Origin
Lakewood, NJ
Morning in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
10:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakewood, NJ to Princeton, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
34.1 mi
55 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Princeton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lakewood, NJ to Princeton, NJ is 34.1 miles and takes about 53 minutes via Freehold Bypass and US Highway 9, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within New Jersey, taking you from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a drive that involves frequent turns, so it's less about open highway cruising and more about navigating local roads. It’s a straightforward journey perfect for a quick hop between towns.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold Bypass | 12 mi | 16m |
| US Highway 9 | 9.5 mi | 14m |
| Princeton-Hightstown Road | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| Hightstown Bypass | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Washington Road | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Madison Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Nassau Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Freehold Bypass
— 12 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, NJ and Princeton, NJ.
1
Start on 8th Street
46 ft
·
4 sec
·
8th Street
2
Turn right onto US 9; CR 547
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 9
9.5 mi
·
14 min
·
US Highway 9
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto NJ 79
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
South Street
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward NJ 33 West: Trenton
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto NJ 33
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Freehold Bypass
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward NJ 133 West: East Windsor, Princeton
8
Merge onto NJ 133
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Hightstown Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward CR 571 West: Princeton
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn slight right onto CR 571
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Princeton-Hightstown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto CR 526; CR 571
247 ft
·
5 sec
·
Washington Road
12
Continue on CR 526; CR 571
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Road
13
Enter roundabout onto CR 526; CR 571
172 ft
·
4 sec
·
Washington Road
14
Continue on CR 526; CR 571
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto NJ 27
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Nassau Street
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
NJ 27
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17 miles from Lakewood, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 26.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue
Turn right onto US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
10.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
NJ 79 / South Street
Turn right onto NJ 79 / South Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
10.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the ramp toward NJ 33 West: Trenton
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward NJ 33 West: Trenton
5
22.9 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward NJ 133 West: East Windsor, Princeton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 133 West: East Windsor, Princeton
6
26.4 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward CR 571 West: Princeton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CR 571 West: Princeton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.65 one way
$11.31 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.19 | $12.38 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.61 | $13.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.53 | $15.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.58 | $1.64 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.98 | $1.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Princeton, NJ
Morning in Princeton on Sunday
Local time
10:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Manalapan, NJ
17 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
9 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
53m 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?
This route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with only 28% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a mix of road types, including stretches on the Freehold Bypass and US Highway 9, interspersed with local roads like Princeton-Hightstown Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12 miles on the Freehold Bypass. Be prepared for more frequent adjustments in direction as you transition between these road segments, making it a more engaged driving experience.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12 mi on Freehold Bypass.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 34.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles (NJ 79 / South Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Lakewood, NJ to Princeton, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 571 West: Princeton along the way.
Cr 571 West: Princeton
26.4 mi in
|
~39m
About the Cities
Starting in Lakewood, NJ
Full guide →Lakewood is a town in Ocean County, New Jersey.
Arriving in Princeton, NJ
Full guide →Princeton, home to the prestigious Princeton University, is a municipality with a population of approximately 32,000 (2017) in Mercer County, central New Jersey.
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 53m. Total distance: 34.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12 miles on Freehold Bypass. 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 Princeton, 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: near the start (US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles (NJ 79 / South Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway National Recreation Area and Morristown National Historical Park. 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 Princeton, 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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