Origin
Hamilton, NJ
Morning in Hamilton on Tuesday
Local time
6:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hamilton, NJ to Hillsborough, NJ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
43.4 mi
70 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 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hamilton, NJ
Garrison Gao
Hillsborough, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hamilton, NJ to Hillsborough, NJ is 43.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 3 minutes via NJ 18, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region, specifically within New Jersey for its entirety. It's a straightforward trip that primarily utilizes highways, making it a quick and efficient journey. Given its short duration and focus on main roads, this route is ideal for a simple day trip or a convenient way to connect two points in central New Jersey without significant detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 18 | 22.2 mi | 26m |
| Amwell Road | 5.3 mi | 9m |
| NJ 34 | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| NJ 33 | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Memorial Parkway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Hamilton Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Franklin Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Willow Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 18
— 22.2 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hamilton, NJ and Hillsborough, NJ.
1
Start on Gully Road
155 ft
·
5 sec
·
Gully Road
2
Turn left onto (17)
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Old Corlies Avenue
3
Turn left onto NJ 33
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
NJ 33
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on NJ-33; CR-547
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
NJ-33; CR-547
5
Enter roundabout onto NJ 33; NJ 34
219 ft
·
3 sec
·
NJ 33; NJ 34
6
Continue on NJ 33; NJ 34
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 33; NJ 34
7
Take the exit onto NJ 34
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
NJ 34
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick
9
Merge onto NJ 18
22 mi
·
26 min
·
NJ 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on NJ 18
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Memorial Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward Easton Avenue, So Bound Brook
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto (672)
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
George Street
13
Turn left onto CR 609
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Landing Lane
14
Continue on CR 617
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Franklin Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto CR 514
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Hamilton Street
16
Continue on CR 514
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Amwell Road
17
At end of road, turn left onto CR 514
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Amwell Road
18
Continue on CR 514
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Millstone Bypass
19
Continue on CR 514
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Amwell Road
20
Turn left onto Willow Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Willow Road
21
Arrive at destination
Willow Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.7 miles from Hamilton, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 31.6 — 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
|
NJ 33
Turn left onto NJ 33
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
NJ 33; NJ 34
Enter roundabout onto NJ 33; NJ 34
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
3.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
NJ 34
Take the exit onto NJ 34
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
7.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
NJ 18
Merge onto NJ 18
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
31.6 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward Easton Avenue, So Bound Brook
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 Easton Avenue, So Bound Brook
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.20 one way
$14.39 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.88 | $15.76 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.42 | $16.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.58 | $19.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.08 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.80 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.08 | $2.78 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Hillsborough, NJ
Morning in Hillsborough on Tuesday
Local time
6:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
New Brunswick, NJ
22 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 3m 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 heavily highway-focused, with 72% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience stretches of faster-paced driving, including the longest uninterrupted segment of 22.2 miles along NJ 18. The character of the drive is predominantly that of a highway commute, designed for efficient travel rather than scenic exploration. While the main roads are straightforward, expect the typical traffic patterns associated with key state highways in a developed area.
72% 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: 22.2 mi on NJ 18.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 18 and Amwell Road. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near NJ 33.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.4 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 0.2 miles (NJ 33): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (NJ 33; NJ 34): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.7 miles (NJ 34): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Hamilton, NJ to Hillsborough, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward So Bound Brook along the way.
So Bound Brook
31.6 mi in
|
~40m
About the Cities
Arriving in Hillsborough, NJ
Full guide →Hillsborough is a town in Somerset County (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 3m. Total distance: 43.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.2 miles on NJ 18. 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 Hillsborough, 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 0.2 miles (NJ 33): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (NJ 33; NJ 34): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.7 miles (NJ 34): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Morristown National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area. 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 Hillsborough, 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.
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