Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
38.5 mi
62 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lawrence, NJ
James Kampeis
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a trip from Lawrence to Elizabeth, you are looking at a manageable 38.5-mile journey through the Northeast. Expect to spend about 59 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via US 1, Brunswick Pike, and Carlton Street. With a modest fuel cost of approximately $6, this route is highly efficient for those who prefer to keep travel expenses low. Since the entire trip takes place within New Jersey, you won't need to worry about long-distance planning or overnight stays. It is a straightforward, practical connection between these two points that allows for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 17.8 mi | 28m |
| Brunswick Pike | 16 mi | 22m |
| Carlton Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Quaker Bridge Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East Edgar Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Lawrence Station Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Fountayne Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lawrence, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
Start on Fountayne Boulevard
Turn left onto CR 608
At end of road, turn left onto CR 533
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
Continue on US 1; US 9
Turn right
Turn right
Turn right
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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.
A short stop after about 38.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19.3 miles from Lawrence, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 35.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto US 1 / Brunswick Pike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9 / East Edgar Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.38 one way
$12.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.99 | $13.98 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.47 | $14.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.50 | $17.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 62% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.04 | $1.85 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.39 | $2.46 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (62% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Lawrence on Sunday
Local time
4:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Patchy Frost then Sunny
Destination
Late night in Elizabeth on Sunday
Local time
4:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
63°F
Edison, NJ
19 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This 38.5-mile route offers a mixed driving experience, balancing local navigation with faster transit. You will spend roughly 46% of your time on highways, providing a nice contrast to the more technical local road sections. The longest uninterrupted portion of your drive will be a 17.8-mile stretch on US 1, where you can settle into a consistent pace. As you transition from Brunswick Pike and Carlton Street onto the highway, the driving environment shifts noticeably. Overall, the road feels like a functional blend of urban and suburban transit, requiring you to remain alert as the road type changes throughout the hour-long trip.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near US 1 / Brunswick Pike.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 38.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (US 1 / Brunswick Pike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lawrence, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark and New Brunswick.
Newark|Newark
Camden
New Brunswick|Newark
New Brunswick
Elizabeth is the fourth largest city in New Jersey.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 38.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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