Origin
South Old Bridge, NJ
Morning in South Old Bridge on Sunday
Local time
10:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Old Bridge, NJ to Newark, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
30.5 mi
49 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m
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
South Old Bridge, NJ to Newark, NJ is 30.5 miles and takes about 43m via New Jersey Turnpike and State Route 18, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within the Northeast region, connecting two points in New Jersey. Given its short distance and primarily highway profile, it’s a straightforward drive that doesn't require much planning. You’ll likely find it to be an efficient way to cover the ground between these locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 17.7 mi | 21m |
| State Route 18 | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| NJ 21 | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| US 1 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| NJ 81 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Mulberry Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Ridge Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 17.7 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Old Bridge, NJ and Newark, NJ.
1
Start on Southwood Drive
82 ft
·
7 sec
·
Southwood Drive
2
Turn left onto Ridge Road
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
Ridge Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto CR 516
281 ft
·
7 sec
·
Old Bridge-Matawan Road
4
Continue on CR 516
373 ft
·
9 sec
·
Old Bridge-Englishtown Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
6
Merge onto NJ 18; CR 527
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
State Route 18
7
Take the exit
487 ft
·
20 sec
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
8
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
this road
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
11
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
18 mi
·
21 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 13A
Toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto NJ 81
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
NJ 21
Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
229 ft
·
7 sec
·
Chestnut Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Mulberry Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Mulberry Street
19
Turn left onto CR 510
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Market Street
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
CR 510
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 27.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 516 / Old Bridge-Matawan Road
At end of road, turn left onto CR 516 / Old Bridge-Matawan Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
9
6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
8
24.3 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
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 13A
Toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
6
25.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
27.8 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
NJ 21
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21 toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.06 one way
$10.11 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.54 | $11.08 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.92 | $11.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.73 | $13.47 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.47
New Jersey Turnpike
(17.7 mi)
$2.47
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
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 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 | 9.2 | 0 | $3.20 | $1.46 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.67 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
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
Newark, NJ
Morning in Newark on Sunday
Local time
10:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
43m 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 89% of the route on high-speed roads. You’ll experience a long stretch of 17.7 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike before transitioning to other roads. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate this heavily traveled corridor. The route generally maintains a high-speed profile for the majority of its length.
89% 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: 17.7 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 State Route 18. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near CR 516 / Old Bridge-Matawan Road.
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 16 decision points packed into just 30.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (CR 516 / Old Bridge-Matawan Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.3 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 South Old Bridge, NJ and Newark, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike, Njtp North: New York City, Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport and Downtown.
Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
5.7 mi in
|
~8m
Njtp North: New York City
6 mi in
|
~9m
Newark Airport
24.3 mi in
|
~31m
Elizabeth Seaport
24.3 mi in
|
~31m
Downtown
27.8 mi in
|
~37m
|
via NJ 21
About the Cities
Arriving 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 43m. Total distance: 30.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.7 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.47 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 4 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 Newark, 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 0.2 miles (CR 516 / Old Bridge-Matawan Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Newark, 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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