Origin
Princeton, NJ
Afternoon in Princeton on Thursday
Local time
2:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Princeton, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
55m
Distance
35.3 mi
57 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Princeton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning just 35.3 miles, this quick trip from Princeton to Elizabeth is a straightforward journey through the heart of New Jersey. You can easily complete the drive in about 55 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Budgeting roughly $6 for fuel should cover your needs for the entire distance. Since both towns reside in the Northeast region, you won't experience any major shifts in climate or terrain along the way. Because of the short duration, there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated scheduling. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that serves as a reliable connection between these two points.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 35.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive that transitions between local thoroughfares and faster arterial roads. With a highway share of 51%, your time behind the wheel will be split fairly evenly between slower-paced local streets and higher-speed travel. You will navigate via Washington Road and Brunswick Pike before spending your longest uninterrupted stretch of 17.8 miles on US 1. This variety keeps the drive from feeling like a monotonous interstate grind, though you should be prepared for the typical rhythm of New Jersey traffic. The route offers a functional mix of road types that change as you progress toward your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 1 is the longest continuous segment at about 17.8 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
205 ft
17 ft
Total Climb
180 ft
Total Descent
366 ft
Highest Point
205 ft
Elevation Range
189 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR 526; CR 571 / Washington Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 14 decision points packed into just 35.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR 526; CR 571 / Washington Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.9 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 526; CR 571 / Washington Road
Turn right onto CR 526; CR 571 / Washington Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
14.8 mi into trip
|
~22m 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.
7
14.9 mi into trip
|
~22m 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
15 mi into trip
|
~22m 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.
6
32.6 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
US 1; US 9 / East Edgar Road
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9 / East Edgar Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Princeton, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark and New Brunswick.
Newark|Newark
14.9 mi in
|
~22m
|
via US 1
Camden
14.9 mi in
|
~22m
|
via US 1
New Brunswick|Newark
14.9 mi in
|
~22m
|
via US 1
New Brunswick
14.9 mi in
|
~22m
|
via US 1
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 17.8 mi | 28m |
| Brunswick Pike | 13 mi | 18m |
| Washington Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Carlton Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Edgar Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Nassau Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 17.8 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Princeton, NJ and Elizabeth, 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
348 ft
·
10 sec
·
Brunswick Pike
4
Continue on US 1
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Brunswick Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
504 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 1
Toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
366 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1
9
Continue on US 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1
10
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 1
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on US 1
7.2 mi
·
11 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on US 1
6.3 mi
·
10 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Edgar Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Carlton Street
16
Turn right
60 ft
·
6 sec
17
Turn right
383 ft
·
28 sec
18
Turn right
278 ft
·
22 sec
19
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
East Jersey Street
20
Turn right
34 ft
·
2 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.6 mi from Princeton, 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from Princeton, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elizabeth, NJ
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Elizabeth, 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
$5.85 one way
$11.70 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.41 | $12.82 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.85 | $13.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.79 | $15.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.09 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Elizabeth, NJ
Afternoon in Elizabeth on Thursday
Local time
2:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Edison, NJ
18 mi in
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
13 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
55m 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 Princeton, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ covers 35.3 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 1, Brunswick Pike, Washington Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.6 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 $5.85 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 14 decision points packed into just 35.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR 526; CR 571 / Washington Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.9 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Princeton, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark and New Brunswick.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 17 ft to 205 ft elevation with about 180 ft of total climbing.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Elizabeth, NJ
More trips to Elizabeth, NJ
Explore more options from Princeton, NJ or browse trips ending in Elizabeth, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.
Explore maps for Princeton, NJ or Elizabeth, NJ on MapSof.net.