Bayonne, NJ to Salem, NJ is 117.9 miles and takes about 2h 22m via New Jersey Turnpike and NJ 440, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within New Jersey. Given its relatively short duration and highway-dominant profile, it's a straightforward drive. This route is best suited for a quick day trip or as a segment of a larger journey, offering minimal complexity for the driver.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59 miles from Bayonne, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
98 mi
1h 53m
North Broadway
5.4 mi
7m
NJ 440
3.5 mi
5m
South Broadway
2.6 mi
2m
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
2.4 mi
3m
Goethals Bridge
1.4 mi
2m
Staten Island Expressway
1.1 mi
1m
West Broadway
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 98 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bayonne, NJ and Salem, NJ.
1
Start on Broadway
205 ft·9 sec·Broadway
2
Turn right onto East 30th Street
0.3 mi·56 sec·East 30th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn slight right onto NJ 440
3.5 mi·5 min·NJ 440
4
Continue on NY 440
2.4 mi·3 min·Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
5
Keep slight left at fork onto Staten Island Expressway
1.1 mi·1 min·Staten Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 278
1.4 mi·2 min·Goethals Bridge
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 3AToward I 95 Toll: New Jersey TurnpikeUse the slight left lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: TrentonUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·37 sec
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
47 mi·54 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
49 mi·56 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Toward NJTP South: Camden, Wilmington
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
13
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·23 sec·this road
14
Merge onto NJTP
2.0 mi·2 min·New Jersey Turnpike
15
Merge onto I 295; US 40
0.2 mi·15 sec·I 295; US 40
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·34 sec
Exit 1Toward NJ 49 East: Pennsville, SalemUse the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on US 130
5.4 mi·7 min·North Broadway
18
Continue on NJ 49
0.3 mi·20 sec·Broadway Road
19
Continue on NJ 49
2.6 mi·2 min·South Broadway
20
Continue on NJ 49
0.2 mi·20 sec·Front Street
21
Turn left onto NJ 49
0.5 mi·38 sec·West Broadway
22
Arrive at destination
1 ft·0 sec·NJ 49
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two and a half hours, you have a lot of flexibility for when to depart. Leaving in the morning should get you to Salem with plenty of daylight remaining. Since the longest stretch is on the Turnpike, plan any necessary stops before or after this segment. The fuel cost is estimated at $20, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you begin. Given the short distance, you can easily complete this trip in one day without needing to split it up.
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 59 miles from Bayonne, NJ, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98 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 26 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59 miles or 1h 13m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salem, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bayonne, 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 Bayonne, NJ
This is one driving day of about 117.9 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Bayonne, 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 98 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 108.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East 30th Street
Turn right onto East 30th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
6.2 mi into trip|~9m in|Staten Island Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto Staten Island Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
8.7 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward I 95 Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 3A
Toward I 95 Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
8
9.3 mi into trip|~15m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
9
108.7 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward NJ 49 East: Pennsville, Salem
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 1
Toward NJ 49 East: Pennsville, Salem
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.55 one way
$39.09 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$21.41
$42.82
premium
$4.93
$22.87
$45.73
diesel
$5.61
$26.03
$52.06
Estimated Tolls: $29.73
Goethals Bridge
$16.00
New Jersey Turnpike
(98 mi)$13.73
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
$20
Tolls
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.4
0
$12.38
$5.66
Efficient EV
29.5
0
$10.32
$4.72
EV Truck/SUV
47.2
0
$16.51
$7.55
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Bayonne, NJ
Late night
in Bayonne on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
SE 8 to 13 mph46% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 9:05PM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Salem, NJ
Late night
in Salem on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers
E 5 to 15 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 9:05PM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
52°F
Bristol, PA
59 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
2 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
2h 22m 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.
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...
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...
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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 20.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway, with 89% of the drive on high-speed roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 98 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike. After that, expect a transition to surface streets like North Broadway as you approach your destination. The high percentage of highway driving means you'll encounter numerous exits and merges.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and North Broadway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 30th Street.
Driving Effort10/10
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 12 significant decision points across 117.9 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: near the start (East 30th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles (Staten Island Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bayonne, NJ and Salem, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp South: Trenton, Njtp South: Camden and Wilmington.
Njtp South: Trenton
9.3 mi in|~15m
Njtp South: Camden
57.1 mi in|~1h 11m|via NJTP
Wilmington
57.1 mi in|~1h 11m|via NJTP
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 22m. Total distance: 117.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $29.73 in tolls one way, starting with Goethals Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Salem, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 30th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles (Staten Island Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Salem, NJ before heading back.
