Origin
Highlands, NJ
Afternoon in Highlands on Sunday
Local time
1:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Highlands, NJ to Trenton, 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 19m
Distance
54.2 mi
87 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highlands, NJ
MINEIA MARTINS
Trenton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 54.2-mile journey from Highlands, NJ, to Trenton, NJ, is a manageable one-day road trip, estimated to take about 1 hour and 19 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via the Central Jersey Expressway, Monmouth Road, and NJ 18. With a highway share of 47%, expect a mixed driving experience rather than a pure interstate cruise. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $9, making it an economical option. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, so you won't be crossing any major geographical divides. This route is well-suited for a single day, allowing for a relaxed pace without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Jersey Expressway | 14.5 mi | 16m |
| Monmouth Road | 7.8 mi | 11m |
| NJ 18 | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| Colts Neck Road | 5.6 mi | 9m |
| Navesink River Road | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Garden State Parkway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Arena Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
| Newman Springs Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Central Jersey Expressway
— 14.5 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highlands, NJ and Trenton, NJ.
1
Start on Sea Drift Avenue
78 ft
·
10 sec
·
Sea Drift Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 8
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Bay Avenue
3
Turn left onto CR 8
490 ft
·
13 sec
·
Waterwitch Avenue
4
Continue on CR 8
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Linden Avenue
5
Turn right onto NJ 36
363 ft
·
6 sec
·
Navesink Avenue
6
Turn slight right onto Ocean Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Ocean Boulevard
7
Turn left onto CR 8
351 ft
·
9 sec
·
Orchard Avenue
8
Continue on CR 8B
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Navesink Avenue
9
Enter roundabout onto CR 8A
237 ft
·
5 sec
·
Locust Avenue
10
Continue on CR 8A
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Locust Avenue
11
At end of road, turn left onto CR 8A
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Locust Point Road
12
Continue on CR 12A
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Navesink River Road
13
Turn left onto NJ 35
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 35
14
Turn right onto CR 13
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Rector Place
15
Continue on CR 13
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Shrewsbury Avenue
16
Turn right onto CR 520
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Newman Springs Road
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward GSP Toll South
18
Merge onto GSP
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Garden State Parkway
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 105
Toward NJ 36 North, NJ 18: Eatontown, Long Branch, Tinton Falls
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
Toward NJ 18 JCT: Tinton Falls
Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn left onto CR 38
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Wayside Road
22
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick
23
Merge onto NJ 18
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
NJ 18
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 22B
Toward CR 537 West: Freehold
Use the right lane.
25
Turn straight onto CR 537
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Colts Neck Road
26
Continue on CR 537
7.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Monmouth Road
27
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 195 West
28
Merge onto I 195
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Central Jersey Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 2
Toward US 206: South Broad Street, Arena Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 2
Toward Arena Drive
31
Turn straight onto CR 620
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Arena Drive
32
Turn left onto CR 622
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Olden Avenue
33
Turn left onto CR 606
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hamilton Avenue
34
Turn right onto CR 626
6 ft
·
0 sec
·
Chambers Street
35
Arrive at destination
CR 626
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 27.1 miles from Highlands, 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 225 decision points cluster between mile 13 and 50.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
13 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward NJ 36 North, NJ 18: Eatontown, Long Branch, Tinton Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 105
Toward NJ 36 North, NJ 18: Eatontown, Long Bran...
7
13.4 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 18 JCT: Tinton Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 18 JCT: Tinton Falls
7
21.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward CR 537 West: Freehold
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 22B
Toward CR 537 West: Freehold
8
50.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward US 206: South Broad Street, Arena Drive
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 2
Toward US 206: South Broad Street, Arena Drive
7
50.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Arena Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 2
Toward Arena Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.99 one way
$17.97 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.84 | $19.68 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.51 | $21.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.97 | $23.93 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.19
Garden State Parkway
(3.1 mi)
$0.19
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$0
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 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 | 16.3 | 0 | $5.69 | $2.60 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.59 | $3.47 |
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
Trenton, NJ
Afternoon in Trenton on Sunday
Local time
1:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 15 mph
1% chance
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
45 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 19m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is a blend of highway speeds and more local road navigation, with 47% of the route being on highways. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 14.5 miles on the Central Jersey Expressway, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. As you progress, the road will likely transition, moving from potentially faster-paced expressway sections to more community-oriented roads like Monmouth Road and NJ 18. This mix means you'll need to adjust your driving style, paying attention to varying speed limits and traffic patterns as you move from one type of road to another.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.5 mi on Central Jersey Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.2 miles you will encounter 22 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 13 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.6 miles: 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.
Between Highlands, NJ and Trenton, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll South, Long Branch, Tinton Falls and Cr 537 West: Freehold.
Gsp Toll South
9.6 mi in
|
~18m
Long Branch
13 mi in
|
~22m
Tinton Falls
13 mi in
|
~22m
Cr 537 West: Freehold
21.6 mi in
|
~32m
About the Cities
Arriving in Trenton, NJ
Full guide →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.
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 19m. Total distance: 54.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.5 miles on Central Jersey Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.19 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 Trenton, 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 13 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway National Recreation Area and Thomas Edison National Historical Park. 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 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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