This 77.3-mile drive from Elizabeth, NJ to Camden, NJ is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 37 minutes. Given its short duration and focused profile, it's an ideal day trip with no need for an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $13, making it an economical option for those traveling within the Northeast region. The route primarily utilizes the New Jersey Turnpike, offering a consistent driving experience for the majority of the miles. This trip is designed for efficiency, getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.7 miles from Elizabeth, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
64 mi
1h 13m
Kaighns Avenue
7.5 mi
12m
US 1
1.1 mi
1m
Bayway
0.8 mi
1m
NJ 73
0.7 mi
1m
NJ-73
0.6 mi
<1m
Broadway
0.3 mi
<1m
East Jersey Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 64 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth, NJ and Camden, NJ.
1
Start on this road
34 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto East Jersey Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·East Jersey Street
3
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
1.1 mi·1 min·US 1; US 9
4
Enter roundabout onto NJ 439
0.1 mi·18 sec·Bayway
5
Continue on NJ 439
0.6 mi·1 min·Bayway
6
Turn right onto Brunswick Avenue
0.1 mi·19 sec·Brunswick Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: NJ Turnpike
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: TrentonUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·37 sec
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
47 mi·54 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
17 mi·19 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Toward NJTP South: Camden, Wilmington
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·55 sec
Exit 4Toward NJ 73: Mount Laurel, Camden
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward NJ 73 North: CamdenUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto NJ 73
0.7 mi·1 min·NJ 73
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on NJ-73
0.6 mi·52 sec·NJ-73
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·43 sec
Toward NJ 38 West: Camden, Ben Franklin Bridge
17
Merge onto NJ 38
5.6 mi·8 min·Kaighns Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 130
189 ft·6 sec·South Crescent Boulevard
Toward US 130 South, US 30 East
19
Turn slight right onto CR 607
1.9 mi·3 min·Kaighns Avenue
20
Turn left onto CR 551
0.3 mi·32 sec·Broadway
21
Arrive at destination
CR 551
Trip Plan
With a duration of just under two hours, this route offers great flexibility. You can depart anytime, but consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the heaviest commuter traffic in both Elizabeth and Camden. Since there are no specific stops recommended, you can easily complete this drive in one go, using the approximately $13 in fuel cost as a budget guide. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 64-mile stretch on the New Jersey Turnpike, as services can be spaced out.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.7 miles from Elizabeth, NJ, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64 miles.
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 17 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.7 miles or 46m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Camden, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 77.3 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Elizabeth, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 64 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 75 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|Brunswick Avenue
Turn right onto Brunswick Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: NJ Turnpike
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: NJ Turnpike
9
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
7
67.7 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 73 North: Camden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 73 North: Camden
7
75 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|US 130 / South Crescent Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork onto US 130 / South Crescent Boulevard toward US 130 South, US 30 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 130 South, US 30 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.82 one way
$25.63 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.04
$28.07
premium
$4.93
$14.99
$29.98
diesel
$5.61
$17.07
$34.13
Estimated Tolls: $8.97
New Jersey Turnpike
(64 mi)$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
$13
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.2
0
$8.12
$3.71
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.76
$3.09
EV Truck/SUV
30.9
0
$10.82
$4.95
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 17, 2026
Origin
Elizabeth, NJ
Late night
in Elizabeth on Tuesday
Local time
4:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Camden, NJ
Late night
in Camden on Tuesday
Local time
4:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
W 10 mph20% chanceLive forecast
63°F
Bristol, PA
39 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
7 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 37m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 2.7
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 86% of this 77.3-mile journey, with the New Jersey Turnpike serving as the dominant roadway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 64 miles on this turnpike, indicating a consistent, high-speed driving segment. While primarily interstate, the final approach into Camden may involve local roads like Kaighns Avenue and US 1, offering a slight shift in pace. This route prioritizes direct travel over scenic detours, providing a predictable and efficient drive.
86% 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: 64 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Kaighns Avenue. 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.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.3 miles you will encounter 16 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elizabeth, NJ and Camden, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp South: Camden and Wilmington.
Camden is a city in Camden County, New Jersey, across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. Camden is a former industrial boom-town that has fallen onto hard times.
Decades of disinvestment and government mismanagement have contributed to Camden's sky-high crime rate, and many of the city's neighborhoods are hotbeds of gang- and drug-related violence. However, the government has begun developing the Delaware River waterfront, which is now a popular and well-traveled tourist destination offering grand views of the Philadelphia skyline and a multitude of activities for adults and children. Headlines about violence and crime in Camden may dissuade many tourists to the Philadelphia area from visiting, but a one-day trip to the waterfront may be well worth the trip.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 77.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $8.97 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. 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 Camden, 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 2.2 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.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (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 Camden, NJ before heading back.
