How far is Highlands, NJ from Menlo Park, NJ?

The driving distance from Highlands, NJ to Menlo Park, NJ is about 27.3 miles (44 km), with a travel time of about 00h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 21.3 miles (34.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 15m 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
27.32 mi
00h 37m
Flight
21.32 mi
34.31 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Highlands.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
21.32 mi
Kilometers
34.31 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
27.32 mi
Kilometers
43.96 km
Drive Time
00h 37m

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 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Menlo Park
Mon, May 25, 10:35 AM EDT
Return by in Highlands
Mon, May 25, 11:12 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Highlands
2026-05-25T09:57
Arrive Menlo Park
Mon, May 25, 10:35 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:38 AM to 7:38 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:14 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Highlands
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Matawan
NJ

Borough in New Jersey, United States

From Highlands
13.5 mi
00h 18m
To Menlo Park
13.9 mi
00h 18m

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

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Highlands and Menlo Park.

  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

    3.8 mi · 6 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight left toward GSP: Clark Street

    2550 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Local, All Exits

    1071 ft · 14 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

    13.4 mi · 18 min · Garden State Parkway

  14. 14

    Take the exit right toward NJ 27: Iselin, Metuchen

    1267 ft · 46 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on NJ 27: Lincoln Highway

    112 m · 10 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Lincoln Highway

    3178 ft · 1 min · Lincoln Highway

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Philip Street

    897 ft · 30 sec · Philip Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Philip Street

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
65.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Garden State Parkway
13.4 mi · 49%
Leonardville Road
3.15 mi · 12%
Memorial Parkway
2.21 mi · 8%
Cherry Tree Farm Road
1.73 mi · 6%
Lincoln Highway
0.6 mi · 2%
GSP
0.48 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Garden State Parkway

Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

13.4 mi · 00h 18m

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 37m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6 mi
21.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Matawan
00h 18m from Highlands
Leave By
7:14 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Highlands and Rain Showers Likely near Menlo Park.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Highlands to Menlo Park?

The road trip is about 27.3 miles (44 km) and usually takes 00h 37m 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?

Matawan is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.5 miles from Highlands and 13.9 miles from Menlo Park.

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

The direct path is about 21.3 miles (34.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 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 7:14 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.92 one way or $7.85 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Highlands and Rain Showers Likely near Menlo Park.

Stop Ideas Near Matawan

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

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

RAIL

Metropark station

19 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

New Brunswick station

21 mi away
French and Albany Streets
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

32 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Princeton Junction station

35 mi away
2 Wallace Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Highlands and Menlo Park. Straight-line distance: 21.32 mi (34.31 km).

Highlands

#1 Highlands

Borough of New Jersey

Population4,693
Coordinates40.4037200, -73.9915300
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Menlo Park

Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States

Population97,687
Coordinates40.5651000, -74.3373700
Altitude42
CountryUnited States
Start: Sea Drift Avenue (-73.991449, 40.403687)
End: Phillip Street (-74.337443, 40.565012)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 44 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.96 gal
3.65 L · about $3.92
Round trip
$7.85
1.92 gal · 7.3 L
Estimated CO2
8.5 kg one way
Round trip: 17.1 kg / 38 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $3.92 $7.85
Mid-grade $4.60 $4.42 $8.83
Premium $4.95 $4.76 $9.51
Diesel $5.98 $5.74 $11.48

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 Menlo Park. The current time is 09:57:46.

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.