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Trip from Jersey City, NJ to West Windsor, NJ

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

Drive Time

1h 9m

Distance

47.7 mi

77 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 4m ★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m

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

township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States

West Windsor, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 47.7-mile drive from Jersey City, NJ, to West Windsor, NJ, is easily manageable within a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 9 minutes. The route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 87% of the journey on major roads like the New Jersey Turnpike and US 1. With an estimated fuel cost of $8, this trip is budget-friendly for a quick excursion within the Northeast region. Given its short duration and highway-centric profile, it's ideal as a quick transit rather than an overnight adventure. You'll experience a consistent driving pace for most of the trip.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
New Jersey Turnpike 19.8 mi 23m
US 1 17.9 mi 25m
US 1 Truck 3 mi 5m
Washington Road 1.1 mi 2m
Princeton-Hightstown Road 0.9 mi 1m
State Route 18 0.4 mi <1m
Duncan Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
Penn Lyle Road 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: New Jersey Turnpike — 19.8 mi, about 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

2.1 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 Toll Use 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: Trenton Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 49 sec
12

Merge onto I 95

20 mi · 23 min · New Jersey Turnpike
13

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 9 Toward NJ 18 East, US 1 East: New Brunswick Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork

323 ft · 7 sec
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University
16

Merge onto NJ 18; CR 527

0.4 mi · 51 sec · State Route 18
17

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward US 1 South: Princeton, Trenton
18

Merge onto US 1

2.4 mi · 3 min · US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
19

Continue on US 1

0.1 mi · 9 sec · US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

276 ft · 4 sec · US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

387 ft · 6 sec · US 1
22

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

3.6 mi · 5 min · US 1
23

Continue on US 1

9.5 mi · 13 min · US 1
24

Enter roundabout onto CR 526; CR 571

342 ft · 8 sec · Washington Road
25

Continue on CR 526; CR 571

1.1 mi · 2 min · Washington Road
26

Continue on CR 526; CR 571

81 ft · 2 sec · Washington Road
27

Turn right onto NJ 64; CR 526; CR 571

0.9 mi · 1 min · Princeton-Hightstown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
28

Turn right onto CR 638

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Clarksville Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
29

Turn left onto Penn Lyle Road

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Penn Lyle Road
30

Turn left onto Canoe Brook Drive

406 ft · 19 sec · Canoe Brook Drive
31

Turn right onto Princeton Place

378 ft · 21 sec · Princeton Place
32

Turn left onto Ziff Lane

475 ft · 20 sec · Ziff Lane
33

Arrive at destination

Ziff Lane

Where to Stop

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

township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Edison, NJ

24 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Edison, NJ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23.8 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 27

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 28 — 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
5.6 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the exit toward I 78 East, I 95, NJTP: New Jersey Turnpike Toll

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 I 78 East, I 95, NJTP: New Jersey Turnpi...
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
27.3 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit toward NJ 18 East, US 1 East: New Brunswick

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 9 Toward NJ 18 East, US 1 East: New Brunswick
8
28 mi into trip | ~37m in

Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers Univ...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.91 one way

$15.82 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $8.66 $17.32
premium $4.93 $9.25 $18.50
diesel $5.61 $10.53 $21.06

Estimated Tolls: $2.78

New Jersey Turnpike (19.8 mi) $2.78

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Tolls

$3

Total

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.3 0 $5.01 $2.29
Efficient EV 11.9 0 $4.17 $1.91
EV Truck/SUV 19.1 0 $6.68 $3.05

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Jersey City, NJ

Morning in Jersey City on Sunday

Local time

6:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

West Windsor, NJ

Morning in West Windsor on Sunday

Local time

6:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

63°F

Edison, NJ

24 mi in

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

4 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 9m 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 highway-focused experience for the majority of this 47.7-mile route, with 87% of the drive utilizing major thoroughfares. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 19.8 miles along the New Jersey Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. While primarily highway, you'll transition to US 1 and US 1 Truck, which may introduce slightly more varied traffic patterns as you approach your destination. The overall feel is one of efficient transit rather than scenic exploration, designed for getting you from point A to point B smoothly.

87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.8 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and US 1. 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 47.7 miles you will encounter 27 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 5.6 miles: 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.

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 Windsor, NJ, road signs point toward Newark Airport, Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike Toll, Njtp South: Trenton, Rutgers University and Trenton.

Newark Airport

2.8 mi in | ~5m | via US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck

Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike Toll

5.6 mi in | ~9m

Njtp South: Trenton

6.3 mi in | ~10m

Rutgers University

28 mi in | ~37m

Trenton

28.7 mi in | ~39m

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.

Arriving in West Windsor, NJ

Full guide →

West Windsor is a township of 28,000 people (2019) in New Jersey. It is among the highest-income municipalities in New Jersey. It is largely made up of expensive houses in carefully groomed developments.

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 9m. Total distance: 47.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 19.8 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.78 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.

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 Windsor, 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 5.6 miles: 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.

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 Windsor, 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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