Oasis Restaurant
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Cranford, New Jersey
Hours: 12–9:30 pm
+19089676161
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 33m
Distance
65.1 mi
105 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
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.
Lodi, NJ
Garrison Gao
Trenton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a trip from Lodi to Trenton, you are looking at a 65.1-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 33 minutes. This route is straightforward, relying heavily on a combination of the Garden State Parkway, US 46, and US 1 to navigate the Northeast corridor. Because the total duration is well under two hours, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend roughly $11 on fuel for the one-way drive. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick visit, the efficiency of this highway-focused path makes it a practical choice for your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.5 miles from Lodi, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 27.4 mi | 39m |
| Garden State Parkway | 23.5 mi | 32m |
| US 46 | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Trenton Freeway | 3 mi | 4m |
| North Olden Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Brunswick Pike | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Hamilton Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lodi, NJ and Trenton, NJ.
Start on this road
Merge onto US 46
Keep slight right at fork onto US 46
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto GSP
Continue on Garden State Parkway
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on 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
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Take the exit
At end of road, turn left onto New York Avenue
Turn left onto CR 622
Turn right onto CR 606
Turn right onto CR 626
Arrive at destination
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though keeping an eye on typical Northeast traffic patterns is always wise. You won't need to schedule any formal stops for a 1-hour and 33-minute trip, so consider fueling up in Lodi before you head out to avoid mid-route detours. Keep your $11 fuel budget in mind as you plan your expenses for the day. Because the route relies on three distinct main roads, pay close attention to your GPS signage when transitioning between the Garden State Parkway and US 1 to ensure a smooth journey. Enjoy the convenience of a trip that gets you from point A to point B without the need for an overnight stay.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 14 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.5 miles or 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Trenton, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lodi, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lodi, NJ
This is one driving day of about 65.1 miles and 1h 33m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 32.5 miles from Lodi, 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.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Cranford, New Jersey
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Hours: 12–9:30 pm
+19089676161
Samudhra Premium Restaurant & Lounge, Franklin Park, New Jersey
Franklin Park, New Jersey
Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge
Union, New Jersey
Top Coffee Stop
Montclair, New Jersey
Near the start, short detour
Hours: 7:30 am–5:30 pm
+19733586543
Marimba Cafe
Hackensack, New Jersey
Wonderland Play and Party
South Hackensack, New Jersey
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Cranford, New Jersey
Hours: 12–9:30 pm
+19089676161
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Franklin Park, New Jersey
Hours: 11:30 am–11 pm
+17323699942
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Union, New Jersey
Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm
+19083966401
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Maplewood, New Jersey
Hours: 11 am–11 pm
+19737634460
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Linden, New Jersey
Hours: 12 pm–12 am
+19089254166
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
South Orange Village, New Jersey
Hours: 12–3 pm
+19737624440
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Hours: 10:30 am–12 pm
+19083544024
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Paramus, New Jersey
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+12014871088
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Montclair, New Jersey
Hours: 7:30 am–5:30 pm
+19733586543
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+12012563010
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
South Hackensack, New Jersey
Hours: 10 am–7 pm
+12014265898
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, right off the route
Union, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Highland Park, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, right off the route
Union, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18885577099
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Edison, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Edison, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18774943833
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Edison, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Belleville, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Maplewood, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Princeton, New Jersey
Hours: 12:30–11 pm
+16099190091
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Lodi, New Jersey
Hours: 1–7 pm
+18628997674
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Cranford, New Jersey
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+19085274900
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey
Hours: 10 am–8 pm
+12017132156
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Woodbridge, New Jersey
Hours: 6 am–6 pm
+17327453900
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Lawrence Township, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+16098447067
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hours: 10 am–12 pm
+12013433545
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Princeton, New Jersey
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+16099248144
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.5 and 40.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward NJ 19 North, GSP South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward GSP Toll South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$10.79 one way
$21.59 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.82 | $23.64 |
| premium | $4.93 | $12.63 | $25.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.37 | $28.75 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.49
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.84 | $3.12 |
| Efficient EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.70 | $2.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26 | 0 | $9.11 | $4.17 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Lodi on Sunday
Local time
5:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Trenton on Sunday
Local time
5:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
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.
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience with 93% of your time spent on major arteries. The road transitions between the Garden State Parkway, US 46, and US 1, keeping you on high-speed infrastructure for the vast majority of the 65.1 miles. You will encounter your longest stretch of continuous driving on US 1, which spans 27.4 miles. Because this is essentially a direct transit route, you won't find yourself navigating many local roads or slow-moving rural stretches. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and connectivity over scenic detours, allowing you to move steadily toward your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.5 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.1 miles you will encounter 20 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 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lodi, NJ and Trenton, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp South and Gsp Toll South.
Gsp South
Gsp Toll South
Trenton is in Mercer County, and is the capital of New Jersey. The city's strategic location in between New York City and Philadelphia has historically contributed to its growth and significantly impacts local culture. Located on the Delaware River across from Pennsylvania, Trenton is the only accessible capital city in the United States to border another state.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 65.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). 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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