Jersey City to West Freehold is 42.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 2 minutes via US Highway 9 and the New Jersey Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its relatively short distance and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward drive. Plan for this to be a quick commute or an easy addition to a longer day's travel. The main arteries you'll use are US Highway 9, the New Jersey Turnpike, and the Garden State Parkway.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 9
15.3 mi
22m
New Jersey Turnpike
11.9 mi
14m
Garden State Parkway
4.2 mi
5m
US 1 Truck
3 mi
5m
US 1
2.1 mi
2m
Exit to GSP and US Route 9
1.4 mi
2m
West Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
GSP Southbound entrance
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 9
— 15.3 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jersey City, NJ and West Freehold, 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 SeaportUse 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
2.1 mi·2 min·US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 78 East, I 95, NJTP: New Jersey Turnpike TollUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 78
47 ft·0 sec·I 95/NJTP North Tolls
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95/NJTP North Tolls
0.1 mi·7 sec·I 95/NJTP North Tolls
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: TrentonUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
12
Merge onto I 95
12 mi·14 min·New Jersey Turnpike
13
Take the exit onto Exit 11
1.4 mi·2 min·Exit to GSP and US Route 9
Exit 11Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, WoodbridgeUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge, Perth AmboyUse the slight left lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP Southbound entrance
0.5 mi·1 min·GSP Southbound entrance
Toward GSP South: Garden State ParkwayUse the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto GSP
3.0 mi·3 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi·49 sec·Garden State Parkway
18
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
0.4 mi·29 sec·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 123Toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old BridgeUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto US 9
15 mi·22 min·US Highway 9
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
22
Turn right onto CR 537
0.9 mi·1 min·West Main Street
23
Turn left onto Schlectweg Way
308 ft·18 sec·Schlectweg Way
24
Turn right
35 ft·3 sec
25
Turn right
235 ft·17 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 21.3 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 25.7 — 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
6.3 mi into trip|~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
8
19.4 mi into trip|~27m in|Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9
Take the exit onto Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9 toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
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 11
Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbri...
8
20.8 mi into trip|~29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Pa...
8
25.7 mi into trip|~36m in
Take the exit toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge
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 123
Toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.30 one way
$14.61 round trip
$4.37/gal25.4 MPG avg15 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.79
$8.01
$16.03
premium
$5.13
$8.58
$17.16
diesel
$5.97
$9.98
$19.97
Estimated Tolls: $1.92
New Jersey Turnpike
(11.9 mi)$1.67
Garden State Parkway
(4.2 mi)$0.25
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
12.8
0
$4.46
$2.04
Efficient EV
10.6
0
$3.72
$1.70
EV Truck/SUV
17
0
$5.95
$2.72
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 Sep 3, 2026
Origin
Jersey City, NJ
Morning
in Jersey City on Saturday
Local time
7:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 8 mph78% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 2:10PM EDT until September 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 2:10PM EDT until September 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
West Freehold, NJ
Morning
in West Freehold on Saturday
Local time
7:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SE 0 to 5 mph60% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 2:10PM EDT until September 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 2:10PM EDT until September 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
2 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
1h 2m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 89% of this 42.5-mile drive is on highways. You'll encounter your longest stretch without exiting on US Highway 9 for 15.3 miles. The bulk of your travel will be on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, which means you should anticipate frequent exits and potential merging traffic as you navigate these major roadways. Once you leave the major highways, the character of the drive will shift to surface roads for the remaining 11% of the trip.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.3 mi on US Highway 9.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 9 and New Jersey Turnpike. 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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.5 miles you will encounter 23 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 6.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.4 miles (Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
179 ft9 ft
Total Climb
397 ft
Total Descent
250 ft
Highest Point
179 ft
~42.5 mi in
Elevation Range
171 ft
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 West Freehold, NJ, road signs point toward Newark Airport, Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike Toll, Njtp South: Trenton, Gsp, Woodbridge and Gsp South - among others.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 42.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.3 miles on US Highway 9. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.92 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 7 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 West Freehold, 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 6.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.4 miles (Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9): 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 West Freehold, NJ before heading back.
