Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
35.9 mi
58 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
The drive from Newark, NJ to Monmouth Junction, NJ covers 35.9 miles and takes about 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on New Jersey Turnpike, US 1, McCarter Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.3 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.95 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 35.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 53m highway drive covering 35.9 miles, with most of the trip on New Jersey Turnpike and US 1. The longest continuous stretch is about 17.3 miles on New Jersey Turnpike.
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 5.4 miles in.
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 20 decision points packed into just 35.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.9 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 right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NJ 18 East, US 1 East: New Brunswick
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University
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
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Newark, NJ and Monmouth Junction, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp South: Trenton, Rutgers University and Trenton.
Njtp South: Trenton
Rutgers University
Trenton
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 17.3 mi | 20m |
| US 1 | 11.2 mi | 15m |
| McCarter Highway | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| New Road | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| NJ 81 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Mulberry Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| State Route 18 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Newark, NJ and Monmouth Junction, NJ.
Start on CR 510
Turn right onto Mulberry Street
Turn slight right onto NJ 21
Merge onto US 1; US 9
Continue on US 1; US 9
Take the exit
Continue on NJ 81
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto NJ 18; CR 527
Take the exit
Merge onto US 1
Continue on 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
Continue on US 1
Take the exit
Turn left onto New Road
At end of road, turn right onto Ridge Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18 mi from Newark, NJ · 26m 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 35.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 18 miles from Newark, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Monmouth Junction, 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
$5.95 one way
$11.90 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.52 | $13.04 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.96 | $13.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.93 | $15.85 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.42
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
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 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 | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.14 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.03 | $2.30 |
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 Newark on Friday
Local time
9:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Night in Monmouth Junction on Friday
Local time
9:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
63°F
Edison, NJ
18 mi in
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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