Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
17.1 mi
27 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
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
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking to travel from Edison to Elizabeth, you are in for a quick 21.7-mile journey that takes approximately 30 minutes. This trip stays entirely within the Northeast region, keeping you local throughout the drive. Because of the short duration, you can easily complete this as a one-day trip without needing any overnight stops. You should budget about $4 for fuel to cover the distance. Since the route avoids highways entirely, it is a straightforward, practical option for getting between these two New Jersey cities.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 13 mi | 21m |
| Carlton Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Plainfield Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East Edgar Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Reed Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Central Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Edison, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
Start on this road
Continue on Reed Street
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Turn right onto CR 529
Turn left onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
Continue on US 1; US 9
Turn right
Turn right
Turn right
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 16.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 1
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9 / East Edgar Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.83 one way
$5.67 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.10 | $6.21 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.32 | $6.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.78 | $7.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.80 | $0.82 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.50 | $0.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Late night in Edison on Sunday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Elizabeth on Sunday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°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
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. You will navigate using Reed Street, Central Avenue, and Plainfield Avenue, meaning you won't encounter any high-speed highway stretches on this trip. With a 0% highway share, the experience is defined by local traffic patterns and frequent turns rather than open interstate cruising. The lack of a long, uninterrupted stretch makes this a steady, hands-on drive that requires your full attention as you transition between these municipalities.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and Carlton Street. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Central Avenue.
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 17.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.1 miles (Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (US 1): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (US 1; US 9 / East Edgar Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elizabeth is the fourth largest city in New Jersey.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 17.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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