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Trip from Lawrence, NJ to Jersey City, 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

49.1 mi

79 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

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 4m ★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 12m
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.

Downtown Lawrence, NJ, NJ

Lawrence, NJ

James Kampeis

Trip Overview

The drive from Lawrence, NJ to Jersey City, NJ covers 49.1 miles and takes about 1h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on New Jersey Turnpike, Brunswick Pike, US 1 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22.1 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.14 one way before food or hotel costs.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
New Jersey Turnpike 22.1 mi 27m
Brunswick Pike 16 mi 22m
US 1 2.8 mi 3m
Lincoln Highway 1.5 mi 2m
Quaker Bridge Road 1.1 mi 1m
New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur 1.1 mi 1m
US 1 Truck 0.7 mi 1m
Lawrence Station Road 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: New Jersey Turnpike — 22.1 mi, about 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lawrence, NJ and Jersey City, NJ.

1

Start on Fountayne Boulevard

62 ft · 8 sec · Fountayne Boulevard
2

Turn left onto CR 608

0.6 mi · 1 min · Lawrence Station Road
3

At end of road, turn left onto CR 533

1.1 mi · 1 min · Quaker Bridge Road
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Use the slight right lane.
5

Merge onto US 1

16 mi · 22 min · Brunswick Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

0.1 mi · 9 sec · US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

504 ft · 7 sec · US 1
Toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick
8

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

366 ft · 5 sec · US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

2.5 mi · 3 min · US 1
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 36 sec
Toward NJ 18 South: East Brunswick Use the slight right lane.
11

Merge onto NJ 18; CR 527

0.5 mi · 55 sec · State Route 18
Use the right lane.
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward NJTP Toll, I 95 Toll: New Jersey Turnpike Use the right lane.
13

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
15

Merge onto I 95; NJTP

22 mi · 27 min · New Jersey Turnpike
16

Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP

1.1 mi · 1 min · New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 58 sec
Exit 15E Toward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Newark, Jersey City Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight right at fork

322 ft · 7 sec
Toward US 1 Truck North, US 9 Truck North: Jersey City, Doremus Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Jersey City
20

Merge onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck

1.5 mi · 2 min · Lincoln Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

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 North, US 9 Truck North Use the left lane.
22

Turn right onto Duncan Avenue

0.4 mi · 51 sec · Duncan Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
23

Turn left onto Olean Avenue

316 ft · 13 sec · Olean Avenue
24

Arrive at destination

Olean Avenue

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

25 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.

Popular next leg

Edison, NJ to Jersey City, NJ

27.3 mi · 40m

Pacing Suggestions

Plainsboro Center, NJ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Edison, NJ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.5 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 18.1 and 46.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
18.1 mi into trip | ~26m in | US 1

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

Toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|New...
7
18.2 mi into trip | ~26m in | US 1

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
21.9 mi into trip | ~33m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
8
45.8 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in

Take the exit toward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Newark, Jersey City

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. Exit 15E Toward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Newa...
8
46.2 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 Truck North, US 9 Truck North: Jersey City, Doremus Avenue

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 1 Truck North, US 9 Truck North: Jers...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.14 one way

$16.28 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $8.92 $17.83
premium $4.93 $9.52 $19.04
diesel $5.61 $10.84 $21.68

Estimated Tolls: $3.25

New Jersey Turnpike (23.2 mi) $3.25

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: 17.2 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 14.7 0 $5.16 $2.36
Efficient EV 12.3 0 $4.30 $1.96
EV Truck/SUV 19.6 0 $6.87 $3.14

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 15, 2026

Origin

Lawrence, NJ

Evening in Lawrence on Sunday

Local time

7:20 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Jersey City, NJ

Evening in Jersey City on Sunday

Local time

7:20 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

63°F

Edison, NJ

25 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

3 degrees warmer 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?

49.1 mi in 1h 9m — 55% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: New Jersey Turnpike.

55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.1 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 18.1 miles in near US 1.

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 49.1 miles you will encounter 22 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 18.1 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.2 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 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 Lawrence, NJ and Jersey City, NJ, road signs point toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, New Brunswick, Njtp Toll and Njtp North: New York City.

Newark|Newark

18.1 mi in | ~26m | via US 1

Camden

18.1 mi in | ~26m | via US 1

New Brunswick|Newark

18.1 mi in | ~26m | via US 1

New Brunswick

18.1 mi in | ~26m | via US 1

Njtp Toll

21.5 mi in | ~31m

Njtp North: New York City

21.9 mi in | ~33m

About the Cities

Arriving 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.

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: 49.1 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 (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 22.1 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $3.25 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 Jersey City, 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 18.1 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.2 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 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 Jersey City, 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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