Origin
Lakewood, NJ
Afternoon in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
12:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakewood, NJ to Raritan, 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 8m
Distance
47.4 mi
76 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Raritan, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 47.4-mile drive from Lakewood to Raritan, New Jersey, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 8 minutes, making it an excellent option for a single-day trip. You'll primarily navigate via NJ 18 and US Highway 9 before merging onto I-287. With a highway share of 69%, expect a focused drive that's efficient for getting from point A to point B. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $8, suggesting a budget-friendly excursion. Given its short distance and focused profile, this route is ideal for a quick transit within the Northeast region.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 18 | 16 mi | 19m |
| US Highway 9 | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| I 287 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Easton Avenue | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Kozloski Road | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| US 22 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Halls Mill Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Memorial Parkway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 18
— 16 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, NJ and Raritan, 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
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
US Highway 9
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
291 ft
·
8 sec
Use the right lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork
140 ft
·
3 sec
Use the right lane.
6
Turn straight onto Edinburgh Drive
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Edinburgh Drive
7
Continue on CR 55
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Halls Mill Road
8
Continue on CR 55
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Kozloski Road
9
Turn right onto NJ 79
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
Use the left lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick
Use the right lane.
11
Merge onto NJ 18
16 mi
·
19 min
·
NJ 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on NJ 18
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Memorial Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward Easton Avenue, So Bound Brook
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto (672)
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
George Street
15
Turn left onto CR 609
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Landing Lane
16
Turn right onto CR 527
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Easton Avenue
Use the right lane.
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 287 North: Morristown, Mahwah
18
Merge onto I 287
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 287
19
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 14B
Toward US 22 West: Clinton
Use the slight left lane.
20
Merge onto US 22
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
US 22
21
Continue on US 22
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 22
Use the right lane.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 202 South, US 206 South: Flemington, Princeton, Raritan
23
Merge onto US 202; US 206
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 202; US 206
24
Take the exit onto US 206
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 206
Toward US 206 South, NJ 28: Somerville, Princeton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Enter roundabout onto US 206
525 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 206
26
Continue on US 206
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
US 206
27
Turn right onto CR 626
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
E. Somerset Street
28
Turn right onto Thompson Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Thompson Street
29
Arrive at destination
Thompson Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 46.1 — 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.
7
8.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
34 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward Easton Avenue, So Bound Brook
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 Easton Avenue, So Bound Brook
7
42.4 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward US 22 West: Clinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 14B
Toward US 22 West: Clinton
7
46.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
US 206
Take the exit onto US 206 toward US 206 South, NJ 28: Somerville, Princeton
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 206 South, NJ 28: Somerville, Princet...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.86 one way
$15.72 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.61 | $17.21 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.19 | $18.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.47 | $20.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 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 | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.15 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.64 | $3.03 |
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.
Destination
Raritan, NJ
Afternoon in Raritan on Sunday
Local time
12:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°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
27 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 8m 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 offers a highway-focused experience, with 69% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 16 miles on NJ 18, providing a consistent pace. As you progress, the drive transitions between different highway systems, including US Highway 9 and I-287, offering a dynamic yet predictable driving experience. Expect a steady flow of traffic typical of major arteries in New Jersey, keeping you moving efficiently towards your destination.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16 mi on NJ 18.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 18 and US Highway 9. 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
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.4 miles you will encounter 19 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: near the start (US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lakewood, NJ and Raritan, NJ, road signs point toward So Bound Brook and Mahwah.
So Bound Brook
34 mi in
|
~47m
Mahwah
38.5 mi in
|
~55m
About the Cities
Starting in Lakewood, NJ
Full guide →Lakewood is a town in Ocean County, 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 1h 8m. Total distance: 47.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16 miles on NJ 18. 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 Raritan, 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 8.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Morristown National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area. 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 Raritan, 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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