Origin
Spotswood, NJ
Morning in Spotswood on Sunday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Spotswood, 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
47m
Distance
32.1 mi
52 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 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spotswood, NJ
Alexa V. Mato
Trip Overview
This straightforward 32.1-mile drive from Spotswood, NJ, to Newark, NJ, is designed for efficiency, taking approximately 47 minutes. With 81% of the journey on highways, it's a quick trip through the Northeast region, entirely within New Jersey. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $5, making it an economical option for a single-day excursion. This route is best suited as a day trip, with no overnight stays recommended given its short duration. Prepare for a highway-focused experience designed to get you to your destination swiftly.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 17.7 mi | 21m |
| State Route 18 | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| NJ 21 | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| US 1 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Summerhill Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| NJ 81 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Rues Lane | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Mulberry Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 17.7 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spotswood, NJ and Newark, NJ.
1
Start on Willard Clark Circle
236 ft
·
15 sec
·
Willard Clark Circle
2
Turn left onto Eaton Avenue
332 ft
·
16 sec
·
Eaton Avenue
3
Turn right onto Snowhill Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Snowhill Street
4
Continue on CR 615
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Main Street
5
Turn left onto CR 613
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Summerhill Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto CR 617
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Rues Lane
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto NJ 18
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
State Route 18
8
Take the exit
487 ft
·
20 sec
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
9
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
this road
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
10
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.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
12
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
18 mi
·
21 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 13A
Toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto NJ 81
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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.
18
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
229 ft
·
7 sec
·
Chestnut Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Mulberry Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Mulberry Street
20
Turn left onto CR 510
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Market Street
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
CR 510
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 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.1 miles from Spotswood, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 29.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CR 617 / Rues Lane
Turn right onto CR 617 / Rues Lane
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
7.7 mi into trip
|
~12m 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
26 mi into trip
|
~35m 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
27.4 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
29.4 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
$5.32 one way
$10.64 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.83 | $11.66 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.23 | $12.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.09 | $14.17 |
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: 11.2 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 | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.81 | $1.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.49 | $2.05 |
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
6:07 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
47m 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 predominantly highway-focused drive, with 81% of the 32.1 miles utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.7 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. You'll also navigate segments of State Route 18 and NJ 21, which may introduce slightly more varied driving conditions. Overall, the personality of this route is geared towards efficient travel, minimizing distractions and maximizing forward progress.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 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 2.6 miles in near CR 617 / Rues Lane.
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 32.1 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 2.6 miles (CR 617 / Rues Lane): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26 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 Spotswood, 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
7.4 mi in
|
~11m
Njtp North: New York City
7.7 mi in
|
~12m
Newark Airport
26 mi in
|
~35m
Elizabeth Seaport
26 mi in
|
~35m
Downtown
29.4 mi in
|
~41m
|
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 47m. Total distance: 32.1 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 (81%). 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.
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 2.6 miles (CR 617 / Rues Lane): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26 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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