Origin
Woodbridge, NJ
Morning in Woodbridge on Sunday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Woodbridge, NJ to Mahwah, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
43.7 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Woodbridge, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Mahwah, NJ
Dajana Blakcori
Trip Overview
Woodbridge, NJ to Mahwah, NJ is 43.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 4 minutes via NJ 21, NJ 17, and US 1, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This journey stays within the Northeast region, specifically entirely within New Jersey. It's a straightforward drive that predominantly utilizes highway routes, making it a quick and efficient option for connecting these two points. Given its short duration and focus on major roads, this trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 21 | 14.7 mi | 20m |
| NJ 17 | 9.5 mi | 12m |
| US 1 | 7.6 mi | 12m |
| Garden State Parkway | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Carlton Street | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Franklin Turnpike | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| US 46 | 0.9 mi | <1m |
| East Edgar Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 21
— 14.7 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodbridge, NJ and Mahwah, NJ.
1
Start on CR 604
61 ft
·
10 sec
·
Green Street
2
Turn left onto NJ 35
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Amboy Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on NJ 35
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Saint Georges Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward US 1 North, US 9 North: Newark
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto US 1; US 9
5.5 mi
·
9 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Edgar Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 1; US 9
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Carlton Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; US 9
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21
15 mi
·
20 min
·
NJ 21
Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 46
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 46
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 46
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 46
Toward US 46 East: Elmwood Park
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
13
Merge onto GSP
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 163
Toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto NJ 17
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on NJ 17
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on NJ 17
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
·
NJ 17
18
Take the exit
474 ft
·
13 sec
Toward Franklin Turnpike, Suffern
19
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
this road
Toward Franklin Turnpike, Suffern
20
Keep slight right at fork
428 ft
·
11 sec
Toward Franklin Turnpike, Suffern
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Turn straight onto CR 507
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Franklin Turnpike
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto West Airmount Road
167 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Airmount Road
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
West Airmount Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.8 miles from Woodbridge, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 42.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward US 1 North, US 9 North: Newark
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 1 North, US 9 North: Newark
8
12.1 mi into trip
|
~19m 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
7
27.1 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
US 46
Keep slight right at fork onto US 46 toward US 46 East: Elmwood Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 46 East: Elmwood Park
7
32.1 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 163
Toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
9
42.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Franklin Turnpike, Suffern
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Franklin Turnpike, Suffern
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.24 one way
$14.49 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.93 | $15.87 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.48 | $16.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.65 | $19.30 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.33
Garden State Parkway
(4.1 mi)
$0.24
Franklin Turnpike
(1.3 mi)
$0.09
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$0
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.12 | $2.80 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Mahwah, NJ
Morning in Mahwah on Sunday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°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
22 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
1h 4m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a predominantly fast-paced journey, especially during the longest stretch of 14.7 miles on NJ 21. The route is characterized by its highway nature, meaning you'll encounter higher speeds and more direct travel. While the majority is highway, expect transitions between these main arteries as you navigate through New Jersey. The overall feel is one of efficient transit rather than scenic exploration.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.7 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 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.7 miles you will encounter 17 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: at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.1 miles (NJ 21): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.1 miles (US 46): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Woodbridge, NJ to Mahwah, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
12.1 mi in
|
~19m
|
via NJ 21
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 43.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.7 miles on NJ 21. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.33 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 Mahwah, 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 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.1 miles (NJ 21): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.1 miles (US 46): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison 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 Mahwah, 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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