Origin
Bernardsville, NJ
Morning in Bernardsville on Sunday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bernardsville, NJ to Lakewood, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
55.5 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bernardsville, NJ
Malcolm Garret
Lakewood, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Bernardsville to Lakewood is 55.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 22 minutes via US Highway 9, I 287, and State Route 18, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a drive that's largely on major roadways, making it a straightforward option for getting between these two points. It's a short enough distance that you can easily complete it in a single day, leaving you with flexibility for your departure time.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 9 | 18.7 mi | 28m |
| I 287 | 16.2 mi | 18m |
| State Route 18 | 10.5 mi | 16m |
| River Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| John A. Lynch Memorial Bridge | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Mount Airy Road | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Madison Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Olcott Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 9
— 18.7 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bernardsville, NJ and Lakewood, NJ.
1
Start on Olcott Square
134 ft
·
5 sec
·
Olcott Square
2
Continue on CR 525
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Mount Airy Road
3
Continue on CR 525
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Mount Airy Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 287 South: Somerville
5
Merge onto I 287
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
I 287
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 287
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 287
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 9
Toward River Road, Bound Brook, Highland Park
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward Highland Park
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
10
Turn straight onto CR 622
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
River Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward NJ 18 South: New Brunswick
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto NJ 18
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
John A. Lynch Memorial Bridge
13
Continue on NJ 18; CR 527
11 mi
·
16 min
·
State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 30
Toward US 9 South: Freehold
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto US 9
19 mi
·
28 min
·
US Highway 9
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on US 9
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Madison Avenue
17
Turn left onto 8th Street
46 ft
·
2 sec
·
8th Street
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
8th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.8 miles from Bernardsville, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 55.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 287
Keep slight left at fork onto I 287
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
18.7 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward River Road, Bound Brook, Highland Park
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 9
Toward River Road, Bound Brook, Highland Park
6
18.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Highland Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Highland Park
7
35.5 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward US 9 South: Freehold
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 30
Toward US 9 South: Freehold
6
55.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
8th Street
Turn left onto 8th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.20 one way
$18.40 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.08 | $20.15 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.76 | $21.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.25 | $24.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.83 | $2.66 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.86 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.77 | $3.55 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Lakewood, NJ
Morning in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
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
1 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 22m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily focused on highways, with 82% of the drive taking place on faster roads. You'll encounter segments on US Highway 9, I 287, and State Route 18, which means mostly consistent speeds and limited-access driving for much of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 18.7 miles on US Highway 9, offering a good period of steady travel. The overall feel is one of efficient transit, prioritizing getting you to your destination rather than scenic detours.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.7 mi on US Highway 9.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 9 and I 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in near I 287.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 8 miles (I 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bernardsville, NJ and Lakewood, NJ, road signs point toward Bound Brook and Highland Park.
Bound Brook
18.7 mi in
|
~24m
Highland Park
18.7 mi in
|
~24m
About the Cities
Arriving in Lakewood, NJ
Full guide →Lakewood is a town in Ocean County, New Jersey.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 55.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.7 miles on US Highway 9. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Lakewood, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles (I 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Morristown National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lakewood, NJ before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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