Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 41m
Distance
81.6 mi
131 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Atco, NJ
Garrison Gao
This 81.6-mile drive from Elizabeth, NJ, to Atco, NJ, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 41 minutes. With a highway share of 94%, it's a predominantly highway-focused journey. For a modest fuel cost of around $14, you can cover the distance efficiently. Since it's a relatively short drive within the Northeast region and entirely within New Jersey, it works perfectly as a single-day excursion. You won't need to worry about overnight stops; just plan for a smooth, quick transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.8 miles from Elizabeth, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 64 mi | 1h 13m |
| NJ 73 | 11.6 mi | 16m |
| White Horse Pike | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| US 1 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Bayway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Atco Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Brunswick Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth, NJ and Atco, NJ.
Start on this road
Turn left onto East Jersey Street
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
Enter roundabout onto NJ 439
Continue on NJ 439
Turn right onto Brunswick Avenue
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto NJ 73
Continue on NJ 73
Continue on NJ 73
Continue on NJ 73
Take the exit
Turn straight onto CR 536 Spur
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 30
Turn left
Turn right
Turn left onto CR 710
Arrive at destination
Given the manageable 1 hour and 41-minute duration, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. You can depart at your convenience, but consider leaving Elizabeth outside of peak morning commute hours to maximize ease. With no designated stops, you're free to pull over as needed, though the longest stretch on the New Jersey Turnpike is 64 miles, so plan a break before or after this segment if necessary. The estimated fuel cost is only $14, making it an economical journey. Keep an eye out for the transition from the New Jersey Turnpike to NJ 73, as this marks a key point where the road character begins to change.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.8 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atco, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Elizabeth, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Elizabeth, NJ
This is one driving day of about 81.6 miles and 1h 41m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 40.8 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New Jersey Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64 miles.
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 2.2 and 67.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Brunswick Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: NJ Turnpike
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 73 South: Marlton, Atlantic City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$13.53 one way
$27.06 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $14.82 | $29.63 |
| premium | $4.93 | $15.83 | $31.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.02 | $36.03 |
Estimated Tolls: $8.97
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.57 | $3.92 |
| Efficient EV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.14 | $3.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.6 | 0 | $11.42 | $5.22 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Night in Elizabeth on Saturday
Local time
10:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Night in Atco on Saturday
Local time
10:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
52°F
Bristol, PA
41 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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 highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 94% of the route utilizing major roadways. The New Jersey Turnpike will be your primary companion for a significant portion, offering a longest stretch of 64 miles without needing to exit. This means you'll experience a consistent pace, ideal for covering ground efficiently. While primarily a highway experience, the transition to NJ 73 and White Horse Pike as you near Atco will introduce a slight shift in the driving environment, moving from the Turnpike's high-speed corridors to more localized arteries.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and NJ 73. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near Brunswick Avenue.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.6 miles you will encounter 18 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 2.2 miles (Brunswick Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elizabeth, NJ and Atco, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp South: Camden, Wilmington, Camden and Atlantic City.
Njtp South: Camden
Wilmington
Camden
Atlantic City
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 1h 41m. Total distance: 81.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). 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, 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
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Elizabeth, NJ or browse trips ending in Atco, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.
