Trip from Edison, NJ to Cranbury, NJ

Drive Time

27m

Distance

17.3 mi

28 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 25m ★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Edison, NJ, NJ

Edison, NJ

Garrison Gao

Downtown Cranbury, NJ, NJ

Cranbury, NJ

James Kampeis

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick commute or errand run between Edison and Cranbury, you can expect a straightforward 17.3-mile trip that typically takes about 27 minutes. This route relies heavily on US 1 and US 130, making it an efficient highway-focused drive that is easily completed in a single day. With a fuel cost estimate of just $3, it is an economical journey that requires no overnight stops. You will stay entirely within New Jersey’s Northeast region, moving through familiar suburban landscapes. Because the entire trip is less than half an hour, it serves as a highly practical connection rather than a long-haul excursion. You won't need to stress over complex itineraries for this short distance, as it functions perfectly as a simple, direct transit.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

8.7 miles from Edison, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a utilitarian experience, as this drive is defined by its 87% highway composition. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating high-speed corridors, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 11 miles specifically on US 130. While you start and finish your journey using local connectors like Plainfield Avenue, the core of the drive is built for consistent movement rather than winding, scenic exploration. The transition between these major thoroughfares is seamless, keeping you in a steady flow of traffic for the duration of the 27-minute trip. It is a no-nonsense, functional drive designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal deviation.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 130 is the longest continuous segment at about 11 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 130 and US 1. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Central Avenue.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 17.3 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (CR 529 / Plainfield Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Central Avenue

Turn left onto Central Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | CR 529 / Plainfield Avenue

Turn right onto CR 529 / Plainfield Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
7
5.4 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the exit toward US 130 South, NJ 171 North: Camden, New Brunswick

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 US 130 South, NJ 171 North: Camden, New...
7
5.5 mi into trip | ~9m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 130 South: Camden

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward US 130 South: Camden
5
6 mi into trip | ~10m in | US 130

Merge onto US 130

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Edison, NJ to Cranbury, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward New Brunswick along the way.

New Brunswick

5.4 mi in | ~9m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 130 11 mi 15m
US 1 4.1 mi 5m
Plainfield Avenue 1.2 mi 2m
Plainsboro Road 0.2 mi <1m
Maplewood Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
Reed Street <0.1 mi <1m
Central Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 130 — 11 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Edison, NJ and Cranbury, NJ.

1

Start on this road

175 ft · 12 sec · this road
2

Continue on Reed Street

348 ft · 20 sec · Reed Street
3

Turn left onto Central Avenue

345 ft · 18 sec · Central Avenue
4

Turn right onto CR 529

1.2 mi · 2 min · Plainfield Avenue
Use the none lane.
5

Turn right onto US 1

4.1 mi · 5 min · US 1
Use the right lane.
6

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 12 sec
Toward US 130 South, NJ 171 North: Camden, New Brunswick Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 50 sec
Toward US 130 South: Camden Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8

Merge onto US 130

1.1 mi · 1 min · US 130
Use the none lane.
9

Continue on US 130

9.9 mi · 14 min · US 130
Use the none lane.
10

Turn slight right onto CR 535

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Maplewood Avenue
11

Turn right onto CR 535

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Plainsboro Road
12

Arrive at destination

CR 535

Trip Plan

Since this is a short, 17.3-mile sprint, you have maximum flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire route without planning for formal rest stops, as there are zero required stops along the way. Keep in mind that because the route is highway-heavy, traffic patterns on US 1 and US 130 will dictate your actual travel time more than anything else. Before you head out, double-check your fuel levels to ensure you stay within your $3 budget, though the distance is short enough that you are unlikely to need a mid-trip fill-up. A helpful tip for this specific path is to monitor real-time traffic reports for US 130 before pulling out of Edison, as this will be your longest stretch of road.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 8.7 miles from Edison, NJ, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 17.3 miles or 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 8.7 miles or 14m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 23m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cranbury, NJ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Edison, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Edison, NJ

This is one driving day of about 17.3 miles and 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Edison, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 130 for about 11 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 8.7 mi from Edison, NJ · 14m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

9 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 8.7 miles from Edison, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Cranbury, NJ

The final approach into Cranbury, NJ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Cranbury, NJ.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.86 one way

$5.73 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $3.13 $6.26
premium $4.92 $3.35 $6.70
diesel $5.64 $3.84 $7.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$28–$53

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.2 0 $1.82 $0.83
Efficient EV 4.3 0 $1.51 $0.69
EV Truck/SUV 6.9 0 $2.42 $1.11

Gas CO2

6 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Edison, NJ

Night in Edison on Sunday

Local time

10:45 PM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cranbury, NJ

Night in Cranbury on Sunday

Local time

10:45 PM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

1 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

27m 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 Edison, NJ to Cranbury, NJ covers 17.3 miles and takes about 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 130, US 1, Plainfield Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.7 miles from Edison, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.86 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 17.3 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (CR 529 / Plainfield Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Edison, NJ to Cranbury, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward New Brunswick along the way.

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Return Trip

Cranbury, NJ to Edison, NJ

Plan the drive back the other way.

17.4 mi 28m

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