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Trip from Elizabeth, NJ to Lawrence, NJ

Drive Time

59m

Distance

40.9 mi

66 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 54m ★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Elizabeth, NJ, NJ

Elizabeth, NJ

Noé Villalta Photography

Downtown Lawrence, NJ, NJ

Lawrence, NJ

Ren Aukeman

Trip Overview

The drive from Elizabeth, NJ to Lawrence, NJ covers 40.9 miles and takes about 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 1, New Jersey Turnpike, Quaker Bridge Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.5 miles on US 1. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.77 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

20.5 miles from Elizabeth, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 59m highway drive covering 40.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 1 and New Jersey Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch is about 19.5 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 30 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 19.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and New Jersey Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 40.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 23 key points

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

9
2.6 mi into trip | ~5m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
8
18 mi into trip | ~23m in

Take the exit toward NJ 18 East, US 1 East: New 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. Exit 9 Toward NJ 18 East, US 1 East: New Brunswick
8
18.8 mi into trip | ~24m in

Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers Univ...
7
19 mi into trip | ~25m in

Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers Univ...
8
38.8 mi into trip | ~54m in

Keep slight right at fork toward CR 533 South: Quaker Bridge Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward CR 533 South: Quaker Bridge Road

Towns Along This Route

Between Elizabeth, NJ and Lawrence, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll: Nj Turnpike, Njtp South: Trenton, Rutgers University and Trenton.

Njtp Toll: Nj Turnpike

2.3 mi in | ~4m

Njtp South: Trenton

2.6 mi in | ~5m

Rutgers University

18.8 mi in | ~24m

Trenton

19.5 mi in | ~26m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 1 19.5 mi 27m
New Jersey Turnpike 14.9 mi 17m
Quaker Bridge Road 1.3 mi 2m
Bayway 0.8 mi 1m
Lawrence Station Road 0.6 mi 1m
State Route 18 0.4 mi <1m
East Jersey Street 0.2 mi <1m
Brunswick Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 1 — 19.5 mi, about 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth, NJ and Lawrence, NJ.

1

Start on this road

34 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto East Jersey Street

0.2 mi · 38 sec · East Jersey Street
3

Turn right onto US 1; US 9

1.1 mi · 1 min · US 1; US 9
4

Enter roundabout onto NJ 439

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Bayway
5

Continue on NJ 439

0.6 mi · 1 min · Bayway
6

Turn right onto Brunswick Avenue

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Brunswick Avenue
Use the right lane.
7

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: NJ Turnpike
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 11 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton Use the slight right lane.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 37 sec
Use the slight left lane.
10

Merge onto I 95; NJTP

15 mi · 17 min · New Jersey Turnpike
11

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 9 Toward NJ 18 East, US 1 East: New Brunswick Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork

323 ft · 7 sec
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University
14

Merge onto NJ 18; CR 527

0.4 mi · 51 sec · State Route 18
15

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward US 1 South: Princeton, Trenton
16

Merge onto US 1

2.4 mi · 3 min · US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
17

Continue on US 1

0.1 mi · 9 sec · US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

276 ft · 4 sec · US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

387 ft · 6 sec · US 1
20

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

3.6 mi · 5 min · US 1
21

Continue on US 1

12 mi · 17 min · US 1
Use the straight lane.
22

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 12 sec
23

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 22 sec
Use the straight lane.
24

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 16 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 44 sec
Toward CR 533 South: Quaker Bridge Road Use the right lane.
26

Turn slight right onto CR 533

1.3 mi · 2 min · Quaker Bridge Road
27

Turn right onto CR 608

0.6 mi · 1 min · Lawrence Station Road
28

Turn right onto Fountayne Boulevard

145 ft · 10 sec · Fountayne Boulevard
29

Continue on Fountayne Boulevard

116 ft · 11 sec · Fountayne Boulevard
30

Arrive at destination

Fountayne Boulevard

Trip Plan

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 20.5 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, or about 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.5 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 40.9 miles or 59m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 20.5 miles or 28m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 48m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Elizabeth, 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 Elizabeth, NJ

This is one driving day of about 40.9 miles and 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Elizabeth, 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 1 for about 19.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 20.5 mi from Elizabeth, NJ · 28m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

20 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 40.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.5 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lawrence, NJ

The final approach into Lawrence, 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 Lawrence, NJ.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...

9 mi from route ~21 min detour $10
Park Closure: Glenmont Mansion and Grounds Closed
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area

Gateway National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...

16 mi from route ~40 min detour Free near mile 2.8
View on nps.gov
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...

17 mi from route ~44 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Morristown National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...

18 mi from route ~46 min detour Free near mile 1.4
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.77 one way

$13.54 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $7.41 $14.81
premium $4.92 $7.93 $15.85
diesel $5.64 $9.09 $18.17

Estimated Tolls: $2.08

New Jersey Turnpike (14.9 mi) $2.08

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$7

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.3 0 $4.29 $1.96
Efficient EV 10.2 0 $3.58 $1.64
EV Truck/SUV 16.4 0 $5.73 $2.62

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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 6 hours ago

Origin

Elizabeth, NJ

Night in Elizabeth on Sunday

Local time

9:38 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lawrence, NJ

Night in Lawrence on Sunday

Local time

9:38 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Patchy Frost then Sunny

E 5 to 10 mph 2% chance 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

3 degrees warmer at arrival

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

Road read

59m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Elizabeth, NJ to Lawrence, NJ covers 40.9 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 1, New Jersey Turnpike, Quaker Bridge 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 20.5 miles from Elizabeth, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.77 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 demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 40.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Elizabeth, NJ and Lawrence, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll: Nj Turnpike, Njtp South: Trenton, Rutgers University and Trenton.

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Return Trip

Lawrence, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ

Plan the drive back the other way.

38.5 mi 59m

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