Origin
Hackensack, NJ
Morning in Hackensack on Sunday
Local time
6:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hackensack, NJ to Jersey City, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
13.5 mi
22 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hackensack, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between Hackensack and Jersey City, this 13.5-mile route is a straightforward option. You can expect to spend about 21 minutes on the road, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of just $2, it is an incredibly economical way to navigate the Northeast corridor. Because the distance is so short, you certainly won’t need to worry about overnight stops or extended travel planning. Whether you are heading into the city for business or a change of scenery, the simplicity of this connection offers a stress-free experience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tonnelle Avenue | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| NJ 3 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Washington Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Moonachie Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Hudson Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Liberty Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Larry Doby Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Tonnelle Avenue
— 3.2 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hackensack, NJ and Jersey City, NJ.
1
Start on this road
44 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto State Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
3
Turn left onto CR 56
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Essex Street
4
Continue on CR 124
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Hudson Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto CR 503
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Moonachie Road
6
Continue on CR 503
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Liberty Street
7
Continue on CR 503
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Moonachie Road
8
Continue on CR 503
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on NJ 120
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Larry Doby Highway
10
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 120
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
NJ 120
Toward NJ 3 East: Lincoln Tunnel, New York City
11
Merge onto NJ 3
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 1; US 9
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto CR 501
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
15
Turn right onto Duncan Avenue
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Duncan Avenue
16
Turn right onto Olean Avenue
316 ft
·
13 sec
·
Olean Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Olean Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 13.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 56 / Essex Street
Turn left onto CR 56 / Essex Street
Navigation decision point
6
6.3 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
NJ 120
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 120 toward NJ 3 East: Lincoln Tunnel, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 3 East: Lincoln Tunnel, New York City
5
6.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
NJ 3
Merge onto NJ 3
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
11.9 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
US 1; US 9 / Tonnelle Avenue
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
Use the straight lane.
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hob...
5
13.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Olean Avenue
Turn right onto Olean Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.24 one way
$4.48 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.45 | $4.90 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.62 | $5.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.98 | $5.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.42 | $0.65 |
| Efficient EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.18 | $0.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Jersey City, NJ
Morning in Jersey City on Sunday
Local time
6:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
12 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
21m 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 turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than cruising on autopilot. While you will spend about 22% of your time on highways, the journey relies heavily on local thoroughfares like Tonnelle Avenue, NJ 3, and Washington Avenue. You will find the longest uninterrupted stretch is just 3.2 miles along Tonnelle Avenue, so be prepared for frequent adjustments and navigating urban intersections. This route prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed interstate transit, reflecting the dense nature of the region. Keep your eyes on the road, as the character of this drive is defined by its constant shifts rather than long, monotonous highway miles.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.2 mi on Tonnelle Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near CR 56 / Essex Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 13.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (CR 56 / Essex Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.3 miles (NJ 120): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles (NJ 3): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
93 ft
6 ft
Total Climb
147 ft
Total Descent
136 ft
Highest Point
93 ft
~12.5 mi in
Elevation Range
87 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.
Between Hackensack, NJ and Jersey City, NJ, road signs point toward New York City and Pulaski Skyway.
New York City
6.3 mi in
|
~11m
|
via NJ 120
Pulaski Skyway
11.9 mi in
|
~17m
|
via US 1; US 9
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 13.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 3.2 miles on Tonnelle Avenue. 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 Jersey City, 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 0.6 miles (CR 56 / Essex Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.3 miles (NJ 120): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles (NJ 3): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area (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 Jersey City, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, 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 Jersey City, NJ
More from Hackensack, NJ
More trips to Jersey City, NJ
Explore more options from Hackensack, NJ or browse trips ending in Jersey City, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.