Origin
Livingston, NJ
Late night in Livingston on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Livingston, NJ to Edison, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
30.9 mi
50 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Livingston, NJ
David Kanigan
Edison, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 30.9-mile drive from Livingston, NJ, to Edison, NJ, is designed for efficiency, taking about 48 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You'll primarily navigate the Garden State Parkway and US 1, with a section of the Essex Freeway contributing to the journey. With an estimated fuel cost of just $5, this route is budget-friendly. The drive is focused on getting you from point A to point B without much fuss, making it ideal when time is a factor. Both locations are within the Northeast region of the US, so you won't be crossing any major geographical divides.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 13.3 mi | 18m |
| US 1 | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| Essex Freeway | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Plainfield Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| East Mount Pleasant Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Freeway Drive East | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Shrewsbury Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 13.3 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livingston, NJ and Edison, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 10
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Mount Pleasant Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 635
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Shrewsbury Drive
3
Continue on CR 634
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Laurel Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 280 East: Newark
5
Merge onto I 280
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Essex Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 11A
Toward Harrison Street, Clinton Street, East Orange
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn straight onto Freeway Drive East
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Freeway Drive East
8
Turn right onto South Oraton Parkway
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Oraton Parkway
9
Continue on Whittlesey Avenue
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Whittlesey Avenue
10
Turn straight onto Maybaum Avenue
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Maybaum Avenue
11
Continue on Oraton Parkway
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Oraton Parkway
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto Oraton Parkway
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Oraton Parkway
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward GSP Toll South
14
Merge onto GSP
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on Garden State Parkway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Garden State Parkway Southbound
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 130B-A
Toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 130B
Toward US 1 South: Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
US 1
19
Continue on US 1
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on US 1
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US 1
21
Take the exit
208 ft
·
3 sec
Use the slight right lane.
22
Turn straight onto Fulton Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Fulton Street
23
Turn right onto CR 529
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Plainfield Avenue
24
Turn left onto Central Avenue
345 ft
·
17 sec
·
Central Avenue
25
Turn right onto Reed Street
523 ft
·
28 sec
·
Reed Street
26
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.4 miles from Livingston, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 24.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 280 / Essex Freeway
Merge onto I 280 / Essex Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
6.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward Harrison Street, Clinton Street, East Orange
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11A
Toward Harrison Street, Clinton Street, East Or...
6
8.8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
Oraton Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Oraton Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
23.9 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 130B-A
Toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
9
24.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 130B
Toward US 1 South: Trenton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.12 one way
$10.25 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.61 | $11.22 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.99 | $11.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.82 | $13.64 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.88
Garden State Parkway
(14.6 mi)
$0.88
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.24 | $1.48 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.33 | $1.98 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Edison, NJ
Late night in Edison on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°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
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
48m 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 for 84% of this journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 13.3 miles on the Garden State Parkway, offering a consistent pace. While mainly on major roadways like the Garden State Parkway and US 1, the inclusion of the Essex Freeway means you'll experience varied highway environments. This isn't a winding country road; it's a practical route prioritizing speed and directness for most of its 30.9 miles.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.3 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US 1. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near I 280 / Essex Freeway.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 30.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (I 280 / Essex Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles (Oraton Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Livingston, NJ and Edison, NJ, road signs point toward Orange, Gsp Toll South and Trenton.
Orange
6.6 mi in
|
~10m
Gsp Toll South
9.1 mi in
|
~15m
Trenton
23.9 mi in
|
~35m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 30.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.3 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.88 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. 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 Edison, 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 2 miles (I 280 / Essex Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles (Oraton Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Morristown National Historical Park (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 Edison, 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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