How far is Elizabeth, NJ from Sparta, NJ?

The driving distance from Elizabeth, NJ to Sparta, NJ is about 42.5 miles (68.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 33.9 miles (54.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 04m 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
42.5 mi
01h 02m
Flight
33.93 mi
54.61 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elizabeth.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
33.93 mi
Kilometers
54.61 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
42.5 mi
Kilometers
68.39 km
Drive Time
01h 02m

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 01h 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sparta
Sun, Apr 19, 1:00 PM EDT
Return by in Elizabeth
Sun, Apr 19, 2:02 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elizabeth
2026-04-19T11:58
Arrive Sparta
Sun, Apr 19, 1:00 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:02 AM to 11:02 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:26 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elizabeth
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
Parsippany
NJ

Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States

From Elizabeth
21.3 mi
00h 31m
To Sparta
21.3 mi
00h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 13 mph SW
Destination
56°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth and Sparta.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    11 m · 5 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Jersey Street

    707 ft · 28 sec · East Jersey Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Jefferson Avenue

    837 ft · 46 sec · Jefferson Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn sharp left onto East Grand Street

    951 ft · 30 sec · East Grand Street

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Broad Street

    1 km · 2 min · Broad Street

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on North Broad Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · North Broad Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Hillside Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Hillside Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Chestnut Avenue

    2036 ft · 41 sec · Chestnut Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on Coit Street

    2910 ft · 1 min · Coit Street

  10. 10

    Turn slight left onto Grove Street

    2.9 mi · 6 min · Grove Street

  11. 11

    Take the ramp left toward I 280

    982 ft · 24 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 280 West: The Oranges

    943 ft · 23 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 280 West: The Oranges

    627 ft · 15 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Essex Freeway

    11.5 mi · 14 min · Essex Freeway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 280 West, I 80 West

    2420 ft · 32 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight right onto Christopher Columbus Highway

    11.4 mi · 13 min · Christopher Columbus Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward NJ 15 North: Sparta, Jefferson

    1 km · 1 min

  18. 18

    Continue on NJ 15 North

    8 mi · 11 min · NJ 15 North

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward Sparta, Lake Mohawk, Business District

    1026 ft · 25 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Sparta, Lake Mohawk, Business District

    158 m · 13 sec

  21. 21

    Continue on Blue Heron Road

    1007 ft · 20 sec · Blue Heron Road

  22. 22

    Continue on Woodport Road

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Woodport Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Woodport Road

    577 ft · 17 sec · Woodport Road

  24. 24

    Turn left

    82 m · 28 sec

  25. 25

    Turn left

    82 m · 20 sec

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
26 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
61.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Essex Freeway
11.5 mi · 27%
Christopher Columbus Highway
11.4 mi · 27%
NJ 15 North
8.96 mi · 21%
Grove Street
2.93 mi · 7%
Woodport Road
1.72 mi · 4%
North Broad Street
1.58 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Essex Freeway

Merge slight left onto Essex Freeway

11.5 mi · 00h 14m

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
01h 02m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.6 mi
33.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Parsippany
00h 31m from Elizabeth
Leave By
4:26 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Elizabeth and Rain Showers Likely near Sparta.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elizabeth to Sparta?

The road trip is about 42.5 miles (68.4 km) and usually takes 01h 02m 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?

Parsippany is a useful midpoint, sitting about 21.3 miles from Elizabeth and 21.3 miles from Sparta.

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

The direct path is about 33.9 miles (54.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:26 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.13 one way or $12.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 13.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Elizabeth and Rain Showers Likely near Sparta.

Stop Ideas Near Parsippany

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Parsippany, 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 Parsippany.

RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

26 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

26 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West
RAIL

Metropark station

33 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elizabeth and Sparta. Straight-line distance: 33.93 mi (54.61 km).

Elizabeth

#1 Elizabeth

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

Population128,382
Coordinates40.6639900, -74.2107000
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Sparta

#2 Sparta

Township of New Jersey

Population18,598
Coordinates41.0334300, -74.6384900
Altitude228
CountryUnited States
Start: Elizabeth (-74.2107, 40.66399)
End: Sparta (-74.63849, 41.03343)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 68 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.5 gal
5.68 L · about $6.13
Round trip
$12.26
3 gal · 11.36 L
Estimated CO2
13.3 kg one way
Round trip: 26.7 kg / 59 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $6.13 $12.26
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.90 $13.80
Premium $4.95 $7.43 $14.86
Diesel $5.98 $8.97 $17.94

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Elizabeth and Sparta. The current time is 11:58:33.

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.