Origin
Blackwood, NJ
Morning in Blackwood on Sunday
Local time
7:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blackwood, NJ to Middletown, 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 44m
Distance
75.8 mi
122 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 36m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blackwood, NJ
David Kanigan
Middletown, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Blackwood to Middletown is 75.8 miles and takes about 1h 44m via New Jersey Turnpike, East Main Street, Franklin Street, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region, entirely within New Jersey, making it a straightforward, same-day trip. Expect a mixed driving experience as you navigate out of Blackwood and then transition onto the major highway. The relatively short duration means you can tackle this journey without needing an overnight stay, making it ideal for a quick transition between these two New Jersey locales.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.9 miles from Blackwood, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 41.7 mi | 48m |
| East Main Street | 9.4 mi | 14m |
| Franklin Street | 9.3 mi | 13m |
| Middletown Lincroft Road | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Black Horse Pike | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| NJ 33 Business | 3 mi | 5m |
| Swimming River Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| West Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 41.7 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blackwood, NJ and Middletown, NJ.
1
Start on North Pennsylvania Avenue
57 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Pennsylvania Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 534
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
East Church Street
3
Turn right onto NJ 168
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Black Horse Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJTP North: New York
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto NJTP
23 mi
·
26 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
7
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
19 mi
·
21 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto NJ 33
9.3 mi
·
13 min
·
Franklin Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto NJ 33 Business
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
NJ 33 Business
Toward NJ 33 Business East: Freehold Business District
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto CR 537
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
Use the left lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 537
9.4 mi
·
14 min
·
East Main Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto CR 50
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Swimming River Road
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on CR 50
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Middletown Lincroft Road
14
Continue on CR 50
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Church Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto CR 50
35 ft
·
0 sec
·
Kings Highway
16
Arrive at destination
CR 50
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 44m estimated drive time and 75.8-mile distance, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. The fuel cost is estimated at $13, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing Blackwood. Since this is a single-day trip with no recommended stops, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Keep an eye on the New Jersey Turnpike for any potential electronic toll collection requirements or specific lane usage, as this is your longest stretch and a key part of the journey.
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 37.9 miles from Blackwood, NJ, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.7 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.9 miles or 47m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Middletown, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Blackwood, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Blackwood, NJ
This is one driving day of about 75.8 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Blackwood, 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 41.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.9 miles from Blackwood, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 59.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJTP North: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NJTP North: New York
6
28.2 mi into trip
|
~36m 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.
6
56 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
NJ 33 Business
Take the exit onto NJ 33 Business toward NJ 33 Business East: Freehold Business District
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 33 Business East: Freehold Business D...
6
59 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
CR 537 / West Main Street
Turn left onto CR 537 / West Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
59.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
CR 537 / East Main Street
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 537 / East Main Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.57 one way
$25.13 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $13.76 | $27.53 |
| premium | $4.93 | $14.70 | $29.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.74 | $33.47 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.83
New Jersey Turnpike
(41.7 mi)
$5.83
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
$13
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.96 | $3.64 |
| Efficient EV | 19 | 0 | $6.63 | $3.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.3 | 0 | $10.61 | $4.85 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Middletown, NJ
Morning in Middletown on Sunday
Local time
7:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Manalapan, NJ
38 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 44m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
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 75.8
Park Closure: Dead Horse Bay (Brooklyn) Remains Closed to the Public
Park Closure: Jacob Riis Park Access Restrictions
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...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
$10
near mile 75.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This 75.8-mile route offers a mixed drive, with 59% of it on highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 41.7 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, which provides a fast-paced highway segment. As you move between Blackwood and Middletown, the road character will shift from local streets to this substantial highway portion and then back to local roads like East Main Street and Franklin Street as you approach your destination. This variation means you'll encounter both efficient, high-speed travel and more typical town driving.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.7 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 4.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 56 miles (NJ 33 Business): 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Blackwood, NJ and Middletown, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike and Njtp North: New York.
Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
4.2 mi in
|
~8m
Njtp North: New York
4.5 mi in
|
~8m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 75.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.7 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.83 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. 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 Middletown, 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 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 56 miles (NJ 33 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway National Recreation Area and Thomas Edison National Historical Park. 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 Middletown, 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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