Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
23m
Distance
12.6 mi
20 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
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.
New Brunswick, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Colonia, NJ
Aisling Kerr
The drive from New Brunswick, NJ to Colonia, NJ covers 12.6 miles and takes about 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 1, State Route 18, Livingston Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.2 miles on US 1. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.09 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 12.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 23m highway drive covering 12.6 miles, with most of the trip on US 1 and State Route 18. The longest continuous stretch is about 9.2 miles on US 1.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and State Route 18. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
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 12.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 23m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 18 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward US 1 North: Newark
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NJ 35 North: Rahway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto North Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn right onto South Cliff Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 9.2 mi | 14m |
| State Route 18 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Livingston Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| New Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| North Washington Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Memorial Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Saint Georges Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Hill Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between New Brunswick, NJ and Colonia, NJ.
Start on Delavan Street
Turn left onto CR 691
Turn right onto New Street
Continue on New Street
Turn straight onto Burnet Street
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on this road
Merge onto NJ 18
Continue on NJ 18; CR 527
Take the exit
Merge onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Take the exit
Turn straight onto NJ 35
Turn left onto North Washington Avenue
Turn left onto South Hill Road
At end of road, turn right onto South Cliff Road
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$2.09 one way
$4.18 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.29 | $4.58 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.44 | $4.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.78 | $5.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.32 | $0.60 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.10 | $0.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5 | 0 | $1.76 | $0.81 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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 New Brunswick on Friday
Local time
9:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Destination
Night in Colonia on Friday
Local time
9:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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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