Traveling from Magnolia to Jersey City covers 84.5 miles, typically taking about 1 hour and 46 minutes of drive time. Because this journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $14 for fuel to complete the trek. The route stays entirely within the Northeast region of New Jersey, moving you from the suburban landscape near the Philadelphia area toward the dense urban environment of the New York City metro area. It is a straightforward, highway-focused commute that prioritizes speed and efficiency over scenic detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.2 miles from Magnolia, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
70.9 mi
1h 23m
I 295
5.7 mi
6m
Lincoln Highway
1.5 mi
2m
Warwick Road North
1.2 mi
2m
New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
1.1 mi
1m
US 1 Truck
0.7 mi
1m
Duncan Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Evesham Avenue West
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 70.9 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Magnolia, NJ and Jersey City, NJ.
1
Start on Walnut Avenue North
434 ft·24 sec·Walnut Avenue North
2
Turn left onto CR 544
0.3 mi·36 sec·Evesham Avenue West
3
Turn left onto CR 669
1.2 mi·2 min·Warwick Road North
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 295 North: Trenton
5
Merge onto I 295
5.7 mi·6 min·I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 36AToward NJ 73 South: BerlinUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto NJ 73
0.2 mi·18 sec·NJ 73
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJTP: New Jersey Turnpike
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJTP North: New YorkUse the straight / right lanes.
10
Merge onto NJTP
15 mi·16 min·New Jersey Turnpike
11
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
56 mi·1 hr 6 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
1.1 mi·1 min·New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Exit 15EToward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Newark, Jersey CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
322 ft·7 sec
Toward US 1 Truck North, US 9 Truck North: Jersey City, Doremus AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Jersey City
16
Merge onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
1.5 mi·2 min·Lincoln Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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 NorthUse the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Duncan Avenue
0.4 mi·51 sec·Duncan Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto Olean Avenue
316 ft·13 sec·Olean Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Olean Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though keep in mind that traffic patterns near Jersey City can fluctuate significantly. You won't need to plan for any formal stops along the way given the short duration, but having your $14 fuel budget ready before you hit the road is a smart move. Because the vast majority of your travel occurs on the New Jersey Turnpike, ensure you have your payment method ready for tolls before you merge onto the highway. Use the direct nature of this 84.5-mile route to your advantage by planning your arrival to avoid peak rush hour congestion in the Jersey City area.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.2 miles from Magnolia, NJ, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.9 miles.
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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.2 miles or 53m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jersey City, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Magnolia, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Magnolia, NJ
This is one driving day of about 84.5 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Magnolia, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 70.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.5 and 81.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
7.5 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward NJ 73 South: Berlin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 36A
Toward NJ 73 South: Berlin
7
8.6 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJTP North: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward NJTP North: New York
8
81.1 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
81.5 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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...
7
81.6 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Jersey City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Jers...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.01 one way
$28.02 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.34
$30.69
premium
$4.93
$16.39
$32.78
diesel
$5.61
$18.66
$37.31
Estimated Tolls: $10.08
New Jersey Turnpike
(72 mi)$10.08
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
$14
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.3
0
$8.87
$4.06
Efficient EV
21.1
0
$7.39
$3.38
EV Truck/SUV
33.8
0
$11.83
$5.41
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Magnolia, NJ
Morning
in Magnolia on Sunday
Local time
6:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
SE 5 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Jersey City, NJ
Morning
in Jersey City on Sunday
Local time
6:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
West Windsor, NJ
42 mi in
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
16 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 46m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 81.6
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 84.5
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 72.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed experience, as 93% of this drive takes place on highways. You will spend the bulk of your time on the New Jersey Turnpike, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 70.9 miles. The route also utilizes portions of I-295 and the Lincoln Highway to bridge the gap between your starting point and final destination. Given the heavy emphasis on major interstates, the personality of this drive is functional and direct rather than winding or technical. You can anticipate a consistent, fast-paced rhythm behind the wheel as you transition through the Garden State.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.9 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and I 295. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.5 miles you will encounter 18 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 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
138 ft9 ft
Total Climb
225 ft
Total Descent
273 ft
Highest Point
138 ft
~63.4 mi in
Elevation Range
129 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Magnolia, NJ and Jersey City, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike and Njtp North: New York.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 84.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.9 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $10.08 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 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
