How far is Jersey City, NJ from Chester, NJ?

The driving distance from Jersey City, NJ to Chester, NJ is about 38.7 miles (62.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 32.6 miles (52.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 52m 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
38.7 mi
00h 56m
Flight
32.64 mi
52.53 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jersey City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
32.64 mi
Kilometers
52.53 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
38.7 mi
Kilometers
62.28 km
Drive Time
00h 56m

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 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chester
Wed, Apr 22, 10:11 PM EDT
Return by in Jersey City
Wed, Apr 22, 11:08 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jersey City
2026-04-22T21:15
Arrive Chester
Wed, Apr 22, 10:11 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:56 AM to 10:56 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:38 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jersey City
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
Chatham
NJ

Borough in Morris County, New Jersey

From Jersey City
19.3 mi
00h 28m
To Chester
19.4 mi
00h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
60°F
Wednesday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph SE
Destination
63°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Jersey City and Chester.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jersey City and Chester.

  1. 1

    Start on Olean Avenue

    96 m · 16 sec · Olean Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Duncan Avenue

    2210 ft · 53 sec · Duncan Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left

    2093 ft · 45 sec

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Newark Airport, Port Newark Elizabeth Seaport

    1.9 mi · 3 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit straight toward US 1 Truck South, US 9 Truck South: Port Newark, Newark Airport

    1.1 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    1.9 mi · 2 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 78 West: Port Newark, Newark Airport North Area, Air Cargo

    105 m · 9 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Frontage Road

    991 ft · 28 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Frontage Road

    24 m · 4 sec · Frontage Road

  10. 10

    Take the ramp left toward I 78, NJTP: Economy Parking

    562 ft · 14 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

    8.7 mi · 10 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on NJ 24 West: Springfield, Morristown

    1798 ft · 34 sec

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    7.4 mi · 9 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward CR 510: Florham Park, Morristown

    1349 ft · 18 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on CR 510 West: Morristown

    1458 ft · 19 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on CR 510 West: Morristown

    1611 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Columbia Turnpike

    3012 ft · 55 sec · Columbia Turnpike

  18. 18

    Continue on Columbia Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Columbia Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Lafayette Avenue

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Lafayette Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Morris Street

    673 ft · 19 sec · Morris Street

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Morris Street

    56 m · 3 sec · Morris Street

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto Morris Street

    535 ft · 11 sec · Morris Street

  23. 23

    Turn slight right onto East Park Place

    69 m · 4 sec · East Park Place

  24. 24

    Keep slight left to continue on East Park Place

    148 m · 11 sec · East Park Place

  25. 25

    Continue on North Park Place

    36 m · 6 sec · North Park Place

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Washington Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Washington Street

  27. 27

    Continue on Mendham Avenue (Old Rt. 24)

    1737 ft · 29 sec · Mendham Avenue (Old Rt. 24)

  28. 28

    Continue on Washington-Mendham Road E. (Old Rt. 24)

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Washington-Mendham Road E. (Old Rt. 24)

  29. 29

    Continue on Mendham Road East

    3.2 mi · 5 min · Mendham Road East

  30. 30

    Continue on Mendham Road (Old Rt. 24)

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Mendham Road (Old Rt. 24)

  31. 31

    Continue on Washington Turnpike (Old Rt. 24)

    1.2 km · 1 min · Washington Turnpike (Old Rt. 24)

  32. 32

    Continue on Main Street

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Main Street

  33. 33

    Continue on Main Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · Main Street

  34. 34

    Turn left onto Perry Street

    20 m · 3 sec · Perry Street

  35. 35

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Perry Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Jersey City and Chester.

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
35 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
2 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
90.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
8.73 mi · 23%
NJ 24 West
7.71 mi · 20%
Main Street
3.6 mi · 9%
Mendham Road East
3.23 mi · 8%
US 1 Truck South
2.56 mi · 7%
Mendham Road (Old Rt. 24)
2.32 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

Merge slight left onto Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

8.73 mi · 00h 10m

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 56m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.1 mi
32.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chatham
00h 28m from Jersey City
Leave By
4:38 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Jersey City and Chance Rain Showers near Chester.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Jersey City to Chester?

The road trip is about 38.7 miles (62.3 km) and usually takes 00h 56m 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?

Chatham is a useful midpoint, sitting about 19.3 miles from Jersey City and 19.4 miles from Chester.

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

The direct path is about 32.6 miles (52.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.1 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 4:38 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.60 one way or $11.20 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Jersey City and Chance Rain Showers near Chester.

Stop Ideas Near Chatham

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

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

RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

17 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

18 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West
RAIL

Metropark station

20 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

New Brunswick station

28 mi away
French and Albany Streets

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jersey City and Chester. Straight-line distance: 32.64 mi (52.53 km).

Jersey City

#1 Jersey City

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

Population262,075
Coordinates40.7281600, -74.0776400
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Chester

#2 Chester

Borough in Morris County, New Jersey

Population1,620
Coordinates40.7842700, -74.6968300
Altitude258
CountryUnited States
Start: Jersey City (-74.07764, 40.72816)
End: Chester (-74.69683, 40.78427)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 62 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.37 gal
5.17 L · about $5.60
Round trip
$11.20
2.74 gal · 10.34 L
Estimated CO2
12.2 kg one way
Round trip: 24.4 kg / 54 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $5.60 $11.20
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.30 $12.60
Premium $4.95 $6.79 $13.57
Diesel $5.98 $8.19 $16.39

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 Jersey City and Chester. The current time is 21:15:10.

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.