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

The driving distance from Scotch Plains, NJ to New York City, NY is about 25.7 miles (41.3 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
25.69 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 Scotch Plains.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
25.69 mi
Kilometers
41.34 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 New York City
Thu, Sep 17, 2:52 PM EDT
Return by in Scotch Plains
Thu, Sep 17, 3:35 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Scotch Plains
2026-09-17T14:10
Arrive New York City
Thu, Sep 17, 2:52 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 Scotch Plains
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
Newark
NJ

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

From Scotch Plains
12.8 mi
00h 21m
To New York City
12.9 mi
00h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
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
Destination
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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Westfield Avenue

    23 m · 6 sec · Westfield Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Westfield Road

    2528 ft · 2 min · Westfield Road

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right

    1.3 km · 1 min

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    5.4 mi · 9 min

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    1.4 mi · 2 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight left toward GSP Toll North: Paterson

    1513 ft · 37 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

    1.4 km · 1 min · Garden State Parkway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right

    553 ft · 14 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 78 East: Newark Airport, Newark

    1435 ft · 36 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight left toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City

    2150 ft · 34 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

    1.1 km · 56 sec · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward NJTP, I 95, US 1-9, NJ 21, US 22: Port Newark

    1328 ft · 21 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight right onto Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

    1 mi · 1 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

  15. 15

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

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

  16. 16

    Continue on New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension

    2.3 mi · 3 min · New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension

  17. 17

    Continue on 12th Street

    1412 ft · 54 sec · 12th Street

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on Holland Tunnel

    2 mi · 5 min · Holland Tunnel

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward Brooklyn

    93 m · 10 sec

  20. 20

    Continue on Beach Street

    37 m · 7 sec · Beach Street

  21. 21

    Turn slight right onto Walker Street

    1270 ft · 1 min · Walker Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Broadway

    1856 ft · 2 min · Broadway

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Broadway

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
89.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension
8.24 mi · 32%
Westfield Road
7.3 mi · 28%
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
4.2 mi · 16%
Holland Tunnel
2.02 mi · 8%
Garden State Parkway
0.95 mi · 4%
I 78 East
0.68 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension

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

5.9 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
+5.2 mi
20.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Newark
00h 21m from Scotch Plains
Leave By
7:04 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 25.7 miles (41.3 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?

Newark is a useful midpoint, sitting about 12.8 miles from Scotch Plains and 12.9 miles from New York City.

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 5.2 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 $4.03 one way or $8.05 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Newark

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 Newark and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Hall Parking Lot
Scenic stop 7.6 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 9.8 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 1.8 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 9.8 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 Newark.

RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

1 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

4 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

15 mi away
8th Ave 31st Street / 8th Ave 33rd Street
RAIL

Metropark station

23 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike

Flight Path Map

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

Scotch Plains

#1 Scotch Plains

Township in Union County, New Jersey, United States

Population24,138
Coordinates40.6553800, -74.3898700
Altitude50
CountryUnited States
New York City

#2 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
Start: Scotch Plains (-74.38987, 40.65538)
End: New York City (-74.00597, 40.71427)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 41 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 25m
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
0.91 gal
3.43 L · about $4.03
Round trip
$8.05
1.82 gal · 6.86 L
Estimated CO2
8.1 kg one way
Round trip: 16.2 kg / 36 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.43 $4.03 $8.05
Mid-grade $4.98 $4.53 $9.06
Premium $5.27 $4.79 $9.58
Diesel $6.22 $5.66 $11.32

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 · Sep 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Scotch Plains and New York City. The current time is 14:10:03.

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.