Origin
Metuchen, NJ
Morning in Metuchen on Friday
Local time
6:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Metuchen, NJ to Bayonne, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
20.3 mi
33 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Metuchen, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Bayonne, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 25.1-mile drive from Metuchen to Bayonne, NJ, will take you about 34 minutes and is best suited as a single-day trip. You'll primarily be navigating local streets, with Main Street and Amboy Avenue being key parts of your journey before you reach the Goethals Bridge. With a modest fuel cost estimate of $4, this route is very budget-friendly. The drive is characterized by numerous turns, making it a more involved local navigation experience rather than a straightforward highway cruise. Given its brevity, you won't need to worry about overnight stays.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 20.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 25.1-mile journey between Metuchen and Bayonne. With a 0% highway share, you'll be on surface streets for the entire duration, including Main Street and Amboy Avenue. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not applicable due to the frequent turns characteristic of this profile. This means you'll be actively engaged with the road, making frequent adjustments as you navigate through populated areas. The Goethals Bridge marks a significant transition point towards your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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 Bayonne Bridge. 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
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 20.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
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 10.8 miles (I 278): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 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.
8
10.8 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 278
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278 toward Goethals Bridge, Staten Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Goethals Bridge, Staten Island
8
13.9 mi into trip
|
~24m 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
14 mi into trip
|
~24m 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.
On the drive from Metuchen, NJ to Bayonne, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Staten Island along the way.
Staten Island
10.8 mi in
|
~19m
|
via I 278
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 9.2 mi | 15m |
| Bayonne Bridge | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| I 278 | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Forest Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Amboy Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East 30th Street | 0.2 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 Bayonne, 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 right at fork onto I 278
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 278
Toward Goethals Bridge, Staten Island
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 278
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
I 278
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
149 ft
·
3 sec
Exit 4
Toward Forest Avenue, Gulf Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Use the slight left lane.
11
Turn straight onto Forest Avenue
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Forest Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn left onto Trantor Place
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Trantor Place
Use the left lane.
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward NY 440 North: Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Expressway, Bayonne Bridge
14
Merge onto NY 440
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
15
Continue on NY 440
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Bayonne Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto East 30th Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East 30th Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto Avenue E
268 ft
·
11 sec
·
Avenue E
18
Turn right onto East 29th Street
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
East 29th Street
19
Turn right onto Broadway
54 ft
·
1 sec
·
Broadway
20
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.37 one way
$6.73 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.69 | $7.37 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.94 | $7.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.48 | $8.96 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
Bayonne Bridge
$16.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$16
Total
$19
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.13 | $0.97 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.84 | $1.30 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Bayonne, NJ
Morning in Bayonne on Friday
Local time
6:33 AM
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
36m 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 Bayonne, NJ covers 20.3 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 1, Bayonne Bridge, I 278. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.2 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 $3.37 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 14 decision points packed into just 20.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
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 10.8 miles (I 278): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Metuchen, NJ to Bayonne, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Staten Island along the way.
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 and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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