Origin
Middletown, NJ
Morning in Middletown on Sunday
Local time
7:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Middletown, NJ to Manalapan, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
23.3 mi
37 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Middletown, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Manalapan, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Middletown, NJ to Manalapan, NJ is 23.3 miles and takes about 37m via Colts Neck Road and Freehold Bypass, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Northeast region and the state of New Jersey, making it a convenient local journey. Expect a drive that involves frequent turns, so staying alert is key. This route is ideal for a quick day trip or as a segment of a larger regional exploration, offering a straightforward transition between two New Jersey communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Colts Neck Road | 10.8 mi | 17m |
| Freehold Bypass | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Middletown Lincroft Road | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Swimming River Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Church Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Iron Ore Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Kings Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Colts Neck Road
— 10.8 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Middletown, NJ and Manalapan, NJ.
1
Start on CR 50
35 ft
·
7 sec
·
Kings Highway
2
Turn left onto CR 50
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Church Street
3
Continue on CR 50
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Middletown Lincroft Road
4
Continue on CR 50
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Swimming River Road
5
Turn right onto CR 537
11 mi
·
17 min
·
Colts Neck Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward NJ 33 West: Hightstown, Trenton
7
Merge onto NJ 33
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Freehold Bypass
8
Take the exit
461 ft
·
12 sec
9
Turn slight right onto CR 527A
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Iron Ore Road
10
Arrive at destination
CR 527A
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 23 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 50 / Church Street
Turn left onto CR 50 / Church Street
Navigation decision point
4
17.4 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the ramp toward NJ 33 West: Hightstown, Trenton
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 33 West: Hightstown, Trenton
3
17.7 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
NJ 33 / Freehold Bypass
Merge onto NJ 33 / Freehold Bypass
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
23 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.86 one way
$7.73 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.23 | $8.46 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.52 | $9.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.14 | $10.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7 | 0 | $2.45 | $1.12 |
| Efficient EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.04 | $0.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.26 | $1.49 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Manalapan, NJ
Morning in Manalapan on Sunday
Local time
7:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°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
1 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
37m 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?
This drive is characterized as a turn-heavy local road experience, with no highway driving contributing to its profile. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.8 miles along Colts Neck Road, offering a brief period of consistent travel before more turns appear. As you progress, the route will feel like a typical local commute, weaving through familiar community roads rather than a high-speed transit. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires constant attention to navigation.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.8 mi on Colts Neck Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 50 / Church Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 37m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 50 / Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.7 miles (NJ 33 / Freehold Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 Middletown, NJ to Manalapan, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Trenton along the way.
Trenton
17.4 mi in
|
~28m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 23.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.8 miles on Colts Neck Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 50 / Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.7 miles (NJ 33 / Freehold Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes — Gateway National Recreation Area and Thomas Edison National Historical Park. 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 Manalapan, 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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