Origin
Metuchen, NJ
Afternoon in Metuchen on Friday
Local time
3:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Metuchen, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
13.4 mi
22 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 25m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Metuchen, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Metuchen, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ is 13.4 miles and takes about 24 minutes via US 1, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, straightforward drive within the Northeast region, connecting two points in New Jersey. Given its brief duration and focus on major roads, it's ideal for a quick transit or as part of a larger journey rather than a destination in itself. Plan for this to be a simple, functional trip where the focus is on reaching your destination efficiently.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 13.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 69% of the drive on major roadways. You'll experience a highway-like environment for much of the 13.4 miles, including a longest stretch of 9.2 miles on US 1. Expect a generally consistent driving experience, characterized by the flow of traffic on main arteries. The route utilizes US 1, Carlton Street, and Amboy Avenue, suggesting a progression through common urban and suburban thoroughfares.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 9.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and Carlton Street. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 531 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 13.4 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (CR 531 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (CR 501 / Amboy Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 531 / Main Street
Turn right onto CR 531 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 501 / Amboy Avenue
Turn left onto CR 501 / Amboy Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 1
Merge onto US 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
10.8 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
US 1; US 9 / East Edgar Road
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9 / East Edgar Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
13.1 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
East Jersey Street
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 9.2 mi | 15m |
| Carlton Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Amboy Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| East Edgar Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Middlesex Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 9.2 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metuchen, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 27
209 ft
·
13 sec
·
Middlesex Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 531
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto CR 501
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Amboy Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
5
Merge onto US 1
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 1
6.3 mi
·
10 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Edgar Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Carlton Street
9
Turn right
60 ft
·
6 sec
10
Turn right
383 ft
·
28 sec
11
Turn right
278 ft
·
22 sec
12
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
East Jersey Street
13
Turn right
34 ft
·
2 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.22 one way
$4.44 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.43 | $4.87 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.60 | $5.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.96 | $5.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4 | 0 | $1.41 | $0.64 |
| Efficient EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.17 | $0.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.88 | $0.86 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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.
Destination
Elizabeth, NJ
Afternoon in Elizabeth on Friday
Local time
3:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
24m 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 Metuchen, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ covers 13.4 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 1, Carlton Street, Amboy 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 6.7 miles from Metuchen, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.22 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 13.4 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (CR 531 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (CR 501 / Amboy Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Metuchen, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
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