How far is Elizabeth, NJ from Fort Lee, NJ?

The driving distance from Elizabeth, NJ to Fort Lee, NJ is about 20.6 miles (33.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 18 miles (29 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
20.57 mi
00h 32m
Flight
18.04 mi
29.03 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elizabeth.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
18.04 mi
Kilometers
29.03 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
20.57 mi
Kilometers
33.1 km
Drive Time
00h 32m

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 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Lee
Thu, Apr 23, 4:08 AM EDT
Return by in Elizabeth
Thu, Apr 23, 4:40 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elizabeth
2026-04-23T03:35
Arrive Fort Lee
Thu, Apr 23, 4:08 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:33 AM to 7:33 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:24 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Elizabeth
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Jersey City
NJ

The second most populous city in New Jersey and the center of the Jersey City metropolitan area.

From Elizabeth
10.3 mi
00h 16m
To Fort Lee
10.3 mi
00h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph NW
Destination
68°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Elizabeth and Fort Lee.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth and Fort Lee.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    11 m · 8 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Jersey Street

    1164 ft · 36 sec · East Jersey Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Spring Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Spring Street

  4. 4

    Keep slight left

    5.8 mi · 8 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight right onto Pulaski Skyway

    3.2 mi · 5 min · Pulaski Skyway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1-9 North: Jersey City, Lincoln Tunnel

    2.8 mi · 4 min

  7. 7

    Continue on Tonnelle Avenue

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Tonnelle Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn right onto 76th Street

    1825 ft · 59 sec · 76th Street

  9. 9

    Turn left onto John F. Kennedy Boulevard

    3087 ft · 1 min · John F. Kennedy Boulevard

  10. 10

    Continue on John F. Kennedy Boulevard

    694 ft · 16 sec · John F. Kennedy Boulevard

  11. 11

    Turn slight left onto Bergen Boulevard

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Bergen Boulevard

  12. 12

    Turn slight right

    111 m · 15 sec

  13. 13

    Continue on Bergen Boulevard

    151 m · 14 sec · Bergen Boulevard

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Columbia Avenue

    3042 ft · 56 sec · Columbia Avenue

  15. 15

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Central Boulevard

    803 ft · 16 sec · Central Boulevard

  16. 16

    Continue on Central Boulevard

    548 ft · 12 sec · Central Boulevard

  17. 17

    Turn slight left onto Palisade Avenue

    1 km · 60 sec · Palisade Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on Lemoine Avenue

    1459 ft · 28 sec · Lemoine Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on Schlosser Street

    578 ft · 18 sec · Schlosser Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Main Street

    35 m · 8 sec · Main Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Lemoine Avenue

    25 m · 1 sec · Lemoine Avenue

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Lemoine Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Elizabeth and Fort Lee.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
22 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
106.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Spring Street
6.94 mi · 34%
Pulaski Skyway
3.21 mi · 16%
US 1-9 North
2.78 mi · 13%
Tonnelle Avenue
2.56 mi · 12%
Bergen Boulevard
1.84 mi · 9%
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
0.72 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Spring Street

Keep slight left

5.85 mi · 00h 08m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 32m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.6 mi
18 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Jersey City
00h 16m from Elizabeth
Leave By
7:24 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Elizabeth and Sunny near Fort Lee.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elizabeth to Fort Lee?

The road trip is about 20.6 miles (33.1 km) and usually takes 00h 32m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Jersey City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.3 miles from Elizabeth and 10.3 miles from Fort Lee.

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

The direct path is about 18 miles (29 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.6 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:24 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.98 one way or $5.97 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Elizabeth and Sunny near Fort Lee.

Stop Ideas Near Jersey City

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Jersey City and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Hall Parking Lot
Scenic stop 2.1 mi away

City Hall Parking Lot

Jersey City , NJ
280 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Parking lot
#Artlook New York City Hall Wedding Photographer
Practical stop 3.9 mi away

#Artlook New York City Hall Wedding Photographer

New York , NY
141 Worth St, New York, NY 10013
Rating 5.0/5 13 reviews Photographer,Photography service,Photography studio,Wedding photographer
City Hall Personnel Office
Meeting point 5.4 mi away

City Hall Personnel Office

Newark , NJ
920 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102
Rating 5.0/5 5 reviews City government office
Diamond City Hall Photography
Nearby stop 4 mi away

Diamond City Hall Photography

New York , NY
141 Worth St, New York, NY 10013
Rating 5.0/5 53 reviews Wedding photographer

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Jersey City.

RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

7 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

8 mi away
8th Ave 31st Street / 8th Ave 33rd Street
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

10 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Yonkers station

27 mi away
5 Buena Vista Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elizabeth and Fort Lee. Straight-line distance: 18.04 mi (29.03 km).

Elizabeth

#1 Elizabeth

The second most populous city in Union County, New Jersey.

Population128,382
Coordinates40.6639900, -74.2107000
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Fort Lee

#2 Fort Lee

Borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States of America

Population38,356
Coordinates40.8509300, -73.9701400
Altitude87
CountryUnited States
Start: Elizabeth (-74.2107, 40.66399)
End: Fort Lee (-73.97014, 40.85093)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 33 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 30m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 15m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.73 gal
2.75 L · about $2.98
Round trip
$5.97
1.46 gal · 5.5 L
Estimated CO2
6.5 kg one way
Round trip: 13 kg / 29 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $2.98 $5.97
Mid-grade $4.60 $3.36 $6.71
Premium $4.95 $3.62 $7.23
Diesel $5.98 $4.37 $8.73

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Elizabeth and Fort Lee. The current time is 03:35:37.

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.