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Trip from Monmouth Junction, NJ to Newark, NJ

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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 50m ★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Monmouth Junction, NJ, NJ

Monmouth Junction, NJ

Alexa V. Mato

Trip Overview

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.

Who Is This Route For?

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.

Drive Character

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.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 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 17.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
8.2 mi into trip | ~13m in | US 1

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

Toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|New...
7
8.3 mi into trip | ~13m in | US 1

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
12 mi into trip | ~19m in

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
8
30.3 mi into trip | ~42m in

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 13A Toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
8
33.7 mi into trip | ~47m in | NJ 21

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

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

8.2 mi in | ~13m | via US 1

Camden

8.2 mi in | ~13m | via US 1

New Brunswick|Newark

8.2 mi in | ~13m | via US 1

New Brunswick

8.2 mi in | ~13m | via US 1

Njtp Toll

11.6 mi in | ~18m

Njtp North: New York City

12 mi in | ~19m

Newark Airport

30.3 mi in | ~42m

Elizabeth Seaport

30.3 mi in | ~42m

Downtown

33.7 mi in | ~47m | via NJ 21

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: New Jersey Turnpike — 17.7 mi, about 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Monmouth Junction, NJ and Newark, NJ.

1

Start on Ridge Road

46 ft · 5 sec · Ridge Road
2

Turn left onto New Road

1.4 mi · 3 min · New Road
3

Turn right onto US 1

6.7 mi · 9 min · US 1
4

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

0.1 mi · 9 sec · US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

504 ft · 7 sec · US 1
Toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick
6

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

366 ft · 5 sec · US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

2.5 mi · 3 min · US 1
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 36 sec
Toward NJ 18 South: East Brunswick Use the slight right lane.
9

Merge onto NJ 18; CR 527

0.5 mi · 55 sec · State Route 18
Use the right lane.
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward NJTP Toll, I 95 Toll: New Jersey Turnpike Use the right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
13

Merge onto I 95; NJTP

18 mi · 21 min · New Jersey Turnpike
14

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 13A Toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport Use the slight right lane.
15

Merge onto NJ 81

0.7 mi · 1 min · NJ 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 44 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on US 1; US 9

1.7 mi · 2 min · US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21

1.9 mi · 3 min · NJ 21
Toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
19

Turn left onto Chestnut Street

229 ft · 7 sec · Chestnut Street
Use the left lane.
20

Turn right onto Mulberry Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Mulberry Street
21

Turn left onto CR 510

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Market Street
Use the left lane.
22

Arrive at destination

CR 510

Where to Stop

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

Staten Island, NY

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.

Pacing Suggestions

New York City, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Edison, NJ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.2 miles from Monmouth Junction, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Newark, NJ

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.03 one way

$12.07 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
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

New Jersey Turnpike (17.7 mi) $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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Monmouth Junction, NJ

Night in Monmouth Junction on Friday

Local time

9:05 PM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Newark, NJ

Night in Newark on Friday

Local time

9:05 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°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

16 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

54m 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 Monmouth Junction, NJ to Newark, NJ covers 36.4 miles and takes about 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are New Jersey Turnpike, US 1, NJ 21. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 18.2 miles from Monmouth Junction, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.03 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 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.

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.

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.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls 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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