Origin
Monmouth Junction, NJ
Night in Monmouth Junction on Friday
Local time
9:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
36.4 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monmouth Junction, NJ
Alexa V. Mato
Monmouth Junction, NJ to Newark, NJ is 36.4 miles and takes about 54 minutes via New Jersey Turnpike and US 1, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within the Northeast region, specifically within New Jersey, making it a convenient local trip. Given its short duration and highway focus, this route is ideal for a quick transit rather than an extended sightseeing adventure. You'll be covering a relatively short distance, so planning for extensive stops isn't necessary, but be prepared for typical highway traffic conditions.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 36.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This drive is heavily focused on highway travel, with 87% of the route utilizing major roads like the New Jersey Turnpike and US 1. Expect a highway-centric experience for the majority of your journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 17.7 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, offering a period of consistent speed. While NJ 21 introduces some local road elements, the overall character remains that of efficient transit. Prepare for a drive characterized by smooth, high-speed travel for most of the 36.4 miles.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and US 1. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.2 miles in near US 1.
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 19 decision points packed into just 36.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.2 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.3 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21 toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Monmouth Junction, NJ and Newark, NJ, road signs point toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, New Brunswick, Njtp Toll and Njtp North: New York City - among others.
Newark|Newark
Camden
New Brunswick|Newark
New Brunswick
Njtp Toll
Njtp North: New York City
Newark Airport
Elizabeth Seaport
Downtown
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 17.7 mi | 21m |
| US 1 | 11.1 mi | 15m |
| NJ 21 | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| New Road | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| NJ 81 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Mulberry Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| State Route 18 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Monmouth Junction, NJ and Newark, NJ.
Start on Ridge Road
Turn left onto New Road
Turn right onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ 18; CR 527
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ 81
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on US 1; US 9
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
Turn right onto Mulberry Street
Turn left onto CR 510
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.2 mi from Monmouth Junction, NJ · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 18.2 miles from Monmouth Junction, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Newark, NJ if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$6.03 one way
$12.07 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.61 | $13.22 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.06 | $14.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.04 | $16.07 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.47
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.10 | $2.33 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Monmouth Junction on Friday
Local time
9:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Newark on Friday
Local time
9:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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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