Origin
Metuchen, NJ
Late night in Metuchen on Saturday
Local time
1:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Metuchen, NJ to New Brunswick, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
15m
Distance
7.9 mi
13 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 16m
8 AM
0h 18m
10 AM
0h 17m
12 PM
0h 16m
3 PM
0h 17m
5 PM
0h 18m
8 PM
0h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Metuchen, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
New Brunswick, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Metuchen, NJ to New Brunswick, NJ is 7.9 miles and takes about 15m via US 1, with a fuel budget near $1 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This brief journey stays within New Jersey, traversing the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive primarily focused on highway travel, making it a quick and efficient option for connecting these two locations. You'll find it's a very manageable trip, perfect for a single day with no need for overnight stays.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 15m. Total distance: 7.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is heavily influenced by highway driving, with 64% of it on major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 4.2 miles primarily on US 1, offering a consistent pace. The drive progresses along main roads like US 1, Main Street, and Suydam Street, transitioning between a more arterial feel and direct highway segments. Expect a functional drive that prioritizes direct travel over scenic detours.
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 4.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and Main Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 531 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 7.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 15m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 531 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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.
7
5.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward NJ 18: New Brunswick, East 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.
Toward NJ 18: New Brunswick, East Brunswick
9
5.7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Piscataway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Piscataway
7
6.2 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
CR 527
Take the exit onto CR 527 toward NJ 172: New Brunswick, Cook/Douglass Campus, Paul Robeson Boulevard, New Street, Highland Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 172: New Brunswick, Cook/Douglass Cam...
6
6.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
Paul Robeson Boulevard
Turn left onto Paul Robeson Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Metuchen, NJ and New Brunswick, NJ, road signs point toward Brunswick, Piscataway, Cook/Douglass Campus and Highland Park.
Brunswick
5.6 mi in
|
~10m
Piscataway
5.7 mi in
|
~10m
Cook/Douglass Campus
6.2 mi in
|
~11m
|
via CR 527
Highland Park
6.2 mi in
|
~11m
|
via CR 527
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Suydam Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Route 18 Service Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Paul Robeson Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| State Route 18 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Livingston Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| CR 527 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 4.2 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metuchen, NJ and New Brunswick, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 27
209 ft
·
13 sec
·
Middlesex Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 531
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
4
Merge onto US 1
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
US 1
Use the slight right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward NJ 18: New Brunswick, East Brunswick
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Piscataway
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto NJ 18; CR 527
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
State Route 18
8
Take the exit onto CR 527
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
CR 527
Toward NJ 172: New Brunswick, Cook/Douglass Campus, Paul Robeson Boulevard, New Street, Highland Park
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto Route 18 Service Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Route 18 Service Road
Toward NJ 18 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto Paul Robeson Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Paul Robeson Boulevard
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto Suydam Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Suydam Street
12
Turn left onto CR 691
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Livingston Avenue
13
Turn right onto Delavan Street
68 ft
·
3 sec
·
Delavan Street
14
Arrive at destination
Delavan Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.31 one way
$2.62 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $1.43 | $2.87 |
| premium | $4.93 | $1.53 | $3.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.74 | $3.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.83 | $0.38 |
| Efficient EV | 2 | 0 | $0.69 | $0.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.11 | $0.51 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Destination
New Brunswick, NJ
Late night in New Brunswick on Saturday
Local time
1:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°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
25 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
15m 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 New Brunswick, NJ covers 7.9 miles and takes about 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 1, Main Street, Suydam 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 4 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 $1.31 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 short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 7.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 15m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 531 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Metuchen, NJ and New Brunswick, NJ, road signs point toward Brunswick, Piscataway, Cook/Douglass Campus and Highland Park.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Morristown National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area. 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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