Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
27.3 mi
44 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Edison, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
This straightforward 27.3-mile drive from Edison, NJ, to Jersey City, NJ, can be completed in about 40 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 77% of the journey on major roads, so expect a relatively swift transit. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $5, this trip is budget-friendly. You'll be staying within the Northeast region and within New Jersey for the entire journey. Given its short distance and efficient route, no overnight stay is necessary; you can easily tackle this drive in a single outing.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 27.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 27.3-mile trip, with 77% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 17.4 miles along the New Jersey Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. You'll also navigate sections of Lincoln Highway and I-287, providing a mix of well-traveled arteries. This route is characterized by its efficiency rather than scenic detours, prioritizing direct travel between Edison and Jersey City.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Lincoln Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in.
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 17 decision points packed into just 27.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward I 95, NJTP: New Jersey Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Newark, Jersey City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 Truck North, US 9 Truck North: Jersey City, Doremus Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Jersey City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Edison, NJ and Jersey City, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp, Gsp, Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike and Njtp North: New York.
Njtp
Gsp
Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike
Njtp North: New York
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 17.4 mi | 21m |
| Lincoln Highway | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| I 287 | 2 mi | 2m |
| New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| US 1 Truck | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Plainfield Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Duncan Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Reed Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Edison, NJ and Jersey City, NJ.
Start on this road
Continue on Reed Street
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Turn right onto CR 529
Turn left onto NJ 27
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 287
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Take the exit onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Turn right onto Duncan Avenue
Turn left onto Olean Avenue
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$4.53 one way
$9.05 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.96 | $9.91 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.29 | $10.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.03 | $12.05 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.59
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$3
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.87 | $1.31 |
| Efficient EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Edison on Friday
Local time
10:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Morning in Jersey City on Friday
Local time
10:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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