The drive from Elizabeth, NJ to Penns Grove, NJ covers 103.2 miles and takes about 2h 5m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on New Jersey Turnpike, I 295, Harding Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64 miles on New Jersey Turnpike.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.11 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.
Midpoint
51.6 miles from Elizabeth, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 103.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 5m highway drive covering 103.2 miles, with most of the trip on New Jersey Turnpike and I 295. The longest continuous stretch is about 64 miles on New Jersey Turnpike.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New Jersey Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 64 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and I 295. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near Brunswick Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 103.2 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 2.2 miles (Brunswick Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|Brunswick Avenue
Turn right onto Brunswick Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: NJ Turnpike
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: NJ Turnpike
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
7
67.7 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 73 North: Camden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 73 North: Camden
8
101.2 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward NJ 48: Woodstown, Penns Grove
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 4
Toward NJ 48: Woodstown, Penns Grove
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elizabeth, NJ and Penns Grove, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp South: Camden, Wilmington and Camden.
Njtp South: Camden
50.4 mi in|~1h|via NJTP
Wilmington
50.4 mi in|~1h|via NJTP
Camden
67.2 mi in|~1h 19m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
64 mi
1h 13m
I 295
32.5 mi
38m
Harding Highway
1.4 mi
2m
US 1
1.1 mi
1m
Bayway
0.8 mi
1m
NJ 73
0.5 mi
<1m
East Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East Jersey Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 64 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth, NJ and Penns Grove, 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: TrentonUse 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
47 mi·54 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
17 mi·19 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Toward NJTP South: Camden, Wilmington
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·55 sec
Exit 4Toward NJ 73: Mount Laurel, Camden
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward NJ 73 North: CamdenUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto NJ 73
0.5 mi·42 sec·NJ 73
Use the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 295 South: Delaware Memorial Bridge
16
Merge onto I 295
23 mi·27 min·I 295
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
9.6 mi·11 min·I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 4Toward NJ 48: Woodstown, Penns GroveUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn right onto NJ 48
1.4 mi·2 min·Harding Highway
20
Continue on CR 675
0.3 mi·46 sec·East Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
CR 675
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 51.6 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.6 miles or 1h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Penns Grove, 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 103.2 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Elizabeth, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 64 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.6 mi from Elizabeth, NJ
· 1h 1m into the drive
The midpoint is around 51.6 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before New Jersey Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64 miles.
Arriving in Penns Grove, NJ
The final approach into Penns Grove, 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 Penns Grove, 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
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...
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 3.6
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.11 one way
$34.22 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$18.74
$37.48
premium
$4.93
$20.01
$40.03
diesel
$5.61
$22.79
$45.57
Estimated Tolls: $8.97
New Jersey Turnpike
(64 mi)$8.97
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
$17
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31
0
$10.84
$4.95
Efficient EV
25.8
0
$9.03
$4.13
EV Truck/SUV
41.3
0
$14.45
$6.60
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Elizabeth, NJ
Morning
in Elizabeth on Saturday
Local time
8:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Cloudy then Isolated Rain Showers
W 3 to 8 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Penns Grove, NJ
Morning
in Penns Grove on Saturday
Local time
8:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Bristol, PA
52 mi in
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
11 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
2h 5m 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 Penns Grove, NJ covers 103.2 miles and takes about 2h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New Jersey Turnpike, I 295, Harding Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.6 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 $17.11 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 17 significant decision points across 103.2 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 2.2 miles (Brunswick Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Elizabeth, NJ and Penns Grove, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp South: Camden, Wilmington and Camden.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
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.