[1] The route heads through a mix of businesses and farm fields, with the Washington Secondary rail line that is owned by Norfolk Southern and operated by the Dover and Delaware River Railroad paralleling the road to the south.

It crosses Route 31 and heads under a Dover and Delaware River Railroad line, passing through a mix of residences, businesses, and industrial establishments.

From here, the road heads east into a mix of agricultural and residential areas with some businesses, entering Mansfield Township.

[1][3] Here, the route is known as the Admiral John D. Bulkeley Memorial Highway, named after Vice Admiral John D. Bulkeley, a United States Navy officer who served in World War II.

[1][3] From here, Route 57 turns northeast and parallels the Musconetcong River, heading through wooded areas around Upper Pohatcong Mountain with some farmland.

[1] From milepost 2.07 (3.33 km) to its eastern terminus, Route 57 is designated a scenic byway, the Warren Heritage Scenic Byway, by the state of New Jersey due to its mountain and valley scenery, historic districts, and the adjacent Morris Canal, which was built in 1831 and had the greatest elevation change among all canals across the world.

[5] The present-day alignment of Route 57 west of Penwell was built as a part of the Washington Turnpike, chartered in 1806 to run from Morristown to Phillipsburg.

This road was later signed as part of the William Penn Highway in 1916, running from New York City to Pittsburgh.

5, approved August 13, 1997, the New Jersey Legislature designated Route 57 as the Admiral John D. Bulkeley Memorial Highway.