Distance Between New York and New Jersey: It's Complicated

There is no single "distance" between New York and New Jersey because they are adjacent states sharing a land and water border.

What "Distance" Means Here

• Border-to-Border: Zero miles. They touch. The Hudson River, Arthur Kill, Kill Van Kull, and Delaware River form boundaries. You can step from NY to NJ on the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, or any bridge.
• City Center to City Center:
  • Manhattan (Times Square) → Jersey City (Journal Square): ~3 miles (5 km) — 15 min drive / 10 min PATH train.
  • Manhattan → Newark: ~10 miles (16 km).
  • Manhattan → Trenton (NJ capital): ~60 miles (97 km).
• Extreme Points: Montauk, NY (eastern tip) → Cape May, NJ (southern tip): ~150 miles (240 km) by water/road.

Why the Question Arises

People usually mean: "How far is Manhattan from Northern NJ?" Answer: a river crossing. The real "distance" is traffic, tolls ($16+ GWB cash), and transit time.