How far is Middletown, NJ from South Orange, NJ?

The driving distance from Middletown, NJ to South Orange, NJ is about 35.5 miles (57.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 25.7 miles (41.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 48m 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
35.51 mi
00h 54m
Flight
25.65 mi
41.28 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Middletown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
25.65 mi
Kilometers
41.28 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
35.51 mi
Kilometers
57.15 km
Drive Time
00h 54m

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 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Orange
Wed, Apr 22, 11:37 PM EDT
Return by in Middletown
Thu, Apr 23, 12:31 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Middletown
2026-04-22T22:43
Arrive South Orange
Wed, Apr 22, 11:37 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:54 AM to 10:54 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:42 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Middletown
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
Fords
NJ

Town

From Middletown
17.8 mi
00h 27m
To South Orange
17.8 mi
00h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
60°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE
Destination
62°F
Wednesday

Rain Showers Likely

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

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Middletown and South Orange.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Middletown and South Orange.

  1. 1

    Start on Kings Highway

    1023 ft · 25 sec · Kings Highway

  2. 2

    Turn left onto New Monmouth Road

    1507 ft · 32 sec · New Monmouth Road

  3. 3

    Turn left

    5.2 mi · 8 min

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight left toward GSP: Clark Street

    2550 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on Local, All Exits

    1071 ft · 14 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

    25.3 mi · 34 min · Garden State Parkway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward Irvington

    816 ft · 24 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Cleremont Avenue

    671 ft · 21 sec · Cleremont Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Lyons Avenue

    2214 ft · 55 sec · Lyons Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Stuyvesant Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · Stuyvesant Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn left onto West Allen Street

    551 ft · 15 sec · West Allen Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Mt Vernon Place East

    117 m · 13 sec · Mt Vernon Place East

  13. 13

    Continue on Mount Vernon Place

    1 km · 2 min · Mount Vernon Place

  14. 14

    Continue on Wilden Place

    1385 ft · 40 sec · Wilden Place

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Ward Place

    1261 ft · 44 sec · Ward Place

  16. 16

    Turn sharp left onto South Orange Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · South Orange Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto North Ridgewood Road

    756 ft · 23 sec · North Ridgewood Road

  18. 18

    Turn right

    85 m · 20 sec

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Middletown and South Orange.

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
19 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
53.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Garden State Parkway
25.3 mi · 71%
South Orange Avenue
0.82 mi · 2%
Stuyvesant Avenue
0.78 mi · 2%
Mount Vernon Place
0.64 mi · 2%
GSP
0.48 mi · 1%
Lyons Avenue
0.42 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Garden State Parkway

Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

25.3 mi · 00h 34m

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 54m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.8 mi
25.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fords
00h 27m from Middletown
Leave By
4:42 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Middletown and Rain Showers Likely near South Orange.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Middletown to South Orange?

The road trip is about 35.5 miles (57.1 km) and usually takes 00h 54m 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?

Fords is a useful midpoint, sitting about 17.8 miles from Middletown and 17.8 miles from South Orange.

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

The direct path is about 25.7 miles (41.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.8 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 4:42 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.11 one way or $10.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Middletown and Rain Showers Likely near South Orange.

Stop Ideas Near Fords

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

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

RAIL

Metropark station

4 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

New Brunswick station

12 mi away
French and Albany Streets
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

22 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

26 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Middletown and South Orange. Straight-line distance: 25.65 mi (41.28 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Middletown

Middletown is a place in New Jersey, United States.

Population0
Coordinates40.3942800, -74.1170900
Altitude36
CountryUnited States
South Orange

#2 South Orange

Town in Essex County, New Jersey

Population17,295
Coordinates40.7489900, -74.2612600
Altitude45
CountryUnited States
Start: Middletown (-74.11709, 40.39428)
End: South Orange (-74.26126, 40.74899)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 57 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.25 gal
4.74 L · about $5.11
Round trip
$10.22
2.5 gal · 9.48 L
Estimated CO2
11.1 kg one way
Round trip: 22.2 kg / 49 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $5.11 $10.22
Mid-grade $4.60 $5.75 $11.50
Premium $4.95 $6.19 $12.39
Diesel $5.98 $7.48 $14.95

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 Middletown and South Orange. The current time is 22:43:03.

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.