How far is Newark, NJ from Metuchen, NJ?

The driving distance from Newark, NJ to Metuchen, NJ is about 18.5 miles (29.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 16.7 miles (26.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 00m 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
18.47 mi
00h 30m
Flight
16.65 mi
26.79 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Newark.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
16.65 mi
Kilometers
26.79 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
18.47 mi
Kilometers
29.73 km
Drive Time
00h 30m

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 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Metuchen
Fri, Apr 17, 7:15 AM EDT
Return by in Newark
Fri, Apr 17, 7:45 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Newark
2026-04-17T06:44
Arrive Metuchen
Fri, Apr 17, 7:15 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:30 AM to 7:30 PM EDT

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

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

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
Cranford
NJ

Township of New Jersey

From Newark
9.3 mi
00h 15m
To Metuchen
9.3 mi
00h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Friday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph W
Destination
82°F
Friday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Market Street

    1359 ft · 45 sec · Market Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Springfield Avenue

    2.7 mi · 5 min · Springfield Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Washington Avenue

    137 m · 11 sec · Washington Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Ball Street

    2273 ft · 53 sec · Ball Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Lyons Avenue

    646 ft · 21 sec · Lyons Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Union Avenue

    635 ft · 22 sec · Union Avenue

  7. 7

    Take the ramp left toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway South

    145 m · 11 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

    11.9 mi · 16 min · Garden State Parkway

  9. 9

    Take the exit right toward NJ 27: Iselin, Metuchen

    1079 ft · 39 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Lincoln Highway

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Lincoln Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Middlesex Avenue

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Middlesex Avenue

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Middlesex Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
12 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
64.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Garden State Parkway
11.9 mi · 64%
Springfield Avenue
2.69 mi · 15%
Lincoln Highway
1.39 mi · 8%
Middlesex Avenue
1.21 mi · 7%
Ball Street
0.43 mi · 2%
Market Street
0.26 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Garden State Parkway

Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

11.9 mi · 00h 16m

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 30m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.8 mi
16.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cranford
00h 15m from Newark
Leave By
7:30 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Newark and Chance Rain Showers near Metuchen.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 18.5 miles (29.7 km) and usually takes 00h 30m 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?

Cranford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 9.3 miles from Newark and 9.3 miles from Metuchen.

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

The direct path is about 16.7 miles (26.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.8 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:30 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.66 one way or $5.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Newark and Chance Rain Showers near Metuchen.

Stop Ideas Near Cranford

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 Cranford and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Hall Parking Lot
Scenic stop 13.5 mi away

City Hall Parking Lot

Jersey City , NJ
280 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Parking lot
City of Elizabeth
Meeting point 4 mi away

City of Elizabeth

Elizabeth , NJ
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
Rating 4.5/5 65 reviews City Hall
Bloomfield Municipal Building
Nearby stop 10.5 mi away

Bloomfield Municipal Building

Bloomfield , NJ
1 Municipal Plaza, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Rating 4.4/5 17 reviews Municipal hall

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Metropark station

10 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

11 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

14 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West
RAIL

New Brunswick station

22 mi away
French and Albany Streets

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Newark and Metuchen. Straight-line distance: 16.65 mi (26.79 km).

Newark

#1 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
Metuchen

#2 Metuchen

Borough in New Jersey, United States

Population14,767
Coordinates40.5431600, -74.3632000
Altitude28
CountryUnited States
Start: Newark (-74.17237, 40.73566)
End: Metuchen (-74.3632, 40.54316)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 30 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 22m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.65 gal
2.47 L · about $2.66
Round trip
$5.31
1.3 gal · 4.94 L
Estimated CO2
5.8 kg one way
Round trip: 11.6 kg / 26 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $2.66 $5.31
Mid-grade $4.60 $2.99 $5.98
Premium $4.95 $3.22 $6.44
Diesel $5.98 $3.89 $7.77

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 Jersey · Apr 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Newark and Metuchen. The current time is 06:44:34.

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.