Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
50.2 mi
81 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Edison, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Seaside Heights, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Edison, NJ to Seaside Heights, NJ is 50.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 16 minutes via State Route 18, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New Jersey, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on highways, making it a convenient option for a quick getaway or a day trip. You'll find this route is largely about efficient travel to your destination.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Route 18 | 21.4 mi | 27m |
| NJ 34 | 12.1 mi | 15m |
| West Central Avenue | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Ocean Avenue | 3.5 mi | 8m |
| NJ 35 | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| US 1 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Anna O Hankins Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Plainfield Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Edison, NJ and Seaside Heights, NJ.
Start on this road
Continue on Reed Street
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Turn right onto CR 529
Turn right onto US 1
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto NJ 18; CR 527
Take the exit
Turn straight onto NJ 34
Take the ramp onto NJ 34
Enter roundabout onto NJ 34
Continue on NJ 34
Enter roundabout onto NJ 34
Continue on NJ 34
Continue on NJ 35
Continue on NJ 35
Continue on NJ 35
Continue on NJ 35
Continue on NJ 35
Continue on NJ 35
Continue on West Central Avenue
Turn left onto CR 20
Continue on Ocean Terrace
Turn right onto CR 4
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.1 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 3 and 50.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward NJ 18: New Brunswick, East Brunswick
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 18 South: East Brunswick, Old Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto NJ 18; CR 527 / State Route 18
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NJ 34 South: Point Pleasant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto CR 4 / Sheridan Avenue
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$8.63 one way
$17.25 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $9.47 | $18.93 |
| premium | $5.13 | $10.13 | $20.27 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $11.79 | $23.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.27 | $2.41 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.39 | $2.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.03 | $3.21 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
6:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Seaside Heights on Saturday
Local time
6:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Cloudy
79°F
Farmingdale, NJ
25 mi in
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 drive is predominantly highway, with 77% of the route on faster roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 21.4 miles on State Route 18, which is a significant portion of the trip on a single main road. Expect a transition from highway to surface roads as you approach your destination. The high percentage of highway driving means you'll encounter numerous exits and interchanges.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 18 and NJ 34. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.
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 50.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.3 miles (NJ 18; CR 527 / State Route 18): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
261 ft
Total Descent
346 ft
Highest Point
154 ft
~17.9 mi in
Elevation Range
152 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Edison, NJ to Seaside Heights, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.
Brunswick
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
Founded 1913
Seaside Heights is a borough with almost 3,000 residents (2019) in the New Jersey Shore region. Seaside Heights is a beach town on a barrier island that faces the Atlantic Ocean on the east and Barnegat Bay on the west. It is connected to the mainland community of Toms River via the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge (New Jersey Route 37) over the bay. Seaside Park, directly to the south on the same island, is also covered in this article.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 50.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). 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.
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