union, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Tinton Falls, NJ
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Union, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Tinton Falls, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18774943833
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Union, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18885577099
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Lakewood, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Belleville, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Cranford, New Jersey
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+19085274900
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Lodi, New Jersey
Hours: 1–7 pm
+18628997674
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey
Hours: 10 am–8 pm
+12017132156
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Perth Amboy, New Jersey
+17326979500
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Staten Island, New York
+17189846046
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Woodbridge, New Jersey
Hours: 6 am–6 pm
+17327453900
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Newark, New Jersey
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+19739005800
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Harrison, NJ
Hours: Open 24 hours
+12012175482
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 110.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto CR 575 / Chestnut Neck Road
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Montclair, Nutley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Passaic Avenue
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$18.34 one way
$36.67 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $20.08 | $40.16 |
| premium | $4.93 | $21.45 | $42.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.42 | $48.84 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.19
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.2 | 0 | $11.61 | $5.31 |
| Efficient EV | 27.7 | 0 | $9.68 | $4.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.2 | 0 | $15.48 | $7.08 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Night in Port Republic on Saturday
Local time
10:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Passaic on Saturday
Local time
10:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
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.
This trip is defined by its efficiency, with 94% of the distance spent on major highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Garden State Parkway, which accounts for a 103.2-mile stretch of uninterrupted driving. Beyond the Parkway, the route transitions briefly onto Chestnut Neck Road and Bloomfield Avenue to reach your final destination. Expect a fast-paced experience rather than a leisurely scenic tour, as the road is built for consistent speed and direct navigation. You will feel the transition from the quieter environment of Port Republic into the more densely populated areas as you approach Passaic.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Chestnut Neck Road. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near CR 575 / Chestnut Neck Road.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 110.6 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (CR 575 / Chestnut Neck Road): Navigation decision point; at 8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 106.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
349 ft
Total Descent
253 ft
Highest Point
158 ft
~71.1 mi in
Elevation Range
143 ft
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 19m. Total distance: 110.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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