Origin
Jersey City, NJ
Morning in Jersey City on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jersey City, NJ to Metuchen, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
22.7 mi
37 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Metuchen, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Jersey City to Metuchen, expect a straightforward 22.7-mile journey that typically takes about 37 minutes. This route primarily utilizes local roads like Duncan Avenue before transitioning onto US 1 South, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of only $4, it is an incredibly budget-friendly drive within the Northeast region. Because the distance is quite short, you will not need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated travel logistics. Whether you are commuting or visiting, this direct path through New Jersey offers a practical, no-nonsense way to reach your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 12.4 mi | 19m |
| US 1 Truck | 3 mi | 5m |
| US 1 EXPR | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Spring Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Woodbridge Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Duncan Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Grandview Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 12.4 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jersey City, NJ and Metuchen, 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
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Newark Liberty International Airport, Main Terminals
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Merge onto US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 1; US 9
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Spring Street
10
Continue on US Route 1/9 Southbound
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Carlton Street
11
Continue on US 1; US 9
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Continue on US 1; US 9
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
US 1; US 9
13
Continue on US 1; US 9
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on US 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
17
Turn right onto CR 660
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Grandview Avenue
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on CR 660
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Woodbridge Avenue
19
At end of road, turn right onto CR 531
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Main Street
20
Turn left onto NJ 27
209 ft
·
7 sec
·
Middlesex Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
NJ 27
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 21.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Turn left onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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
6.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Newark Liberty International Airport, Main Terminals
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Newark Liberty I...
6
18.3 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
US 1
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
21.3 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
CR 660 / Grandview Avenue
Turn right onto CR 660 / Grandview Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.76 one way
$7.53 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.12 | $8.24 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.40 | $8.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.01 | $10.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.38 | $1.09 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.45 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Metuchen, NJ
Morning in Metuchen on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
3 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
37m 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 rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will be navigating local streets and surface roads, which requires your full attention behind the wheel. The journey maintains a consistent, urban pace as you navigate off the local grid and onto US 1. Because the entire 22.7-mile stretch is composed of smaller arterial roads, you should prepare for frequent turns and potential traffic signals. It is a functional, navigational experience that demands a steady hand and patience compared to the open-road feel of a long-distance highway trip.
79% 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: 12.4 mi on US 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and US 1 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 13 decision points packed into just 22.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck): Lane positioning matters here; 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 6.1 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 Jersey City, NJ and Metuchen, NJ, road signs point toward Newark Airport and Main Terminals.
Newark Airport
2.8 mi in
|
~5m
|
via US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Main Terminals
6.1 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 37m. Total distance: 22.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.4 miles on US 1. 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 Metuchen, 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 0.5 miles (US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck): Lane positioning matters here; 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 6.1 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, Paterson Great Falls 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 Metuchen, 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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