Skip to main content

Trip from Jersey City, NJ to Lebanon, NJ

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

55m

Distance

43.8 mi

70 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 51m ★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 52m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Lebanon, NJ, NJ

Lebanon, NJ

Nemika F

Trip Overview

Jersey City to Lebanon is 43.8 miles and takes about 55 minutes via Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and US 1, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused journey entirely within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. If you're looking for a quick trip with minimal fuss, this route fits the bill perfectly. It's a short drive, making it ideal for a same-day excursion without feeling rushed.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway 37.2 mi 43m
US 1 Truck 3 mi 5m
US 1 1.9 mi 2m
Duncan Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
Cokesbury Road 0.4 mi 1m
I 78 0.2 mi <1m
Olean Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Main Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway — 37.2 mi, about 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jersey City, NJ and Lebanon, NJ.

1

Start on Olean Avenue

316 ft · 15 sec · Olean Avenue
2

Turn right onto Duncan Avenue

0.4 mi · 53 sec · Duncan Avenue
3

Turn left onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck

0.4 mi · 44 sec · US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Use the left lane.
4

Take the exit onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck

1.9 mi · 3 min · US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Newark Airport, Port Newark Elizabeth Seaport Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck

0.7 mi · 1 min · US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Toward US 1 Truck South, US 9 Truck South: Port Newark, Newark Airport
6

Merge onto US 1; US 9

1.9 mi · 2 min · US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

344 ft · 8 sec
Toward I 78 West: Port Newark, Newark Airport North Area, Air Cargo Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward Frontage Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Turn left onto Frontage Road

77 ft · 3 sec · Frontage Road
10

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 13 sec
Toward I 78, NJTP: Economy Parking
11

Merge onto I 78

8.7 mi · 10 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 78

0.2 mi · 11 sec · I 78
Toward I 78 West: Clinton Use the slight left lane.
13

Merge onto I 78

28 mi · 32 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Exit 20A Toward Lebanon, Round Valley, Recreation Area Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Turn straight onto CR 639

0.4 mi · 1 min · Cokesbury Road
16

Turn right onto Main Street

163 ft · 4 sec · Main Street
17

Arrive at destination

Main Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Plainfield, NJ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.9 miles from Jersey City, 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 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 43.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck

Take the exit onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Newark Airport, Port Newark Elizabeth Seaport

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. Toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Newark Airport,...
7
5.4 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit toward I 78 West: Port Newark, Newark Airport North Area, Air Cargo

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 I 78 West: Port Newark, Newark Airport N...
8
5.4 mi into trip | ~9m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Frontage Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Frontage Road
7
14.5 mi into trip | ~20m in | I 78

Keep slight left at fork onto I 78 toward I 78 West: Clinton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 78 West: Clinton
8
43.1 mi into trip | ~53m in

Take the exit toward Lebanon, Round Valley, Recreation Area

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / right lanes. Exit 20A Toward Lebanon, Round Valley, Recreation Area

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.26 one way

$14.52 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $7.95 $15.91
premium $4.93 $8.49 $16.99
diesel $5.61 $9.67 $19.34

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 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 13.1 0 $4.60 $2.10
Efficient EV 11 0 $3.83 $1.75
EV Truck/SUV 17.5 0 $6.13 $2.80

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.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Jersey City, NJ

Morning in Jersey City on Tuesday

Local time

6:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lebanon, NJ

Morning in Lebanon on Tuesday

Local time

6:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

55m 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 highway-focused, with 96% of the journey on high-speed roads. You'll spend most of your time on the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, experiencing a longest uninterrupted stretch of 37.2 miles. Expect a consistent pace as you navigate these expressways. The transition to US 1 Truck and US 1 will still keep you on well-maintained roads, maintaining the efficient, direct feel of the trip.

96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.2 mi on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and US 1 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck.

Driving Effort 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 43.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

Between Jersey City, NJ and Lebanon, NJ, road signs point toward Newark Airport, Newark Airport North Area, Air Cargo and Njtp: Economy Parking.

Newark Airport

2.8 mi in | ~5m | via US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck

Newark Airport North Area

5.4 mi in | ~8m

Air Cargo

5.4 mi in | ~8m

Njtp: Economy Parking

5.6 mi in | ~9m

About the Cities

Starting in Jersey City, NJ

Full guide →

Jersey City is New Jersey's second-largest city. Jersey City sits in Hudson County in the northeastern section of the state, across the Hudson from its older and bigger cousin, New York City, and south of Hoboken. It is frequently referred to as New York’s “sixth borough”. Until the early 1600s, the area was inhabited by Lenape Indians. The Dutch then settled here as a part of the colony of New Amsterdam. It evolved into an industrial powerhouse, with railroads winding up and down the city (some of these lines are still used today). Although Jersey City declined in the 1960s, an upswing began in the 1980s, and the city was transformed into what it is today.

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 55m. Total distance: 43.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

55m 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 37.2 miles on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. 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 Lebanon, 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 0.9 miles (US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Lebanon, 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Jersey City, NJ or browse trips ending in Lebanon, NJ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.