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

The driving distance from South Orange, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ is about 14 miles (22.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 6.5 miles (10.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 55m 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
14.02 mi
00h 27m
Flight
6.44 mi
10.37 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from South Orange.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
6.44 mi
Kilometers
10.37 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
14.02 mi
Kilometers
22.56 km
Drive Time
00h 27m

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 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elizabeth
Wed, Apr 22, 8:04 PM EDT
Return by in South Orange
Wed, Apr 22, 8:32 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave South Orange
2026-04-22T19:37
Arrive Elizabeth
Wed, Apr 22, 8:04 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:28 AM to 7:28 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:34 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in South Orange
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
Hillside
NJ

Township of New Jersey

From South Orange
4.5 mi
00h 13m
To Elizabeth
9.5 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Wednesday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph SE
Destination
64°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    758 ft · 1 min

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto South Orange Avenue

    1213 ft · 43 sec · South Orange Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn slight right onto Irvington Avenue

    2403 ft · 2 min · Irvington Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn sharp left onto Ward Place

    757 ft · 23 sec · Ward Place

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Wilden Place

    1385 ft · 38 sec · Wilden Place

  6. 6

    Continue on Mount Vernon Place

    1 km · 2 min · Mount Vernon Place

  7. 7

    Continue on Mt Vernon Place East

    117 m · 11 sec · Mt Vernon Place East

  8. 8

    Continue on West Allen Street

    551 ft · 18 sec · West Allen Street

  9. 9

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Stuyvesant Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · Stuyvesant Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Lyons Avenue

    1.2 km · 1 min · Lyons Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Grove Street

    533 ft · 13 sec · Grove Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Coit Street

    2910 ft · 1 min · Coit Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Chestnut Avenue

    2036 ft · 43 sec · Chestnut Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Hillside Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · Hillside Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on Hillside Avenue

    2125 ft · 45 sec · Hillside Avenue

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Broad Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North Broad Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto North Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · North Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Spring Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Spring Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto East Jersey Street

    1164 ft · 36 sec · East Jersey Street

  20. 20

    Turn right

    11 m · 3 sec

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
21 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
150 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Spring Street
1.14 mi · 8%
North Broad Street
1.08 mi · 8%
Hillside Avenue
1.03 mi · 7%
North Avenue
0.96 mi · 7%
Stuyvesant Avenue
0.78 mi · 6%
Lyons Avenue
0.73 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Spring Street

Turn right onto Spring Street

1.14 mi · 00h 02m

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 27m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.5 mi
6.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hillside
00h 13m from South Orange
Leave By
7:34 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 14 miles (22.6 km) and usually takes 00h 27m 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 4.5 miles from South Orange and 9.5 miles from Elizabeth.

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

The direct path is about 6.5 miles (10.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.5 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 7:34 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.00 one way or $4.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 10 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 12.2 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 3.7 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 12.2 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 South Orange and Elizabeth. Straight-line distance: 6.44 mi (10.37 km).

South Orange

#1 South Orange

Town in Essex County, New Jersey

Population17,295
Coordinates40.7489900, -74.2612600
Altitude45
CountryUnited States
Elizabeth

#2 Elizabeth

The second most populous city in Union County, New Jersey.

Population128,382
Coordinates40.6639900, -74.2107000
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Start: (-74.261344, 40.748893)
End: (-74.210651, 40.663974)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 23 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.49 gal
1.87 L · about $2.00
Round trip
$4.00
0.98 gal · 3.74 L
Estimated CO2
4.4 kg one way
Round trip: 8.7 kg / 19 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $2.00 $4.00
Mid-grade $4.60 $2.25 $4.51
Premium $4.95 $2.43 $4.85
Diesel $5.98 $2.93 $5.86

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between South Orange and Elizabeth. The current time is 19:37:23.

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.