How far is New York City, NY from Scotch Plains, NJ?

The driving distance from New York City, NY to Scotch Plains, NJ is about 26.5 miles (42.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 20.5 miles (33 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 25m 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
26.53 mi
00h 42m
Flight
20.52 mi
33.03 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from New York City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
20.52 mi
Kilometers
33.03 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
26.53 mi
Kilometers
42.69 km
Drive Time
00h 42m

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 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Scotch Plains
Thu, Sep 17, 3:25 PM EDT
Return by in New York City
Thu, Sep 17, 4:07 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave New York City
2026-09-17T14:42
Arrive Scotch Plains
Thu, Sep 17, 3:25 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:43 AM to 7:43 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:04 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in New York City
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
Hillside
NJ

Township of New Jersey

From New York City
13.2 mi
00h 21m
To Scotch Plains
13.3 mi
00h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
New York City Weather
NY
Live fallback forecast
70°F
Overnight
Using Manhattan as the closest live forecast in the New York County weather hub.

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Sep 17 12:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph SW
Destination
Scotch Plains Weather
NJ
Live fallback forecast
65°F
Overnight
Using Linden as the closest live forecast in the Union County weather hub.

Patchy Fog

Starts
Thu, Sep 17 12:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between New York City and Scotch Plains.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New York City and Scotch Plains.

  1. 1

    Start on Broadway

    24 m · 7 sec · Broadway

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Chambers Street

    529 ft · 27 sec · Chambers Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Church Street

    65 m · 17 sec · Church Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Reade Street

    535 ft · 27 sec · Reade Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Hudson Street

    1889 ft · 2 min · Hudson Street

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Hudson Street

    859 ft · 39 sec · Hudson Street

  7. 7

    Take the exit right toward I 78: Holland Tunnel, New Jersey

    124 m · 14 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Holland Tunnel

    1.8 mi · 4 min · Holland Tunnel

  9. 9

    Continue on 14th Street

    2256 ft · 1 min · 14th Street

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension

    8.1 mi · 9 min · New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension

    71 m · 3 sec · New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension

  12. 12

    Continue on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway Tolls

    115 m · 5 sec · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway Tolls

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

    5.2 mi · 6 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward GSP: Garden State Parkway

    1586 ft · 39 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on GSP South

    2433 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

    1.4 km · 1 min · Garden State Parkway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 22, NJ 82 East: Elizabeth, Somerville

    1533 ft · 37 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    6.8 mi · 11 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right

    615 ft · 21 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight right

    47 m · 4 sec

  21. 21

    Turn slight right onto Mountain Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · Mountain Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Evergreen Boulevard

    1084 ft · 53 sec · Evergreen Boulevard

  23. 23

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Coles Avenue

    15 m · 4 sec · Coles Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Evergreen Boulevard

    544 ft · 26 sec · Evergreen Boulevard

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Westfield Avenue

    709 ft · 20 sec · Westfield Avenue

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Westfield Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between New York City and Scotch Plains.

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
26 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
98.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension
8.14 mi · 31%
US 22
7.27 mi · 27%
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
5.24 mi · 20%
Holland Tunnel
1.76 mi · 7%
Garden State Parkway
0.89 mi · 3%
Mountain Avenue
0.66 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension

Keep slight right to continue on New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension

8.1 mi · 00h 09m

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 42m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6 mi
20.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hillside
00h 21m from New York City
Leave By
7:04 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving New York City and Patchy Fog near Scotch Plains.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from New York City to Scotch Plains?

The road trip is about 26.5 miles (42.7 km) and usually takes 00h 42m 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?

Hillside is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.2 miles from New York City and 13.3 miles from Scotch Plains.

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

The direct path is about 20.5 miles (33 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 7:04 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.16 one way or $8.32 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around New York City and Patchy Fog near Scotch Plains.

Stop Ideas Near Hillside

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Hillside and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Hall Parking Lot
Scenic stop 7.9 mi away

City Hall Parking Lot

Jersey City , NJ
280 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Parking lot
#Artlook New York City Hall Wedding Photographer
Practical stop 10.1 mi away

#Artlook New York City Hall Wedding Photographer

New York , NY
141 Worth St, New York, NY 10013
Rating 5.0/5 13 reviews Photographer,Photography service,Photography studio,Wedding photographer
City Hall Personnel Office
Meeting point 1.9 mi away

City Hall Personnel Office

Newark , NJ
920 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102
Rating 5.0/5 5 reviews City government office
Diamond City Hall Photography
Nearby stop 10.1 mi away

Diamond City Hall Photography

New York , NY
141 Worth St, New York, NY 10013
Rating 5.0/5 53 reviews Wedding photographer

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Hillside.

RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

3 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

7 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West
RAIL

Metropark station

17 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

21 mi away
8th Ave 31st Street / 8th Ave 33rd Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between New York City and Scotch Plains. Straight-line distance: 20.52 mi (33.03 km).

New York City

#1 New York City

The most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York metropolitan area.

Population8,398,748
Coordinates40.7142700, -74.0059700
Altitude10
CountryUnited States
Scotch Plains

#2 Scotch Plains

Township in Union County, New Jersey, United States

Population24,138
Coordinates40.6553800, -74.3898700
Altitude50
CountryUnited States
Start: New York City (-74.00597, 40.71427)
End: Scotch Plains (-74.38987, 40.65538)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 43 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.94 gal
3.54 L · about $4.16
Round trip
$8.32
1.88 gal · 7.08 L
Estimated CO2
8.4 kg one way
Round trip: 16.7 kg / 37 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.43 $4.16 $8.32
Mid-grade $4.95 $4.65 $9.31
Premium $5.35 $5.03 $10.06
Diesel $6.26 $5.89 $11.77

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 York · Sep 17, 2026

There is no time difference between New York City and Scotch Plains. The current time is 14:42:44.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.