Origin
Jersey City, NJ
Morning in Jersey City on Sunday
Local time
10:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jersey City, NJ to Ridgewood, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
23 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 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ridgewood, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition from Jersey City to Ridgewood, this 23-mile drive is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 34 minutes. Because the trip is short and efficient, it is perfect for a one-day excursion that requires no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via Tonnelle Avenue, NJ 3, and NJ 17, keeping the trip simple and direct. Budgeting approximately $4 for fuel covers the entirety of the transit, making it a very economical commute. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region of New Jersey, you will remain in a familiar environment throughout the drive. This route is best viewed as a practical connection between two distinct New Jersey communities rather than a leisurely sightseeing tour.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 17 | 11.6 mi | 13m |
| NJ 3 | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Tonnelle Avenue | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Ridgewood Avenue | 2.1 mi | 6m |
| US 1 Truck | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Duncan Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Olean Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Ridgewood Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
NJ 17
— 11.6 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jersey City, NJ and Ridgewood, NJ.
1
Start on Olean Avenue
316 ft
·
15 sec
·
Olean Avenue
2
Turn right onto Duncan Avenue
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Duncan Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
169 ft
·
4 sec
·
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 North, US 9 North: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Secaucus, Lincoln Tunnel
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Toward US 1-9 North: Secaucus, Lincoln Tunnel
Use the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto US 1; US 9
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto NJ 3
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward NJ 17 North: Rutherford
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward NJ 17 North: Rutherford
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto NJ 17
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on NJ 17
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on NJ 17
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
Toward Oradell
Use the right lane.
15
Turn slight right
196 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Oradell, U Turn
16
Turn straight onto CR 80
329 ft
·
8 sec
·
Ridgewood Avenue
17
Continue on CR 80
2.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Ridgewood Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
East Ridgewood Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 8.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Turn right onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 139 East, US 1 North, US 9 North: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Secaucus, Lincoln Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 North, US 9 North: Hob...
8
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck toward US 1-9 North: Secaucus, Lincoln Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 1-9 North: Secaucus, Lincoln Tunnel
6
8.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward NJ 17 North: Rutherford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 17 North: Rutherford
8
8.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 17 North: Rutherford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 17 North: Rutherford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.81 one way
$7.63 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.18 | $8.35 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.46 | $8.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.08 | $10.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8 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 | 6.9 | 0 | $2.41 | $1.10 |
| Efficient EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.01 | $0.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.22 | $1.47 |
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
Ridgewood, NJ
Morning in Ridgewood on Sunday
Local time
10:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
12 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
34m 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 drive that is heavily focused on highway travel, with 76% of your route spent on high-speed roads. You will find yourself navigating a mix of urban streets and major thoroughfares, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 11.6 miles on NJ 17. The transition between the congested roads of Jersey City and the highway environment of NJ 3 creates a fast-paced experience for the driver. As you move toward Ridgewood, the road character shifts from dense metropolitan infrastructure to the more suburban feel of the state highway system. Staying alert is key, as the high percentage of highway driving means you will be moving at steady speeds for the majority of your 34-minute trip.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.6 mi on NJ 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 17 and NJ 3. 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
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 12 decision points packed into just 23 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
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 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles (US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
98 ft
7 ft
Total Climb
117 ft
Total Descent
50 ft
Highest Point
98 ft
~22 mi in
Elevation Range
91 ft
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 Ridgewood, NJ, road signs point toward Secaucus, Oradell and U Turn.
Secaucus
1.4 mi in
|
~2m
Oradell
20.7 mi in
|
~27m
U Turn
20.8 mi in
|
~27m
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 34m. Total distance: 23 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.6 miles on NJ 17. 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 Ridgewood, 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 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles (US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison 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 Ridgewood, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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