Origin
Jersey City, NJ
Morning in Jersey City on Saturday
Local time
6:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jersey City, NJ to Washington, NJ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
57.2 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jersey City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Washington, NJ
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
Jersey City to Washington, NJ is 57.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 14 minutes via Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and NJ 31, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick drive stays entirely within New Jersey, moving from the bustling Northeast region towards a more relaxed part of the state. Given its short duration and highway focus, it's a straightforward trip perfect for a quick getaway or a simple transit. You'll find the majority of the route on well-maintained highways, making for an efficient travel experience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 40 mi | 46m |
| NJ 31 | 10.7 mi | 16m |
| US 1 Truck | 3 mi | 5m |
| US 1 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Duncan Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| I 78 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Olean Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
— 40 mi, about 46m
Traffic on I-78
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 80 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,749 veh/hr typical · worst 4,397
Quietest
2 AM
~366 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 99 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jersey City, NJ and Washington, 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
31 mi
·
36 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 17
Toward NJ 31: Clinton, Flemington, Washington
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto NJ 31
11 mi
·
16 min
·
NJ 31
16
Turn left onto NJ 57
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Washington Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
NJ 57
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.6 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 45.9 — 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
45.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward NJ 31: Clinton, Flemington, Washington
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 17
Toward NJ 31: Clinton, Flemington, Washington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.83 one way
$19.66 round trip
$4.37/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $10.79 | $21.57 |
| premium | $5.13 | $11.55 | $23.09 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $13.44 | $26.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.01 | $2.75 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.01 | $3.66 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Washington, NJ
Morning in Washington on Saturday
Local time
6:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°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
1h 14m 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?
You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 97% of the drive being on them. The Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway accounts for the longest stretch at 40 miles. Expect a very highway-dominated experience until you get closer to Washington, NJ, where the route transitions to surface roads like NJ 31. The high percentage of highway driving means you'll encounter a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits.
97% 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: 40 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 NJ 31. 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
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.2 miles you will encounter 15 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
461 ft
31 ft
Total Climb
703 ft
Total Descent
274 ft
Highest Point
461 ft
~57.2 mi in
Elevation Range
430 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 Washington, NJ, road signs point toward Newark Airport North Area, Air Cargo, Njtp: Economy Parking and Flemington.
Newark Airport North Area
5.4 mi in
|
~8m
Air Cargo
5.4 mi in
|
~8m
Njtp: Economy Parking
5.6 mi in
|
~9m
Flemington
45.9 mi in
|
~56m
About the Cities
Starting in Jersey City, NJ
Full guide →Founded 1609
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.
Top landmarks
- • Holland Tunnel — road tunnel between Manhattan, New York and Jersey City, New Jersey in the Unite...
- • Statue of Liberty National Monument — United States national monument
- • Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal — former railroad terminal in Jersey City, New Jersey
Arriving in Washington, NJ
Full guide →Founded 1868
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 14m. Total distance: 57.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40 miles on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Washington, 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Washington, 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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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