Skip to main content

Trip from Jersey City, NJ to Raritan, NJ

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

50m

Distance

39.2 mi

63 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 47m ★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m

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

borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States

Raritan, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 39.2-mile drive from Jersey City to Raritan, NJ, is designed for a single day, taking about 50 minutes to complete. Primarily a highway-focused trip, you'll spend about 91% of your time on interstates, making it an efficient journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $7, which is quite manageable for this relatively short distance within the Northeast region. Given its brevity and highway nature, this route is ideal for a quick trip without needing an overnight stay. You can expect a straightforward driving experience with minimal detours.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway 26.5 mi 30m
US 1 Truck 3 mi 5m
I 287 2.3 mi 2m
US 1 1.9 mi 2m
US 202 1 mi 1m
US 206 0.8 mi 1m
Duncan Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
E. Somerset Street 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway — 26.5 mi, about 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

18 mi · 20 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 43 sec
Exit 29 Toward I 287: Morristown, Somerville Use the slight right lane.
15

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min
Toward I 287 South, US 202 South, US 206 South: Somerville Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16

Merge onto I 287

2.3 mi · 2 min · I 287
17

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 42 sec
Exit 17 Toward US 202 South, US 206 South: Somerville, Flemington Use the slight left / straight lanes.
18

Merge onto US 202; US 206

1.0 mi · 1 min · US 202; US 206
19

Take the exit onto US 206

0.2 mi · 37 sec · US 206
Toward US 206 South, NJ 28: Somerville, Princeton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Enter roundabout onto US 206

525 ft · 7 sec · US 206
21

Continue on US 206

0.4 mi · 51 sec · US 206
22

Turn right onto CR 626

0.4 mi · 1 min · E. Somerset Street
23

Turn right onto Thompson Street

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Thompson Street
24

Arrive at destination

Thompson Street

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

20 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

Manville, NJ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Plainfield, NJ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.6 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 21

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 36.3 — 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,...
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
8
32.4 mi into trip | ~40m in

Take the exit toward I 287: Morristown, Somerville

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 29 Toward I 287: Morristown, Somerville
8
32.9 mi into trip | ~41m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 287 South, US 202 South, US 206 South: Somerville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 287 South, US 202 South, US 206 South:...
8
36.3 mi into trip | ~45m in

Take the exit toward US 202 South, US 206 South: Somerville, Flemington

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

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 17 Toward US 202 South, US 206 South: Somerville,...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.50 one way

$13.00 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $7.12 $14.24
premium $4.93 $7.60 $15.20
diesel $5.61 $8.65 $17.31

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.8 0 $4.12 $1.88
Efficient EV 9.8 0 $3.43 $1.57
EV Truck/SUV 15.7 0 $5.49 $2.51

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Jersey City, NJ

Morning in Jersey City on Sunday

Local time

6:29 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Raritan, NJ

Morning in Raritan on Sunday

Local time

6:29 AM

EDT

Current temp

43°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

6 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

50m 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 highly highway-oriented experience on this route, with the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, US 1 Truck, and I-287 forming the backbone of your journey. Over 91% of the drive is on these main roads, offering a consistent, fast-paced feel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 26.5 miles on the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, allowing for a solid period of cruising. This isn't a route for leisurely scenic stops; it's built for efficient travel, connecting you between points with minimal fuss.

91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.5 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 21 decision points packed into just 39.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.

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: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.4 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.

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

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

Somerville

32.4 mi in | ~40m

Flemington

36.3 mi in | ~45m

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 50m. Total distance: 39.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 26.5 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 Raritan, 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: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.4 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 Raritan, 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 Raritan, NJ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.