Origin
Colonia, NJ
Night in Colonia on Thursday
Local time
9:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colonia, NJ to New Brunswick, NJ
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
21m
Distance
12 mi
19 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colonia, NJ
Aisling Kerr
New Brunswick, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Colonia, NJ to New Brunswick, NJ covers 12 miles and takes about 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 1, Suydam Street, Route 18 Service Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 8.9 miles on US 1. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.99 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 12 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 21m highway drive covering 12 miles, with most of the trip on US 1 and Suydam Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 8.9 miles on US 1.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 1 is the longest continuous segment at about 8.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and Suydam Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near US 1.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 12 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 1
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
9.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward NJ 18: New Brunswick, East Brunswick
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 18: New Brunswick, East Brunswick
9
9.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Piscataway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Piscataway
7
10.3 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
CR 527
Take the exit onto CR 527 toward NJ 172: New Brunswick, Cook/Douglass Campus, Paul Robeson Boulevard, New Street, Highland Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 172: New Brunswick, Cook/Douglass Cam...
6
10.9 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
Paul Robeson Boulevard
Turn left onto Paul Robeson Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Colonia, NJ and New Brunswick, NJ, road signs point toward Brunswick, Piscataway, Cook/Douglass Campus and Highland Park.
Brunswick
9.7 mi in
|
~16m
Piscataway
9.8 mi in
|
~16m
Cook/Douglass Campus
10.3 mi in
|
~17m
|
via CR 527
Highland Park
10.3 mi in
|
~17m
|
via CR 527
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 8.9 mi | 13m |
| Suydam Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Route 18 Service Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Paul Robeson Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| State Route 18 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Livingston Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Washington Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| South Hill Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 8.9 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colonia, NJ and New Brunswick, NJ.
1
Start on South Cliff Road
187 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Cliff Road
2
Turn left onto South Hill Road
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Hill Road
3
Turn right onto North Washington Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Avenue
4
Turn right onto NJ 35
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Saint Georges Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Trenton, Shore Points
6
Merge onto US 1; US 9
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 1; US 9
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 1
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 1
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
US 1
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward NJ 18: New Brunswick, East Brunswick
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Piscataway
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto NJ 18; CR 527
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
State Route 18
13
Take the exit onto CR 527
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
CR 527
Toward NJ 172: New Brunswick, Cook/Douglass Campus, Paul Robeson Boulevard, New Street, Highland Park
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto Route 18 Service Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Route 18 Service Road
Toward NJ 18 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto Paul Robeson Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Paul Robeson Boulevard
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto Suydam Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Suydam Street
17
Turn left onto CR 691
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Livingston Avenue
18
Turn right onto Delavan Street
68 ft
·
3 sec
·
Delavan Street
19
Arrive at destination
Delavan Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.99 one way
$3.98 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.18 | $4.36 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.33 | $4.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.65 | $5.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.26 | $0.58 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.05 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
New Brunswick, NJ
Night in New Brunswick on Thursday
Local time
9:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
21m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Colonia, NJ to New Brunswick, NJ covers 12 miles and takes about 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 1, Suydam Street, Route 18 Service Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6 miles from Colonia, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.99 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 12 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Colonia, NJ and New Brunswick, NJ, road signs point toward Brunswick, Piscataway, Cook/Douglass Campus and Highland Park.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
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