NJ 81 begins at the southern end of the expressway section of US 1/US 9 in Elizabeth. There is a pair of exits for North Avenue and Dowd Avenue.

Photos taken October 2015.

NJ 81 ends at the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95). There is a tollbooth where all motorists who do not have E-ZPass must take a ticket indicating where they got on the turnpike. After the tollbooth, bear left to go north or right to go south.

Photos taken October 2015.