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Trip from Edison, NJ to South Amboy, NJ

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

19m

Distance

11.4 mi

18 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 18m ★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 19m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States

Edison, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown South Amboy, NJ, NJ

South Amboy, NJ

Alexa V. Mato

Trip Overview

This short 11.4-mile drive from Edison, NJ, to South Amboy, NJ, is a quick 19-minute trip perfect for a single day. With a fuel cost estimated at just $2, it's an economical option for getting between these two points in the Northeast region. The route is primarily highway-focused, making it a straightforward journey. Since it's so brief, you won't need an overnight stay, offering you plenty of flexibility for when you decide to depart and how you spend your time upon arrival. This drive is designed for efficiency, getting you where you need to go with minimal fuss.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
NJ 35 2.7 mi 3m
I 287 2 mi 2m
Lincoln Highway 1.9 mi 3m
NJ 440 1.8 mi 2m
Garden State Parkway 1.1 mi 1m
Plainfield Avenue 0.4 mi 1m
Riverton Boulevard 0.2 mi <1m
Reed Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: NJ 35 — 2.7 mi, about 3m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Edison, NJ and South Amboy, NJ.

1

Start on this road

175 ft · 12 sec · this road
2

Continue on Reed Street

348 ft · 20 sec · Reed Street
3

Turn left onto Central Avenue

345 ft · 18 sec · Central Avenue
4

Turn right onto CR 529

0.4 mi · 1 min · Plainfield Avenue
5

Turn left onto NJ 27

1.9 mi · 3 min · Lincoln Highway
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward I 287 South, NJTP, GSP
7

Merge onto I 287

2.0 mi · 2 min · I 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on NJ 440

1.8 mi · 2 min · NJ 440
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Toward GSP South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Merge onto GSP

1.1 mi · 1 min · Garden State Parkway
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Exit 125 Toward Riverton Boulevard, Sayreville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 23 sec · this road
Exit 125 Toward Riverton Boulevard, Sayreville
13

Turn left onto Riverton Boulevard

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Riverton Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14

Take the ramp

345 ft · 10 sec
Toward US 9 South, NJ 35 South Use the slight right lane.
15

Continue on NJ 35

501 ft · 12 sec · NJ 35
Toward US 9 South
16

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 35

1.9 mi · 2 min · NJ 35
Toward US 9 South Use the straight lane.
17

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 21 sec
18

Turn left onto NJ 35

0.7 mi · 58 sec · NJ 35
19

Arrive at destination

US 9; NJ 35

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 8.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
2.7 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 287

Merge onto I 287

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
6.5 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the exit toward GSP South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward GSP South
8
8 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward Riverton Boulevard, Sayreville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 125 Toward Riverton Boulevard, Sayreville
7
8.6 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the ramp toward US 9 South, NJ 35 South

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 9 South, NJ 35 South
7
8.7 mi into trip | ~15m in | NJ 35

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 35 toward US 9 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward US 9 South

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.89 one way

$3.78 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $2.07 $4.14
premium $4.93 $2.21 $4.42
diesel $5.61 $2.52 $5.03

Estimated Tolls: $0.06

Garden State Parkway (1.1 mi) $0.06

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$2

Tolls

$0

Total

$2

Estimated CO2 emission: 4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.4 0 $1.20 $0.55
Efficient EV 2.9 0 $1.00 $0.46
EV Truck/SUV 4.6 0 $1.60 $0.73

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Edison, NJ

Morning in Edison on Sunday

Local time

6:03 AM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South Amboy, NJ

Morning in South Amboy on Sunday

Local time

6:03 AM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

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

26 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

19m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a drive with a significant highway component, as 66% of this route utilizes major roadways. The journey unfolds primarily along NJ 35 and I-287, with a segment of Lincoln Highway also incorporated. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 2.7 miles on NJ 35, offering a taste of consistent driving before transitions occur. The overall profile suggests a highway-focused experience, meaning you'll likely encounter consistent speeds and traffic patterns typical of these types of roads. This isn't a winding backroad adventure, but rather a direct path designed for swift travel.

66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 2.7 mi on NJ 35.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 35 and I 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 287.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 13 decision points packed into just 11.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 19m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 287): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Edison, NJ and South Amboy, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp, Gsp, Gsp South and Sayreville.

Njtp

2.5 mi in | ~5m

Gsp

2.5 mi in | ~5m

Gsp South

6.5 mi in | ~11m

Sayreville

8 mi in | ~13m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 19m. Total distance: 11.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

19m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 2.7 miles on NJ 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.06 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at South Amboy, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

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 2.7 miles (I 287): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Morristown National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area (4 total within detour distance). 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 South Amboy, 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.

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