Origin
Wood-Ridge, NJ
Morning in Wood-Ridge on Sunday
Local time
7:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wood-Ridge, 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
17m
Distance
12.2 mi
20 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 16m
★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 21m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 18m
3 PM
0h 19m
5 PM
0h 21m
8 PM
0h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wood-Ridge, NJ
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
This quick 12.2-mile drive from Wood-Ridge, NJ, to Newark, NJ, is easily manageable in about 17 minutes, making it a perfect option for a single-day trip. You'll primarily navigate using NJ 21, NJ 17, and NJ 3, with a significant 74% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this short hop is around $2, so budget is hardly a concern. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, keeping the travel experience consistent. This route is ideal for a straightforward transit between these two New Jersey locations without requiring an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 21 | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| NJ 17 | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| NJ 3 | 0.9 mi | <1m |
| University Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Moonachie Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Hackensack Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Broad Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 21
— 5.9 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wood-Ridge, NJ and Newark, NJ.
1
Start on Union Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Union Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 55
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Hackensack Street
3
Turn right onto CR 36
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Moonachie Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
5
Merge onto NJ 17
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Newark
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto NJ 3
0.9 mi
·
57 sec
·
NJ 3
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward NJ 21: Paterson, Newark
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward NJ 21 North, NJ 21 South
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward NJ 21 South: Newark
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto NJ 21
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
NJ 21
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto CR 506 Spur
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Clay Street
13
Turn left onto Broad Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Broad Street
Use the left lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto University Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
University Avenue
15
Turn left onto CR 510
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Market Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
CR 510
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 11 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward NJ 3 West: Newark
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 3 West: Newark
7
4.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward NJ 21: Paterson, Newark
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 21: Paterson, Newark
6
4.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 21 North, NJ 21 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 21 North, NJ 21 South
8
4.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 21 South: Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 21 South: Newark
7
11 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
Broad Street
Turn left onto Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.02 one way
$4.05 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.22 | $4.43 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.37 | $4.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.69 | $5.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.28 | $0.59 |
| Efficient EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.07 | $0.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.71 | $0.78 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
7:33 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
14 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
17m 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, accounting for 74% of your 12.2-mile trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.9 miles on NJ 21, offering a consistent pace. The road character is likely to be efficient, designed for direct travel between points. While not explicitly scenic, the highway nature means you'll experience a steady flow, typical of transit routes in the Northeast. You'll spend the majority of your 17-minute journey on these main arteries, so prepare for a direct and functional driving experience.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.9 mi on NJ 21.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 21 and NJ 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 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 14 decision points packed into just 12.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 17m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 17m. Total distance: 12.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.9 miles on NJ 21. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Newark, NJ
More from Wood-Ridge, NJ
More trips to Newark, NJ
Explore more options from Wood-Ridge, NJ or browse trips ending in Newark, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.