What is the distance between Staten Island and New Jersey?

Less than half a mile. They share two water borders. Bayonne, New Jersey is directly across a tidal strait of New York Bay, known as Kill Van Kull, from the northwest side of Staten Island. The Bayonne Bridge transverses Kill Van Kull and connects Bayonne to Staten Island. The distance across Kill Van Kull is less than half a mile.

Perth Amboy, Sewaren, Carteret, Port Reading, Linden and Elizabeth, New Jersey are directly across a tidal strait known as Arthur Kill from the west side of Staten Island. Again, the distance is less than half a mile.