Origin
Cranbury, NJ
Afternoon in Cranbury on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cranbury, NJ to Bayonne, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
38.4 mi
62 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cranbury, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Bayonne, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transit between Cranbury and Bayonne, this 38.4-mile trip is an efficient way to navigate the Northeast corridor. Expect to spend about 55 minutes behind the wheel, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day journey that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $6 for fuel is sufficient for the trek, which relies heavily on the New Jersey Turnpike. Since both locations are within New Jersey, you will remain in the same region for the entire duration. This route is designed for those who prioritize speed and direct access over leisurely backroads, offering a straightforward path between these two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 24 mi | 27m |
| Bayonne Bridge | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| South River Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Forest Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Goethals Bridge | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Cranbury-South River Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Staten Island Expressway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 24 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cranbury, NJ and Bayonne, NJ.
1
Start on CR 535
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Plainsboro Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto CR 535
236 ft
·
6 sec
·
Maplewood Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 535
287 ft
·
9 sec
·
Half Acre Road
4
Turn left onto US 130; CR 535
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 130; CR 535
5
Turn slight right onto CR 535
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South River Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on CR 535
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Cranbury-South River Road
7
Turn right onto NJ 32
158 ft
·
2 sec
·
Forsgate Drive
Use the right lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJTP Toll, I 95 Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 95, NJTP North: New York City
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
24 mi
·
27 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
12
Take the exit
1.6 mi
·
2 min
Exit 13
Toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 278
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Goethals Bridge
14
Continue on I 278
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Staten Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
149 ft
·
3 sec
Exit 4
Toward Forest Avenue, Gulf Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Use the slight left lane.
17
Turn straight onto Forest Avenue
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Forest Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
Turn left onto Trantor Place
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Trantor Place
Use the left lane.
19
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward NY 440 North: Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Expressway, Bayonne Bridge
20
Merge onto NY 440
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
21
Continue on NY 440
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Bayonne Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn left onto East 30th Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East 30th Street
Use the left lane.
23
Turn left onto Avenue E
268 ft
·
11 sec
·
Avenue E
24
Turn right onto East 29th Street
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
East 29th Street
25
Turn right onto Broadway
54 ft
·
1 sec
·
Broadway
26
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.2 miles from Cranbury, 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 215 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 32 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95, NJTP North: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95, NJTP North: New York City
6
3.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
28.4 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
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 13
Toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
8
32 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward Forest Avenue, Gulf Avenue
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 4
Toward Forest Avenue, Gulf Avenue
7
32 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.37 one way
$12.73 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.97 | $13.94 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.45 | $14.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.48 | $16.96 |
Estimated Tolls: $35.36
Goethals Bridge
$16.00
Bayonne Bridge
$16.00
New Jersey Turnpike
(24 mi)
$3.36
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$35
Total
$42
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.36 | $1.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Bayonne, NJ
Afternoon in Bayonne on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
23 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily a highway-focused experience, with 65% of your time spent on major arteries like the New Jersey Turnpike and the Bayonne Bridge. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 24 miles on the Turnpike. While the route incorporates South River Road, the character remains functional and fast-paced rather than scenic. Expect a consistent flow of traffic as you transition from the suburban feel of Cranbury toward the industrial and urban landscape near Bayonne. It is a no-nonsense trip that gets you from point A to point B with minimal deviation.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24 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 Bayonne Bridge. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 21 decision points packed into just 38.4 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 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Cranbury, NJ and Bayonne, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll, Njtp North: New York City and Staten Island.
Njtp Toll
2.9 mi in
|
~5m
Njtp North: New York City
3.5 mi in
|
~6m
Staten Island
28.4 mi in
|
~36m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 38.4 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 (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $35.36 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 Bayonne, 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 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area 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 Bayonne, 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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