Skip to main content

Trip from Princeton, NJ to Camden, NJ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 1m

Distance

45.5 mi

73 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 57m ★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m

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

municipality in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States

Princeton, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Camden County, New Jersey, United States

Camden, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Connecting Princeton to Camden is a straightforward 45.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 1 minute. Because the trip is short, you can easily complete it as a single-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $8 on fuel, making this an economical trip across the Northeast region. Your route relies heavily on major thoroughfares including I-295, NJ-38, and segments of the Brunswick Pike. This drive functions well for commuters or travelers looking for a direct path between these two New Jersey hubs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 45.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 78% of your travel time will be spent on high-speed roads. The journey features a significant 26-mile uninterrupted stretch along I-295, which serves as the backbone of your trip. While the route begins with local access via the Brunswick Pike, it quickly transitions into a more consistent interstate pace. You will find that the personality of the road is functional and efficient rather than leisurely. Navigating the transition from the Princeton area into the Camden region involves steady, high-traffic driving patterns.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 295 is the longest continuous segment at about 26 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

205 ft 7 ft

Total Climb

80 ft

Total Descent

278 ft

Highest Point

205 ft

Elevation Range

198 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and NJ 38. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.5 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 6.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

6
6.3 mi into trip | ~10m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 295 South: Camden

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 295 South: Camden
7
8.5 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward Sloan Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 65B-A Toward Sloan Avenue
7
8.7 mi into trip | ~13m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
33.4 mi into trip | ~42m in

Take the exit toward NJ 38: Moorestown, Trauma Center

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 40 Toward NJ 38: Moorestown, Trauma Center
7
43.2 mi into trip | ~57m in | US 130 / South Crescent Boulevard

Keep slight left at fork onto US 130 / South Crescent Boulevard toward US 130 South, US 30 East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 130 South, US 30 East

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Princeton, NJ to Camden, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Trauma Center along the way.

Trauma Center

33.4 mi in | ~42m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 295 26 mi 30m
NJ 38 9.5 mi 14m
Brunswick Pike 4.3 mi 6m
Kaighns Avenue 1.9 mi 3m
Washington Road 1.6 mi 3m
Broadway 0.3 mi <1m
Nassau Street 0.1 mi <1m
South Crescent Boulevard <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 295 — 26 mi, about 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Princeton, NJ and Camden, NJ.

1

Start on NJ 27

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Nassau Street
2

Turn right onto CR 526; CR 571

1.6 mi · 3 min · Washington Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3

Enter roundabout onto US 1

62 ft · 3 sec · Brunswick Pike
4

Continue on US 1

4.3 mi · 5 min · Brunswick Pike
Use the straight lane.
5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 15 sec
Use the slight right lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 1 min
Toward I 295 South: Camden
7

Merge onto I 295

1.9 mi · 2 min · I 295
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 14 sec
Exit 65B-A Toward Sloan Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 15 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 21 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Merge onto I 295

24 mi · 27 min · I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Exit 40 Toward NJ 38: Moorestown, Trauma Center Use the slight right lane.
13

Merge onto NJ 38

9.5 mi · 14 min · NJ 38
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto US 130

189 ft · 6 sec · South Crescent Boulevard
Toward US 130 South, US 30 East
15

Turn slight right onto CR 607

1.9 mi · 3 min · Kaighns Avenue
16

Turn left onto CR 551

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Broadway
17

Arrive at destination

CR 551

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 22.7 mi from Princeton, NJ · 30m into the drive

township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Willingboro, NJ

23 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

Trenton, NJ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bristol, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 22.7 miles from Princeton, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Camden, NJ

The final approach into Camden, NJ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.54 one way

$15.09 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $8.26 $16.52
premium $4.93 $8.82 $17.65
diesel $5.61 $10.05 $20.09

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.7 0 $4.78 $2.18
Efficient EV 11.4 0 $3.98 $1.82
EV Truck/SUV 18.2 0 $6.37 $2.91

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 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 14, 2026

Origin

Princeton, NJ

Afternoon in Princeton on Thursday

Local time

12:39 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Camden, NJ

Afternoon in Camden on Thursday

Local time

12:39 PM

EDT

Current temp

88°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 15 mph 11% chance 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

27 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

1h 1m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Princeton, NJ to Camden, NJ covers 45.5 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 295, NJ 38, Brunswick Pike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.7 miles from Princeton, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.54 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.5 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Princeton, NJ to Camden, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Trauma Center along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 7 ft to 205 ft elevation with about 80 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Morristown National Historical Park.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Princeton, NJ or browse trips ending in Camden, NJ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.

Explore maps for Princeton, NJ or Camden, NJ on MapSof.net.