Origin
South Plainfield, NJ
Morning in South Plainfield on Sunday
Local time
10:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Plainfield, 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
34m
Distance
19.3 mi
31 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Plainfield, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 19.3-mile drive from South Plainfield, NJ, to Newark, NJ, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 34 minutes. The route primarily utilizes the Garden State Parkway, Springfield Avenue, and Inman Avenue, offering a mixed driving experience. With a modest fuel cost estimate of $3, this journey is an economical option for local travel within the Northeast region. You won't need to worry about overnight stays, making it a convenient option for a quick transit or a short excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 7.5 mi | 10m |
| Springfield Avenue | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Inman Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Raritan Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Maple Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Oak Ridge Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Feather Bed Lane | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Ball Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 7.5 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Plainfield, NJ and Newark, NJ.
1
Start on South Plainfield Avenue
122 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Plainfield Avenue
2
Turn left onto Front Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Front Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto CR 602
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Maple Avenue
4
Continue on CR 602
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Maple Street
5
Continue on CR 602
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Old Raritan Road
6
Turn right onto CR 602
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Inman Avenue
7
Turn left onto Feather Bed Lane
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Feather Bed Lane
8
Continue on CR 607
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Oak Ridge Road
9
Continue on CR 607
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Raritan Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto CR 613
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward GSP North
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Merge onto GSP
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 143
Toward Irvington
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto Cleremont Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Cleremont Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on Ball Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Ball Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Continue on Washington Avenue
450 ft
·
13 sec
·
Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto CR 603
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Springfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on CR 510
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Market Street
19
Arrive at destination
CR 510
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 16.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Front Street
Turn left onto Front Street
Navigation decision point
7
7.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the ramp toward GSP North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward GSP North
7
15.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward Irvington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 143
Toward Irvington
6
15.7 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Cleremont Avenue
Turn left onto Cleremont Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
16.3 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
CR 603 / Springfield Avenue
Turn right onto CR 603 / Springfield Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.20 one way
$6.40 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.50 | $7.01 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.74 | $7.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.26 | $8.52 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.45
Garden State Parkway
(7.5 mi)
$0.45
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.03 | $0.93 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.24 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
10:36 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
16 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
34m 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?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 39% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.5 miles along the Garden State Parkway, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. As you transition from the parkway to Springfield Avenue and Inman Avenue, the character of the drive will likely shift to more local roads, potentially with increased traffic and varied speed limits. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway travel and more community-focused segments.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.5 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Front Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 19.3 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Plainfield, NJ and Newark, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North and Irvington.
Gsp North
7.8 mi in
|
~16m
Irvington
15.5 mi in
|
~26m
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 34m. Total distance: 19.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.45 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 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: near the start (Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Newark, NJ
More from South Plainfield, NJ
More trips to Newark, NJ
Explore more options from South Plainfield, NJ or browse trips ending in Newark, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.