Origin
Hamilton, NJ
Afternoon in Hamilton on Sunday
Local time
12:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hamilton, NJ to Madison, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
53.5 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hamilton, NJ
Garrison Gao
Madison, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hamilton, NJ to Madison, NJ is 53.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 12 minutes via Garden State Parkway and Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip entirely within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion. You'll be spending most of your time on major parkways and expressways, making it a practical choice for efficient travel between these two locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 41 mi | 52m |
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| NJ 124 | 3.2 mi | 8m |
| NJ 24 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| NJ 33 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Old Corlies Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Gully Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 41 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hamilton, NJ and Madison, 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
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 33
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
5
Merge onto GSP
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
7
Continue on GSP
39 mi
·
49 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 142B
Toward I 78 West: Springfield
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 78
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 48
Toward NJ 24 West: Springfield, Morristown
11
Continue on NJ 24
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
NJ 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 7B-A
Toward NJ 124 West: River Road, Summit, Chatham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 124
416 ft
·
10 sec
·
NJ 124
Toward NJ 24 West, NJ 124 West: Chatham
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 124
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
NJ 124
Exit 7A
Toward NJ 124 West: Chatham
Use the right lane.
15
Arrive at destination
NJ 124
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.7 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 42.5 and 50.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
42.5 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward I 78 West: Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 142B
Toward I 78 West: Springfield
7
46.9 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 24 West: Springfield, Morristown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 48
Toward NJ 24 West: Springfield, Morristown
8
50 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward NJ 124 West: River Road, Summit, Chatham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 7B-A
Toward NJ 124 West: River Road, Summit, Chatham
9
50.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
NJ 124
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 124 toward NJ 24 West, NJ 124 West: Chatham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward NJ 24 West, NJ 124 West: Chatham
8
50.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
NJ 124
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 124 toward NJ 124 West: Chatham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 7A
Toward NJ 124 West: Chatham
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.87 one way
$17.74 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.71 | $19.43 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.38 | $20.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.81 | $23.62 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.46
Garden State Parkway
(41 mi)
$2.46
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$2
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.62 | $2.57 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.68 | $2.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.49 | $3.42 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Madison, NJ
Afternoon in Madison on Sunday
Local time
12:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°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
2 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 12m 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 predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 96% of the journey on major roads. You'll spend a significant portion of the 1 hour and 12-minute trip on the Garden State Parkway, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 41 miles. Expect a fast-paced commute primarily on the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and NJ 124, designed for efficient travel. The nature of the drive is consistent, offering a direct and relatively uninterrupted flow for most of its 53.5-mile length, making it a utilitarian transit.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 42.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.5 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 42.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Hamilton, NJ and Madison, NJ, road signs point toward Morristown, Summit and Chatham.
Morristown
46.9 mi in
|
~1h
Summit
50 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Chatham
50 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 53.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.46 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Madison, 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 42.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (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 Madison, 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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