The drive from Medford Lakes, NJ to Bayonne, NJ covers 77.7 miles and takes about 1h 44m 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, Bayonne Bridge, Main Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.9 miles on New Jersey Turnpike.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.88 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
38.8 miles from Medford Lakes, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 77.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 44m highway drive covering 77.7 miles, with most of the trip on New Jersey Turnpike and Bayonne Bridge. The longest continuous stretch is about 53.9 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 33 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 53.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Bayonne Bridge. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near CR 541 / Stokes Road.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.7 miles you will encounter 23 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 0.5 miles (CR 541 / Stokes Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles (CR 541 / Mount Holly Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
6
0.5 mi into trip|~2m in|CR 541 / Stokes Road
At end of road, turn left onto CR 541 / Stokes Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
8.7 mi into trip|~15m in|CR 541 / Mount Holly Bypass
Turn left onto CR 541 / Mount Holly Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
67.7 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
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 13
Toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
8
71.3 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward Forest Avenue, Gulf Avenue
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 Forest Avenue, Gulf Avenue
7
71.4 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Medford Lakes, NJ and Bayonne, NJ, road signs point toward All Turns, Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike, Njtp North: New York and Staten Island.
All Turns
13.1 mi in|~22m
Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
13.3 mi in|~22m|via NJ Turnpike Exit 5
Njtp North: New York
13.5 mi in|~23m
Staten Island
67.7 mi in|~1h 26m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
53.9 mi
1h 2m
Bayonne Bridge
3.5 mi
5m
Main Street
2.9 mi
4m
Mount Holly Bypass
2.5 mi
3m
Stokes Road
2.3 mi
4m
Medford-Mount Holly Road
2.1 mi
3m
Forest Avenue
1.7 mi
3m
Burlington-Mount Holly Road
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 53.9 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Medford Lakes, NJ and Bayonne, NJ.
1
Start on Indian Trail
428 ft·20 sec·Indian Trail
2
Turn right onto Big Look Trail
0.1 mi·33 sec·Big Look Trail
3
At end of road, turn left onto Bowker Road
357 ft·17 sec·Bowker Road
4
Turn right onto Mohawk Trail
0.2 mi·54 sec·Mohawk Trail
5
At end of road, turn left onto CR 541
2.3 mi·4 min·Stokes Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on CR 541
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
7
Continue on CR 541
2.1 mi·3 min·Medford-Mount Holly Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on CR 541
2.9 mi·4 min·Main Street
9
Turn left onto CR 541
2.0 mi·2 min·Mount Holly Bypass
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on CR 541
0.2 mi·19 sec·Mount Holly Avenue Bypass
11
Continue on CR 541
0.5 mi·49 sec·Mount Holly Bypass
12
At end of road, turn left onto CR 541
1.6 mi·2 min·Burlington-Mount Holly Road
Use the left lane.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·27 sec
Toward NJTP: Hancock Lane, All Turns
14
Turn left onto Hancock Lane
306 ft·6 sec·Hancock Lane
15
Continue on NJ Turnpike Exit 5
0.2 mi·40 sec·NJ Turnpike Exit 5
Toward NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·52 sec
Toward NJTP North: New York
17
Merge onto NJTP
5.1 mi·5 min·New Jersey Turnpike
18
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
49 mi·56 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
1.6 mi·2 min
Exit 13Toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten IslandUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto I 278
1.6 mi·2 min·Goethals Bridge
21
Continue on I 278
0.4 mi·37 sec·Staten Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
149 ft·3 sec
Exit 4Toward Forest Avenue, Gulf AvenueUse the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·33 sec
Use the slight left lane.
24
Turn straight onto Forest Avenue
1.7 mi·3 min·Forest Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
25
Turn left onto Trantor Place
0.1 mi·18 sec·Trantor Place
Use the left lane.
26
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward NY 440 North: Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Expressway, Bayonne Bridge
27
Merge onto NY 440
0.3 mi·26 sec·Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
28
Continue on NY 440
3.5 mi·5 min·Bayonne Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Turn left onto East 30th Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·East 30th Street
Use the left lane.
30
Turn left onto Avenue E
268 ft·11 sec·Avenue E
31
Turn right onto East 29th Street
0.1 mi·37 sec·East 29th Street
32
Turn right onto Broadway
54 ft·1 sec·Broadway
33
Arrive at destination
Broadway
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 38.8 miles from Medford Lakes, NJ, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.9 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 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.8 miles or 53m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bayonne, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Medford Lakes, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Medford Lakes, NJ
This is one driving day of about 77.7 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Medford Lakes, 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 53.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.8 mi from Medford Lakes, NJ
· 53m into the drive
The midpoint is around 38.8 miles from Medford Lakes, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bayonne, NJ
The final approach into Bayonne, NJ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
$10
near mile 69.7
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...
13 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 77.7
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
near mile 77.7
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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 69.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.88 one way
$25.76 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.11
$28.22
premium
$4.93
$15.07
$30.14
diesel
$5.61
$17.16
$34.31
Estimated Tolls: $39.58
Goethals Bridge
$16.00
Bayonne Bridge
$16.00
New Jersey Turnpike
(53.9 mi)$7.55
Nj Turnpike
(0.2 mi)$0.03
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
$13
Tolls
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.3
0
$8.16
$3.73
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.80
$3.11
EV Truck/SUV
31.1
0
$10.88
$4.97
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 16, 2026
Origin
Medford Lakes, NJ
Afternoon
in Medford Lakes on Saturday
Local time
1:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bayonne, NJ
Afternoon
in Bayonne on Saturday
Local time
1:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 44m 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 Medford Lakes, NJ to Bayonne, NJ covers 77.7 miles and takes about 1h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New Jersey Turnpike, Bayonne Bridge, Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.8 miles from Medford Lakes, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.88 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 77.7 miles you will encounter 23 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 0.5 miles (CR 541 / Stokes Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles (CR 541 / Mount Holly Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Medford Lakes, NJ and Bayonne, NJ, road signs point toward All Turns, Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike, Njtp North: New York and Staten Island.
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.
