Origin
Elizabeth, NJ
Morning in Elizabeth on Sunday
Local time
10:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elizabeth, NJ to Frenchtown, 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 15m
Distance
54.2 mi
87 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Frenchtown, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 54.2-mile drive from Elizabeth, NJ, to Frenchtown, NJ, is easily manageable within a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $9, it's an economical option for a quick getaway within the Northeast region. The route is primarily highway-focused, making it a practical choice if you're looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. You'll spend most of your time on the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, which accounts for the longest continuous stretch of 37.6 miles. This trip is well-suited for a day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 37.6 mi | 43m |
| Everittstown Road | 6.5 mi | 11m |
| Pittstown Road | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| North Broad Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Hillside Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Everittstown Hill Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Broad Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Chestnut Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
— 37.6 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth, NJ and Frenchtown, NJ.
1
Start on this road
34 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
East Jersey Street
3
Turn right onto Jefferson Avenue
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Jefferson Avenue
4
Turn sharp left onto East Grand Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Grand Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto CR 623
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
6
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 27
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
7
Turn left onto CR 628
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto CR 509
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Chestnut Avenue
Use the right lane.
9
Turn right onto Paine Avenue
367 ft
·
12 sec
·
Paine Avenue
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 78 West
11
Merge onto I 78
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
I 78
Toward I 78 West: Clinton
Use the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto I 78
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 15
Toward NJ 173 East: Clinton, Pittstown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
150 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Pittstown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto NJ 173; CR 513
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Pittstown Road
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto CR 513
6.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Everittstown Road
18
Continue on CR 513
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Everittstown Hill Road
19
Continue on CR 513
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Race Street
20
Turn left onto South Harrison Street
71 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Harrison Street
21
Arrive at destination
South Harrison Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.1 miles from Elizabeth, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 42.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Jersey Street
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East Grand Street
Turn sharp left onto East Grand Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
7
9.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 78
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78 toward I 78 West: Clinton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 78 West: Clinton
8
42.4 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward NJ 173 East: Clinton, Pittstown
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 15
Toward NJ 173 East: Clinton, Pittstown
8
42.5 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Pittstown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Pittstown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.99 one way
$17.97 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.84 | $19.68 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.51 | $21.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.97 | $23.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.69 | $2.60 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.59 | $3.47 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Frenchtown, NJ
Morning in Frenchtown on Sunday
Local time
10:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°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
20 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 15m 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 that leans heavily towards highway travel, with 70% of the route utilizing this profile. You'll experience a significant unbroken stretch of 37.6 miles on the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, offering a consistent pace. The journey transitions through roads like Everittstown Road and Pittstown Road, suggesting a shift from faster highway speeds to more local thoroughfares as you approach your destination. This mix provides a varying driving experience, moving from efficient transit to more community-oriented roads.
70% 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: 37.6 mi on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and Everittstown Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Jersey Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.2 miles you will encounter 17 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: near the start (East Jersey Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East Grand Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 9.3 miles (I 78): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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 Elizabeth, NJ to Frenchtown, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Pittstown along the way.
Pittstown
42.4 mi in
|
~53m
About the Cities
Starting in Elizabeth, NJ
Full guide →Elizabeth is the fourth largest city in New Jersey.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 54.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.6 miles on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. 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 Frenchtown, 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: near the start (East Jersey Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East Grand Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 9.3 miles (I 78): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park 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 Frenchtown, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Frenchtown, NJ
More trips to Frenchtown, NJ
Explore more options from Elizabeth, NJ or browse trips ending in Frenchtown, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.