Origin
Glen Gardner, NJ
Late night in Glen Gardner on Wednesday
Local time
2:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Glen Gardner, NJ to Trenton, NJ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
39.6 mi
64 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glen Gardner, NJ
James Kampeis
Trenton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Glen Gardner to Trenton is 39.6 miles and takes about 1 hour via NJ 31 and US 202, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward trip stays within New Jersey, moving from the Northeast region into another part of the Northeast. It’s a short drive, making it ideal for a quick transit or a day trip where you want to maximize your time at your destination. The route is primarily highway, so expect a relatively direct path without many detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 31 | 25.4 mi | 35m |
| US 202 | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| Pennington Road | 4.3 mi | 8m |
| Olden Avenue | 3.2 mi | 6m |
| Hamilton Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Sanatorium Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Gardner Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 31
— 25.4 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glen Gardner, NJ and Trenton, NJ.
1
Start on Gardner Lane
31 ft
·
2 sec
·
Gardner Lane
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto Sanatorium Road
377 ft
·
21 sec
·
Sanatorium Road
4
Turn left onto NJ 31
15 mi
·
18 min
·
NJ 31
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Enter roundabout onto US 202; NJ 31
456 ft
·
8 sec
·
US 202; NJ 31
6
Continue on US 202; NJ 31
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
US 202; NJ 31
7
Take the exit onto NJ 31
10 mi
·
16 min
·
NJ 31
Toward NJ 31 South, CR 579 South: Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
8
Enter roundabout onto NJ 31
517 ft
·
9 sec
·
Pennington Road
9
Continue on NJ 31
4.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Pennington Road
10
Turn left onto CR 622
3.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Olden Avenue
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto CR 606
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hamilton Avenue
12
Turn right onto CR 626
6 ft
·
0 sec
·
Chambers Street
13
Arrive at destination
CR 626
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.8 miles from Glen Gardner, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 35.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Sanatorium Road
Turn right onto Sanatorium Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
NJ 31
Turn left onto NJ 31
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
15.4 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
US 202; NJ 31 / US 202
Enter roundabout onto US 202; NJ 31 / US 202
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
21.2 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
NJ 31
Take the exit onto NJ 31 toward NJ 31 South, CR 579 South: Trenton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 31 South, CR 579 South: Trenton
5
35.8 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
CR 622 / Olden Avenue
Turn left onto CR 622 / Olden Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.62 one way
$13.23 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $7.28 | $14.56 |
| premium | $5.01 | $7.81 | $15.63 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $8.73 | $17.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.16 | $1.90 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.47 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.54 | $2.53 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Trenton, NJ
Late night in Trenton on Wednesday
Local time
2:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Rocktown, NJ
20 mi in
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
4 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 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?
This drive is mostly highway, with 79% of the 39.6 miles on faster roads. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 25.4 miles on NJ 31 before transitioning to other roadways. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate the highway sections, which will likely feel like a consistent cruising speed. The latter portion of the drive will involve surface roads as you approach your destination.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.4 mi on NJ 31.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 31 and US 202. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Sanatorium Road.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Sanatorium Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (NJ 31): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.4 miles (US 202; NJ 31 / US 202): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
432 ft
61 ft
Total Climb
290 ft
Total Descent
662 ft
Highest Point
432 ft
Elevation Range
372 ft
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 Glen Gardner, NJ to Trenton, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 579 South: Trenton along the way.
Cr 579 South: Trenton
21.2 mi in
|
~28m
|
via NJ 31
About the Cities
Starting in Glen Gardner, NJ
Full guide →Founded 1919
Top landmarks
- • Glen Gardner Pony Pratt Truss Bridge — historic bridge in Glen Gardner, New Jersey
Arriving in Trenton, NJ
Full guide →Founded 1719
Trenton is in Mercer County, and is the capital of New Jersey. The city's strategic location in between New York City and Philadelphia has historically contributed to its growth and significantly impacts local culture. Located on the Delaware River across from Pennsylvania, Trenton is the only accessible capital city in the United States to border another state.
Top landmarks
- • New Jersey State House — state capitol building of the U.S. state of New Jersey
- • First Presbyterian Church — church in Trenton, New Jersey
- • Calhoun Street Bridge — bridge over the Delaware River between Morrisville, Pennsylvania and Trenton, Ne...
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. Total distance: 39.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.4 miles on NJ 31. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (Sanatorium Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (NJ 31): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.4 miles (US 202; NJ 31 / US 202): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Trenton, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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