Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
31.8 mi
51 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great 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.
Franklin Lakes, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Bayonne, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Franklin Lakes, NJ to Bayonne, NJ is 31.8 miles and takes about 46 minutes via NJ 17, NJ 208, and NJ 3, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays entirely within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a relatively short trip that primarily utilizes major state highways, making it a straightforward option for a quick drive. Consider this if you need to get from northern Bergen County to the area near Newark Bay without much fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 17 | 8.1 mi | 9m |
| NJ 208 | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| NJ 3 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| Tonnelle Avenue | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Avenue C | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Old Bergen Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Franklin Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin Lakes, NJ and Bayonne, NJ.
Start on Shirley Avenue
Turn right onto CR S-89
Turn right onto CR 502
Take the ramp
Merge onto NJ 208
Turn straight onto NJ 208
Continue on NJ 208
Continue on NJ 208
Continue on NJ 208
Continue on NJ 4
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto NJ 17
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ 3
Continue on US 1; US 9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
Turn right onto CR 501
Turn left onto McAdoo Avenue
Turn slight right onto Old Bergen Road
At end of road, turn right onto Merritt Street
Turn left onto Avenue C
Turn left onto West 30th Street
Turn right onto Broadway
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 15.9 miles from Franklin Lakes, 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 1.6 and 25.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto NJ 208
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 17 South: Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9 / Tonnelle Avenue toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$5.27 one way
$10.54 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.77 | $11.55 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.17 | $12.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.02 | $14.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.34 | $1.53 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.78 | $1.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.45 | $2.04 |
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
Afternoon in Franklin Lakes on Sunday
Local time
12:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Cloudy then Rain Showers Likely
Destination
Afternoon in Bayonne on Sunday
Local time
12:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
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.
This drive is mostly highway, with 65% of the route on major roads. You'll experience an 8.1-mile stretch on NJ 17 as the longest continuous segment on a single main road. Expect to encounter frequent exits and merges typical of this kind of urban and suburban highway driving. The transition from highway to more local roads will occur as you approach your destination in Bayonne.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 17 and NJ 208. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near NJ 208.
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 19 decision points packed into just 31.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (NJ 208): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Franklin Lakes, NJ and Bayonne, NJ, road signs point toward Jersey City and Pulaski Skyway.
Jersey City
Pulaski Skyway
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 31.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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