Origin
Lawrence, NJ
Morning in Lawrence on Sunday
Local time
6:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lawrence, NJ to Lakewood, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
35.4 mi
57 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 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lawrence, NJ
James Kampeis
Lakewood, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 35.4-mile drive from Lawrence, NJ to Lakewood, NJ takes approximately 49 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's perfect for a single day, with a modest fuel cost of around $6. You'll spend a significant portion of your journey on the Central Jersey Expressway and US Highway 9, making it an efficient way to travel between these two points in the Northeast region. Given its short duration, this route is ideal for a quick excursion or a simple transit, requiring no overnight stays. The overall feel is one of practical, direct travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Jersey Expressway | 23.6 mi | 27m |
| US Highway 9 | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Hughes Drive | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| Yardville-Hamilton Square Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Madison Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Lawrence Station Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Quakerbridge Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Mercer Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Central Jersey Expressway
— 23.6 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lawrence, NJ and Lakewood, 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
Turn right onto CR 533
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Quaker Bridge Road
4
Continue on CR 533
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Quakerbridge Road
5
Turn left onto Hughes Drive
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Hughes Drive
6
At end of road, turn right onto Mercer Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Mercer Street
7
Continue on Yardville-Hamilton Square Road
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Yardville-Hamilton Square Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 195 East
9
Merge onto I 195
24 mi
·
27 min
·
Central Jersey Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 28A
Toward US 9 South: Lakewood
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto US 9
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US Highway 9
12
Continue on US 9
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Madison Avenue
13
Turn left onto 8th Street
46 ft
·
2 sec
·
8th Street
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
8th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.7 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 35.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 608 / Lawrence Station Road
Turn left onto CR 608 / Lawrence Station Road
Navigation decision point
4
4.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
Mercer Street
At end of road, turn right onto Mercer Street
Navigation decision point
5
7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
I 195 / Central Jersey Expressway
Merge onto I 195 / Central Jersey Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
30.6 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward US 9 South: Lakewood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 28A
Toward US 9 South: Lakewood
6
35.4 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
8th Street
Turn left onto 8th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.87 one way
$11.74 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.43 | $12.86 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.87 | $13.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.82 | $15.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 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 | 10.6 | 0 | $3.72 | $1.70 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.10 | $1.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.96 | $2.27 |
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
Lakewood, NJ
Morning in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
6:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Manalapan, NJ
18 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
24 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
49m 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 on this 49-minute journey, with 77% of the drive utilizing major roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 23.6 miles, primarily on the Central Jersey Expressway. This section offers a consistent pace, allowing you to cover ground efficiently. As you transition to US Highway 9 and then Hughes Drive, the character may shift slightly, but the overall emphasis remains on steady progress. It’s a route designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.6 mi on Central Jersey Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central Jersey Expressway and US Highway 9. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 608 / Lawrence Station Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 35.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 (CR 608 / Lawrence Station Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (Mercer Street): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles (I 195 / Central Jersey Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving 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 49m. Total distance: 35.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.6 miles on Central Jersey Expressway. 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 Lakewood, 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 (CR 608 / Lawrence Station Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (Mercer Street): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles (I 195 / Central Jersey Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lakewood, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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