Origin
Shrewsbury, NJ
Morning in Shrewsbury on Sunday
Local time
6:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shrewsbury, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
32.6 mi
52 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shrewsbury, NJ
MINEIA MARTINS
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Shrewsbury to Elizabeth is 32.6 miles and takes about 47 minutes via Garden State Parkway and US 9, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within New Jersey, making it an easy day drive. You'll primarily stick to major roadways, offering a straightforward journey. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for a quick transfer or a simple travel day without extensive planning. Consider this route for its directness and minimal time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 17 mi | 20m |
| US 9 | 9.2 mi | 14m |
| Newman Springs Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Carlton Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Edgar Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Broad Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| White Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 17 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shrewsbury, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on White Street
226 ft
·
13 sec
·
White Street
2
Turn right onto NJ 35
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
Broad Street
3
Turn straight
315 ft
·
13 sec
4
Continue on CR 520
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Newman Springs Road
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll North
6
Merge onto GSP
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Garden State Parkway
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Toward Crossover to Express Roadway
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto GSP
9.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Garden State Parkway
9
Take the exit onto GSP
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Exit 127
Toward GSP North, US 9 North, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten Island
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 127
Toward US 9 North, I 287, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten Island
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward US 9 North: Woodbridge
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto US 9
9.2 mi
·
14 min
·
US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Edgar Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Carlton Street
15
Turn right
60 ft
·
6 sec
16
Turn right
383 ft
·
28 sec
17
Turn right
278 ft
·
22 sec
18
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
East Jersey Street
19
Turn right
34 ft
·
2 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 32.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.3 miles from Shrewsbury, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 9.3 and 29.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9.3 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward Crossover to Express Roadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Crossover to Express Roadway
8
18.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Take the exit onto GSP / Garden State Parkway toward GSP North, US 9 North, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten Island
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 127
Toward GSP North, US 9 North, NJ 440: Woodbridg...
9
20.2 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 9 North, I 287, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Staten Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 127
Toward US 9 North, I 287, NJ 440: Woodbridge, S...
7
20.4 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 9 North: Woodbridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 9 North: Woodbridge
6
29.9 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
US 1; US 9 / East Edgar Road
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9 / East Edgar Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.40 one way
$10.81 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.92 | $11.84 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.32 | $12.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.20 | $14.40 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.01
Garden State Parkway
(17 mi)
$1.01
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.42 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.85 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.09 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Elizabeth, NJ
Morning in Elizabeth on Sunday
Local time
6:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Partly Sunny
SW 10 mph
3% chance
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
44 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
47m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 80% highway, offering a predominantly high-speed driving experience. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 17 miles on the Garden State Parkway, allowing for consistent momentum. The drive begins on Newman Springs Road before merging onto the Parkway and then US 9, transitioning between familiar local roads and efficient highway travel. Expect a profile focused on covering ground efficiently, with minimal scenic detours and a focus on reaching your destination promptly.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.3 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 32.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.2 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 Shrewsbury, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North, Crossover To Express Roadway, Gsp North and Staten Island.
Gsp Toll North
2.5 mi in
|
~4m
Crossover To Express Roadway
9.3 mi in
|
~12m
Gsp North
18.9 mi in
|
~24m
|
via GSP
Staten Island
18.9 mi in
|
~24m
|
via GSP
About the Cities
Arriving in Elizabeth, NJ
Full guide →Elizabeth is the fourth largest city in New Jersey.
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 47m. Total distance: 32.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.01 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. 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 Elizabeth, 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 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (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 Elizabeth, 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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