Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
34.6 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
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.
Edison, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Carlstadt, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Edison, NJ to Carlstadt, NJ is 34.6 miles and takes about 53 minutes via New Jersey Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Northeast region, connecting two points in New Jersey. Given the relatively brief travel time and minimal fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick transfer or a simple day trip, offering a straightforward way to get from point A to point B without significant planning.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 17.4 mi | 21m |
| New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| I 287 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Lincoln Highway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| NJ 17 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| NJ 3 | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Plainfield Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Hackensack Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Edison, NJ and Carlstadt, NJ.
Start on this road
Continue on Reed Street
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Turn right onto CR 529
Turn left onto NJ 27
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 287
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; NJTP
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ 3
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto NJ 17
Take the exit
Turn left onto NJ 120
Continue on NJ 120
Turn right onto Enoch Street
Turn left onto CR S-55
Turn right onto CR 55
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Turn right onto 3rd Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.3 miles from Edison, 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 4.7 and 33.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 95, NJTP: New Jersey Turnpike
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 I 95 North, NJTP North: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NJ 3: Secaucus, Rutherford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 17 North: Rutherford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto NJ 120 / Paterson Plank Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$5.95 one way
$11.89 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $6.52 | $13.05 |
| premium | $5.13 | $6.98 | $13.97 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $8.13 | $16.26 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.39
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$3
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.03 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Edison on Saturday
Local time
6:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Carlstadt on Saturday
Local time
6:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Partly Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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 drive is predominantly highway, with 82% of the 34.6 miles on major roadways. You'll experience a long stretch of 17.4 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike before transitioning. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic typical of a busy corridor, especially as you approach your destination in the Northeast region.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in.
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 22 decision points packed into just 34.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
306 ft
Total Descent
212 ft
Highest Point
186 ft
~34.6 mi in
Elevation Range
180 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Edison, NJ and Carlstadt, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp, Gsp, Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike, Njtp North: New York and Rutherford.
Njtp
Gsp
Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike
Njtp North: New York
Rutherford
Founded 1651
Edison is a city in Middlesex, New Jersey. The city is named after Thomas Alva Edison who carried out most of his life's work, including the invention of the phonograph and the lightbulb, here. Menlo Park, where Edison's laboratories were located has a Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and Museum honoring him. The town of Edison now has a large concentration of Asians, and Oak Tree Road in Edison is the place to visit if you are looking for Indian food or Indian stores.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 34.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m 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.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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