Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
45.7 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Orange, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Lawrence, NJ
James Kampeis
If you are planning a quick excursion from East Orange to Lawrence, you are looking at a straightforward 45.7-mile trip. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 8 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day journey that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Garden State Parkway and US 1 before transitioning onto Quaker Bridge Road to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $8, this drive is as economical as it is direct. Since both locations are firmly situated within the Northeast, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the transit. It is a practical, no-fuss route that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 25.6 mi | 37m |
| Garden State Parkway | 13.3 mi | 18m |
| Quaker Bridge Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| North Oraton Parkway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Lawrence Station Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Oraton Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Whittlesey Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between East Orange, NJ and Lawrence, NJ.
Start on Parkway Drive
Continue on North Oraton Parkway
Continue on Whittlesey Avenue
Turn straight onto Maybaum Avenue
Continue on Oraton Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Oraton Parkway
Take the ramp
Merge onto GSP
Continue on Garden State Parkway
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn slight right onto CR 533
Turn right onto CR 608
Turn right onto Fountayne Boulevard
Continue on Fountayne Boulevard
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22.9 miles from East Orange, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.9 and 43.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward CR 533 South: Quaker Bridge Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$7.58 one way
$15.15 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.30 | $16.60 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.86 | $17.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.09 | $20.18 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.88
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.40 | $2.92 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in East Orange on Sunday
Local time
12:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Lawrence on Sunday
Local time
12:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Patchy Frost then Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This 45.7-mile journey is a highway-focused drive, with 91% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You should prepare for a consistent pace, as the route is designed for speed rather than local sightseeing. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 25.6 miles on US 1, which serves as the backbone of your travel. Expect the road personality to shift from the heavy-traffic flow of the Garden State Parkway to the more varied, arterial nature of US 1. Because the majority of the trip is highway-based, the drive maintains a steady, predictable rhythm that requires your full attention on merging and maintaining speed.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.9 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.7 miles you will encounter 16 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 16.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
72 ft
Total Descent
159 ft
Highest Point
149 ft
Elevation Range
87 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from East Orange, NJ to Lawrence, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Trenton along the way.
Trenton
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 45.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. 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 options from East Orange, NJ or browse trips ending in Lawrence, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.
