Origin
Metuchen, NJ
Late night in Metuchen on Sunday
Local time
4:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Metuchen, NJ to Bayonne, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
20.3 mi
33 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Metuchen, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Bayonne, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 25.1-mile drive from Metuchen to Bayonne, NJ, will take you about 34 minutes and is best suited as a single-day trip. You'll primarily be navigating local streets, with Main Street and Amboy Avenue being key parts of your journey before you reach the Goethals Bridge. With a modest fuel cost estimate of $4, this route is very budget-friendly. The drive is characterized by numerous turns, making it a more involved local navigation experience rather than a straightforward highway cruise. Given its brevity, you won't need to worry about overnight stays.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 9.2 mi | 15m |
| Bayonne Bridge | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| I 278 | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Forest Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Amboy Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East 30th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 9.2 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metuchen, NJ and Bayonne, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 27
209 ft
·
13 sec
·
Middlesex Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 531
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto CR 501
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Amboy Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
5
Merge onto US 1
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 1
6.3 mi
·
10 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 278
Toward Goethals Bridge, Staten Island
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 278
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
I 278
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
149 ft
·
3 sec
Exit 4
Toward Forest Avenue, Gulf Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Use the slight left lane.
11
Turn straight onto Forest Avenue
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Forest Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn left onto Trantor Place
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Trantor Place
Use the left lane.
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward NY 440 North: Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Expressway, Bayonne Bridge
14
Merge onto NY 440
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
15
Continue on NY 440
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Bayonne Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto East 30th Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East 30th Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto Avenue E
268 ft
·
11 sec
·
Avenue E
18
Turn right onto East 29th Street
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
East 29th Street
19
Turn right onto Broadway
54 ft
·
1 sec
·
Broadway
20
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 14 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 531 / Main Street
Turn right onto CR 531 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 501 / Amboy Avenue
Turn left onto CR 501 / Amboy Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
10.8 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 278
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278 toward Goethals Bridge, Staten Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Goethals Bridge, Staten Island
8
13.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward Forest Avenue, Gulf Avenue
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 4
Toward Forest Avenue, Gulf Avenue
7
14 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.37 one way
$6.73 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.69 | $7.37 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.94 | $7.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.48 | $8.96 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
Bayonne Bridge
$16.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$16
Total
$19
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.13 | $0.97 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.84 | $1.30 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Bayonne, NJ
Late night in Bayonne on Sunday
Local time
4:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
2 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
36m 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 turn-heavy local drive for this 25.1-mile journey between Metuchen and Bayonne. With a 0% highway share, you'll be on surface streets for the entire duration, including Main Street and Amboy Avenue. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not applicable due to the frequent turns characteristic of this profile. This means you'll be actively engaged with the road, making frequent adjustments as you navigate through populated areas. The Goethals Bridge marks a significant transition point towards your destination.
62% 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: 9.2 mi on US 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and Bayonne Bridge. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 531 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 14 decision points packed into just 20.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 531 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (CR 501 / Amboy Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles (I 278): 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Metuchen, NJ to Bayonne, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Staten Island along the way.
Staten Island
10.8 mi in
|
~19m
|
via I 278
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 20.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.2 miles on US 1. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.00 in tolls one way, starting with Bayonne Bridge. 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 Bayonne, 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 531 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (CR 501 / Amboy Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles (I 278): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area and Paterson Great Falls 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 Bayonne, 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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