How far is East Orange, NJ from Hillsborough, NJ?

The driving distance from East Orange, NJ to Hillsborough, NJ is about 40.6 miles (65.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 29.8 miles (48 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
40.63 mi
00h 54m
Flight
29.84 mi
48.02 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from East Orange.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
29.84 mi
Kilometers
48.02 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
40.63 mi
Kilometers
65.39 km
Drive Time
00h 54m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hillsborough
Tue, May 26, 7:50 AM EDT
Return by in East Orange
Tue, May 26, 8:44 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave East Orange
2026-05-26T06:56
Arrive Hillsborough
Tue, May 26, 7:50 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:54 AM to 10:54 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:42 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in East Orange
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Watchung
NJ

Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States

From East Orange
20.3 mi
00h 27m
To Hillsborough
20.3 mi
00h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Tuesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph E
Destination
79°F
Tuesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between East Orange and Hillsborough.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between East Orange and Hillsborough.

  1. 1

    Start on Parkway Drive

    84 m · 8 sec · Parkway Drive

  2. 2

    Continue on North Oraton Parkway

    1.6 km · 2 min · North Oraton Parkway

  3. 3

    Continue on Whittlesey Avenue

    1952 ft · 39 sec · Whittlesey Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto Maybaum Avenue

    1182 ft · 28 sec · Maybaum Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Oraton Parkway

    669 ft · 13 sec · Oraton Parkway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Oraton Parkway

    1691 ft · 34 sec · Oraton Parkway

  7. 7

    Take the ramp straight toward GSP Toll South

    882 ft · 22 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Garden State Parkway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 78 West: Springfield

    1.1 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

    3.6 mi · 4 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 78 West: Clinton

    885 ft · 12 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

    17.8 mi · 21 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 287: Morristown, Somerville

    2521 ft · 43 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 287 South, US 202 South, US 206 South: Somerville

    1 mi · 1 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight right

    2.3 mi · 3 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight left toward US 202 South, US 206 South: Somerville, Flemington

    1 km · 43 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    1 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit straight toward US 206 South, NJ 28: Somerville, Princeton

    1277 ft · 37 sec

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Somerville Circle

    525 ft · 7 sec

  20. 20

    Exit the rotary

    7.2 mi · 11 min

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Hillsborough Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Hillsborough Road

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Willow Road

    17 m · 1 sec · Willow Road

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Willow Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between East Orange and Hillsborough.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
23 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
5 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
56.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
21.4 mi · 53%
Somerville Circle
7.25 mi · 18%
I 287 South
3.35 mi · 8%
Garden State Parkway
2.2 mi · 5%
US 202 South
1.64 mi · 4%
North Oraton Parkway
1 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

Merge slight left onto Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

17.8 mi · 00h 21m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 54m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.8 mi
29.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Watchung
00h 27m from East Orange
Leave By
4:42 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving East Orange and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Hillsborough.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from East Orange to Hillsborough?

The road trip is about 40.6 miles (65.4 km) and usually takes 00h 54m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Watchung is a useful midpoint, sitting about 20.3 miles from East Orange and 20.3 miles from Hillsborough.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 29.8 miles (48 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:42 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.84 one way or $11.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around East Orange and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Hillsborough.

Stop Ideas Near Watchung

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Watchung, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Watchung.

RAIL

Metropark station

13 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

New Brunswick station

16 mi away
French and Albany Streets
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

23 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

26 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between East Orange and Hillsborough. Straight-line distance: 29.84 mi (48.02 km).

East Orange

#1 East Orange

The most populous city in Essex County, New Jersey.

Population64,630
Coordinates40.7673200, -74.2048700
Altitude48
CountryUnited States
Hillsborough

#2 Hillsborough

Township in Somerset county, New Jersey

Population40,105
Coordinates40.4776000, -74.6268200
Altitude26
CountryUnited States
Start: East Orange (-74.20487, 40.76732)
End: Hillsborough (-74.62682, 40.4776)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 65 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.43 gal
5.43 L · about $5.84
Round trip
$11.69
2.86 gal · 10.86 L
Estimated CO2
12.7 kg one way
Round trip: 25.4 kg / 56 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $5.84 $11.69
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.58 $13.15
Premium $4.95 $7.08 $14.17
Diesel $5.98 $8.55 $17.10

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in New Jersey · May 26, 2026

There is no time difference between East Orange and Hillsborough. The current time is 06:56:12.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.