The drive from Penns Grove, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ covers 103 miles and takes about 2h 7m 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, I 295, US 322 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 85 miles on New Jersey Turnpike.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.08 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.5 miles from Penns Grove, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 7m. Total distance: 103 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 7m highway drive covering 103 miles, with most of the trip on New Jersey Turnpike and I 295. The longest continuous stretch is about 85 miles on New Jersey Turnpike.
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 85 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and I 295. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.4 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 103 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
9.4 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward US 322 East: Mullica Hill
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11A
Toward US 322 East: Mullica Hill
7
13.3 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
6
13.5 mi into trip|~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ Turnpike North, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ Turnpike North, New York City
6
50.2 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
99 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
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 13
Toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Penns Grove, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike, Nj Turnpike North and New York City.
Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
13.3 mi in|~18m
Nj Turnpike North
13.5 mi in|~19m
New York City
13.5 mi in|~19m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
85 mi
1h 38m
I 295
7.3 mi
8m
US 322
3.7 mi
6m
Harding Highway
1.6 mi
2m
US 1
1 mi
1m
Bayway
0.3 mi
<1m
South Broad Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 85 mi, about 1h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Penns Grove, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on CR 675
0.3 mi·48 sec·East Main Street
2
Continue on NJ 48
1.6 mi·2 min·Harding Highway
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 295 North
4
Merge onto I 295
7.3 mi·8 min·I 295
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 11AToward US 322 East: Mullica HillUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto US 322; CR 536
3.7 mi·6 min·US 322; CR 536
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward NJTP Toll: New Jersey TurnpikeUse the right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ Turnpike North, New York City
9
Merge onto NJTP
36 mi·41 min·New Jersey Turnpike
10
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
49 mi·56 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.4 mi·2 min
Exit 13Toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten IslandUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 278 West, NJ 439: Elizabeth, Linden
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·35 sec
Toward NJ 439: Elizabeth
14
Continue on NJ 439
0.3 mi·41 sec·Bayway
15
Turn right onto CR 623
0.3 mi·52 sec·South Broad Street
16
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
1.0 mi·1 min·US 1; US 9
17
Turn right
60 ft·6 sec
18
Turn right
383 ft·28 sec
19
Turn right
278 ft·22 sec
20
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.3 mi·50 sec·East Jersey Street
21
Turn right
34 ft·2 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.5 miles from Penns Grove, NJ, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 23 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.5 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elizabeth, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Penns Grove, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Penns Grove, NJ
This is one driving day of about 103 miles and 2h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Penns Grove, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 85 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.5 mi from Penns Grove, NJ
· 1h 3m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 99.4
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
17 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 103
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 103
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.08 one way
$34.15 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$18.70
$37.40
premium
$4.93
$19.98
$39.95
diesel
$5.61
$22.74
$45.48
Estimated Tolls: $11.90
New Jersey Turnpike
(85 mi)$11.90
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Tolls
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.9
0
$10.82
$4.94
Efficient EV
25.8
0
$9.01
$4.12
EV Truck/SUV
41.2
0
$14.42
$6.59
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Penns Grove, NJ
Morning
in Penns Grove on Saturday
Local time
6:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Elizabeth, NJ
Morning
in Elizabeth on Saturday
Local time
6:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Bristol, PA
52 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 7m 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 Penns Grove, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ covers 103 miles and takes about 2h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New Jersey Turnpike, I 295, US 322. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.5 miles from Penns Grove, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.08 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 demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 103 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Penns Grove, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike, Nj Turnpike North and New York City.
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 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.
