The route went for 4.12 miles (6.63 km) along Port Street and Doremus Avenue through the industrial districts of the city.

[3][4] From there, Route 65 headed northward along Doremus Avenue, crossing over the Newark Bay Extension (Interstate 78) just north of the intersection.

The route continued through the industrial district, reaching higher in elevation on a bridge over the Central Railroad of New Jersey (now Conrail Shared Assets Operations, CSAO).

[1] Route 65 remained on the Port Street and Doremus Avenue alignment for a short time, and was completely eliminated from the state system by 1963.

[2] Port Street and Doremus Avenue are both now maintained by the city of Newark but both are of the National Highway System as of 2009.