Origin
Cranbury, NJ
Late night in Cranbury on Sunday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cranbury, 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
44m
Distance
27.5 mi
44 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cranbury, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Middletown, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick excursion within the Northeast, the 27.5-mile journey from Cranbury to Middletown is an ideal day trip. Expect to spend about 44 minutes behind the wheel, making this a highly manageable drive that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting just $5 for fuel makes this a very economical choice for travelers. You will navigate primarily via NJ 35, Tennent Road, and Texas Road to complete the transition between these two New Jersey communities. Given the short duration, it is a straightforward commute that fits easily into a single afternoon or morning schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 35 | 5.8 mi | 9m |
| Tennent Road | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Texas Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| Forsgate Drive | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Marlboro Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Matchaponix Avenue | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| South River Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Pergola Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 35
— 5.8 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cranbury, NJ and Middletown, 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
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Forsgate Drive
Use the right lane.
8
Turn right onto CR 522; CR 612
313 ft
·
10 sec
·
Buckelew Avenue
9
Turn left onto CR 612
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Pergola Avenue
10
Continue on CR 612
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Matchaponix Avenue
11
Continue on Texas Road
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Texas Road
12
Turn right onto CR 520
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Marlboro Road
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto CR 3
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Tennent Road
14
Continue on NJ 79; CR 3
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 79; CR 3
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on NJ 79
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on CR 516
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lower Main Street
17
Continue on CR 516
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Maple Place
18
Take the ramp
197 ft
·
5 sec
19
Merge onto NJ 35
5.8 mi
·
9 min
·
NJ 35
20
Turn right onto CR 50
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
New Monmouth Road
21
At end of road, turn right onto CR 50
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Kings Highway
22
Arrive at destination
CR 50
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 27.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 535 / Maplewood Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto CR 535 / Maplewood Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 535 / Half Acre Road
Turn right onto CR 535 / Half Acre Road
Navigation decision point
5
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
NJ 32 / Forsgate Drive
Turn right onto NJ 32 / Forsgate Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
12.1 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
CR 520 / Marlboro Road
Turn right onto CR 520 / Marlboro Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
27.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
CR 50 / Kings Highway
At end of road, turn right onto CR 50 / Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.56 one way
$9.12 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.99 | $9.99 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.33 | $10.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.07 | $12.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.89 | $1.32 |
| Efficient EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.41 | $1.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11 | 0 | $3.85 | $1.76 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Late night in Middletown on Sunday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
SW 0 to 5 mph
18% chance
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
6 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
44m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With 26 miles of the trip occurring on highways, you will experience a mix of faster stretches punctuated by localized navigation. The longest uninterrupted section is a 5.8-mile stretch on NJ 35, which offers the most consistent driving rhythm of the entire route. Because the roads shift frequently between local connectors and state highways, stay alert for changing speed limits and turning patterns. It is a practical, functional drive that requires your full attention as you transition between the two regions.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.8 mi on NJ 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near CR 535 / Maplewood Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 27.5 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 0.2 miles (CR 535 / Maplewood Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (CR 535 / Half Acre Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (NJ 32 / Forsgate Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 44m. Total distance: 27.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (26%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.8 miles on NJ 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (CR 535 / Maplewood Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (CR 535 / Half Acre Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (NJ 32 / Forsgate Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway National Recreation Area, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Morristown 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Middletown, NJ
More trips to Middletown, NJ
Explore more options from Cranbury, NJ or browse trips ending in Middletown, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.