Skip to main content

Trip from Edison, NJ to Wharton, NJ

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

Drive Time

1h 2m

Distance

42.2 mi

68 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 57m ★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m

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 Wharton, NJ, NJ

Wharton, NJ

Alexa V. Mato

Trip Overview

This straightforward 42.2-mile drive from Edison to Wharton, New Jersey, can be completed in just over an hour, making it an easy day trip. Primarily utilizing I-287, US 202, and Dover - Chester Road, the journey is focused on efficient travel. With an estimated fuel cost of $7, this route is quite economical for a short excursion within the Northeast region. There are no specific stops recommended, so you can tailor your journey to your own schedule. The efficiency of this path makes it ideal for a quick getaway or an errand run, requiring no overnight stays.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 287 16.3 mi 18m
US 202 9.8 mi 15m
Dover - Chester Road 4 mi 6m
North Road 3.8 mi 6m
Stelton Road 2.2 mi 4m
Main Street (Old Rt. 24) 1 mi 1m
Reservoir Avenue 0.9 mi 1m
Plainfield Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 287 — 16.3 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Edison, NJ and Wharton, 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 · 23 sec · Central Avenue
4

Turn left onto CR 529

0.8 mi · 1 min · Plainfield Avenue
5

Continue on CR 529

2.2 mi · 4 min · Stelton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 29 sec
Toward I 287 North
7

Merge onto I 287

12 mi · 13 min · I 287
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 287

4.5 mi · 5 min · I 287
Toward I 78 East: New York City Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 22B Toward US 202 North, US 206 North: Bedminster, Netcong Use the right lane.
10

Merge onto US 202; US 206

9.8 mi · 15 min · US 202; US 206
Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn right onto CR 513

1.0 mi · 1 min · Main Street (Old Rt. 24)
Use the left / straight lanes.
12

Continue on CR 513

3.8 mi · 6 min · North Road
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on CR 513

4.0 mi · 6 min · Dover - Chester Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
14

At end of road, turn right onto CR 513

0.4 mi · 35 sec · Quaker Church Road
15

Turn left onto CR 513

0.9 mi · 1 min · Reservoir Avenue
16

Continue on CR 513

0.7 mi · 1 min · Prospect Street
17

Turn sharp left onto CR 659

0.2 mi · 21 sec · West Blackwell Street
18

Continue on CR 659

0.2 mi · 15 sec · West Blackwell Street
19

Turn slight right onto US 46

0.5 mi · 54 sec · US 46
20

Turn right onto CR 634

0.5 mi · 55 sec · South Main Street
Use the right lane.
21

Arrive at destination

CR 634

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Peapack, NJ, NJ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Peapack, NJ

21 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Mine Hill, NJ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bedminster, NJ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.1 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 15.3 and 40.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
15.3 mi into trip | ~21m in | I 287

Keep slight right at fork onto I 287 toward I 78 East: New York City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 78 East: New York City
8
19.8 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward US 202 North, US 206 North: Bedminster, Netcong

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

Use the right lane. Exit 22B Toward US 202 North, US 206 North: Bedminster,...
5
20.1 mi into trip | ~27m in | US 202; US 206

Merge onto US 202; US 206

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

Use the slight right lane.
5
29.9 mi into trip | ~42m in | CR 513 / Main Street (Old Rt. 24)

Turn right onto CR 513 / Main Street (Old Rt. 24)

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
5
40.7 mi into trip | ~59m in | CR 659 / West Blackwell Street

Turn sharp left onto CR 659 / West Blackwell Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.00 one way

$13.99 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $7.66 $15.32
premium $4.93 $8.18 $16.37
diesel $5.61 $9.32 $18.63

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.7 0 $4.43 $2.03
Efficient EV 10.6 0 $3.69 $1.69
EV Truck/SUV 16.9 0 $5.91 $2.70

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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.

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

10:17 AM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wharton, NJ

Morning in Wharton on Sunday

Local time

10:17 AM

EDT

Current temp

43°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

28 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

1h 2m 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 highway-focused experience for about 63% of this 42.2-mile trip. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-287, including a longest stretch of 16.3 miles on this interstate. As you transition to US 202 and then Dover - Chester Road, the character may shift, but the overall profile leans towards efficient road travel rather than winding scenic byways. This route prioritizes getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss, offering a consistent driving rhythm for most of the journey.

63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.3 mi on I 287.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 287 and US 202. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.3 miles in near I 287.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.2 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 15.3 miles (I 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.1 miles (US 202; US 206): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

On the drive from Edison, NJ to Wharton, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Netcong along the way.

Netcong

19.8 mi in | ~26m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 42.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 16.3 miles on I 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Wharton, 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 15.3 miles (I 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.1 miles (US 202; US 206): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wharton, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Edison, NJ or browse trips ending in Wharton, NJ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.