How far is Highlands, NJ from Newark, NJ?

The driving distance from Highlands, NJ to Newark, NJ is about 40.8 miles (65.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 24.8 miles (39.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 54m 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
40.81 mi
00h 57m
Flight
24.82 mi
39.95 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
24.82 mi
Kilometers
39.95 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
40.81 mi
Kilometers
65.67 km
Drive Time
00h 57m

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 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Newark
Thu, Apr 23, 4:26 AM EDT
Return by in Highlands
Thu, Apr 23, 5:24 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Highlands
2026-04-23T03:29
Arrive Newark
Thu, Apr 23, 4:26 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:57 AM to 10:57 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:36 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

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
South Amboy
NJ

City in New Jersey

From Highlands
20.1 mi
00h 28m
To Newark
20.6 mi
00h 28m

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
5 mph NW
Destination
71°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    10.6 mi · 14 min · Garden State Parkway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton

    2199 ft · 48 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right

    655 ft · 16 sec

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    2500 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Continue on I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City

    673 ft · 16 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City

    2694 ft · 1 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike

    9.5 mi · 12 min · New Jersey Turnpike

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport

    1 km · 1 min

  21. 21

    Merge slight left

    1.2 km · 1 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight left

    2085 ft · 44 sec

  23. 23

    Continue straight

    1.7 mi · 3 min

  24. 24

    Keep slight left to continue on NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown

    1.9 mi · 4 min

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Chestnut Street

    70 m · 8 sec · Chestnut Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Mulberry Street

    3217 ft · 2 min · Mulberry Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Market Street

    905 ft · 30 sec · Market Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Market Street

Car Route Details

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

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
28 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
68.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Garden State Parkway
10.6 mi · 26%
New Jersey Turnpike
9.52 mi · 23%
Newark Airport
3.41 mi · 8%
Leonardville Road
3.15 mi · 8%
Memorial Parkway
2.21 mi · 5%
NJ 21
1.9 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Garden State Parkway

Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

10.6 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
00h 57m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16 mi
24.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
South Amboy
00h 28m from Highlands
Leave By
4:36 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Highlands and Sunny near Newark.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 40.8 miles (65.7 km) and usually takes 00h 57m 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 20.1 miles from Highlands and 20.6 miles from Newark.

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

The direct path is about 24.8 miles (39.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 16 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 4:36 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.88 one way or $11.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Highlands and Sunny near Newark.

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 Newark. Straight-line distance: 24.82 mi (39.95 km).

Highlands

#1 Highlands

Borough of New Jersey

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

#2 Newark

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

Population282,520
Coordinates40.7356600, -74.1723700
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: Sea Drift Avenue (-73.991449, 40.403687)
End: Market Street (-74.17237, 40.73566)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 66 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 01m
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
1.44 gal
5.45 L · about $5.88
Round trip
$11.77
2.88 gal · 10.9 L
Estimated CO2
12.8 kg one way
Round trip: 25.6 kg / 56 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $5.88 $11.77
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.62 $13.25
Premium $4.95 $7.13 $14.27
Diesel $5.98 $8.61 $17.22

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 Highlands and Newark. The current time is 03:29:24.

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.