Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
30.8 mi
50 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Raritan, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Elizabeth, NJ to Raritan, NJ covers 30.8 miles and takes about 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 287, US 1, US 22 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13 miles on I 287. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.29 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 287 | 13 mi | 15m |
| US 1 | 11.9 mi | 19m |
| US 22 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| US 206 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| US 202 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| E. Somerset Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Carlton Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
8 AM
~4,048 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~330 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 35 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth, NJ and Raritan, NJ.
Start on this road
Turn left onto East Jersey Street
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
Continue on US Route 1/9 Southbound
Continue on US 1; US 9
Continue on US 1; US 9
Continue on US 1; US 9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Take the exit
Merge onto I 287
Take the exit
Merge onto US 22
Continue on US 22
Take the exit
Merge onto US 202; US 206
Take the exit onto US 206
Enter roundabout onto US 206
Continue on US 206
Turn right onto CR 626
Turn right onto Thompson Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 15.4 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.5 and 29.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 287 North: Morristown, Mahwah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 287
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 22 West: Clinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 206 toward US 206 South, NJ 28: Somerville, Princeton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$5.29 one way
$10.59 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $5.81 | $11.62 |
| premium | $5.13 | $6.22 | $12.43 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $7.24 | $14.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.23 | $1.48 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Morning in Elizabeth on Saturday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Morning in Raritan on Saturday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
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.
30.8 mi in 45m, mostly highway — 13 mi of that is on I 287.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 287 and US 1. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.5 miles in near US 1.
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 30.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.5 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.8 miles (I 287): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
150 ft
Total Descent
105 ft
Highest Point
112 ft
~26.4 mi in
Elevation Range
93 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elizabeth, NJ and Raritan, NJ, road signs point toward Mahwah and Princeton.
Mahwah
Princeton
Founded 1665
Elizabeth is the fourth largest city in New Jersey.
Top landmarks
Raritan is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 30.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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