How far is Highlands, NJ from Elizabeth, NJ?

The driving distance from Highlands, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ is about 37.9 miles (61 km), with a travel time of about 00h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 21.4 miles (34.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 41m 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
37.9 mi
00h 50m
Flight
21.35 mi
34.36 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Highlands.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
21.35 mi
Kilometers
34.36 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
37.9 mi
Kilometers
61 km
Drive Time
00h 50m

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 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elizabeth
Mon, May 25, 9:46 AM EDT
Return by in Highlands
Mon, May 25, 10:37 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Highlands
2026-05-25T08:56
Arrive Elizabeth
Mon, May 25, 9:46 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:51 AM to 10:51 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:48 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Highlands
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
South Amboy
NJ

City in New Jersey

From Highlands
16.6 mi
00h 25m
To Elizabeth
21.3 mi
00h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Memorial Day

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph SW
Destination
75°F
Memorial Day

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Sea Drift Avenue

    24 m · 11 sec · Sea Drift Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Bay Avenue

    788 ft · 27 sec · Bay Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Waterwitch Avenue

    149 m · 13 sec · Waterwitch Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Linden Avenue

    1541 ft · 45 sec · Linden Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Navesink Avenue

    1352 ft · 28 sec · Navesink Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on Memorial Parkway

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Memorial Parkway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward CR 516 West: Highlands

    556 ft · 19 sec

  8. 8

    Turn slight right onto Leonardville Road

    3.2 mi · 5 min · Leonardville Road

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Cherry Tree Farm Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Cherry Tree Farm Road

  10. 10

    Turn right

    14.2 mi · 21 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    8.3 mi · 14 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on East Edgar Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · East Edgar Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Carlton Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Carlton Street

  14. 14

    Turn right

    18 m · 6 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right

    117 m · 28 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right

    85 m · 22 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right onto East Jersey Street

    1535 ft · 50 sec · East Jersey Street

  18. 18

    Turn right

    11 m · 3 sec

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
50.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Cherry Tree Farm Road
10 mi · 26%
Leonardville Road
3.15 mi · 8%
Memorial Parkway
2.21 mi · 6%
Carlton Street
1.53 mi · 4%
East Edgar Road
0.7 mi · 2%
Linden Avenue
0.29 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn right

14.2 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 50m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.5 mi
21.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
South Amboy
00h 25m from Highlands
Leave By
4:48 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 37.9 miles (61 km) and usually takes 00h 50m 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?

South Amboy is a useful midpoint, sitting about 16.6 miles from Highlands and 21.3 miles from Elizabeth.

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

The direct path is about 21.4 miles (34.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.5 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 4:48 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.48 one way or $10.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near South Amboy

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

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

RAIL

Metropark station

10 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

New Brunswick station

13 mi away
French and Albany Streets
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

27 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

30 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Highlands and Elizabeth. Straight-line distance: 21.35 mi (34.36 km).

Highlands

#1 Highlands

Borough of New Jersey

Population4,693
Coordinates40.4037200, -73.9915300
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Elizabeth

#2 Elizabeth

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

Population128,382
Coordinates40.6639900, -74.2107000
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Start: Sea Drift Avenue (-73.991449, 40.403687)
End: (-74.210651, 40.663974)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 61 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.34 gal
5.06 L · about $5.48
Round trip
$10.95
2.68 gal · 10.12 L
Estimated CO2
11.9 kg one way
Round trip: 23.8 kg / 52 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $5.48 $10.95
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.16 $12.33
Premium $4.95 $6.64 $13.28
Diesel $5.98 $8.01 $16.03

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 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Highlands and Elizabeth. The current time is 08:56:15.

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.