Origin
Monroe, NJ
Late night in Monroe on Sunday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monroe, 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
47m
Distance
36.1 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monroe, NJ
Garrison Gao
Edison, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling between Monroe and Edison, New Jersey, covers a total of 36.1 miles and typically takes about 47 minutes. This highway-focused trip is straightforward enough to complete in a single day, making it an efficient commute or short-distance excursion. You can expect to spend approximately $6 on fuel for the journey. Because both the origin and destination are located within the Northeast region, you will remain in a familiar geographic environment throughout the drive. Since there are no required stops, you have the flexibility to head straight to your destination without needing to plan for overnight accommodations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 287 | 30.4 mi | 35m |
| Stelton Road | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Whippany Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Plainfield Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Lafayette Avenue | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Park Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Reed Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Central Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 287
— 30.4 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monroe, NJ and Edison, NJ.
1
Start on Cedar Knolls Road
279 ft
·
7 sec
·
Cedar Knolls Road
2
Continue on Park Avenue
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Park Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 511
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Whippany Road
4
Continue on CR 510
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Lafayette Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 287 South: Somerville
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 287
16 mi
·
18 min
·
I 287
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 287
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 287
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 5
Toward CR 529: Stelton Road, Edison, MVC Agency
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
202 ft
·
4 sec
Toward MVC Agency
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on CR 529
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Stelton Road
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on CR 529
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Plainfield Avenue
12
Turn right onto Central Avenue
345 ft
·
17 sec
·
Central Avenue
13
Turn right onto Reed Street
523 ft
·
28 sec
·
Reed Street
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18 miles from Monroe, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 33 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 511 / Whippany Road
Turn right onto CR 511 / Whippany Road
Navigation decision point
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 287 South: Somerville
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 287 South: Somerville
6
18 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 287
Keep slight left at fork onto I 287
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
32.8 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward CR 529: Stelton Road, Edison, MVC Agency
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 5
Toward CR 529: Stelton Road, Edison, MVC Agency
8
33 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MVC Agency
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MVC Agency
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.98 one way
$11.97 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.55 | $13.11 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.00 | $14.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.97 | $15.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
3:35 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
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
47m 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 trip dominated by high-speed travel, as 84% of this 36.1-mile journey takes place on highways. The route relies heavily on I-287, which provides a long, uninterrupted stretch of 30.4 miles. As you transition off the interstate, you will navigate via Stelton Road and Whippany Road to reach your final destination. This drive feels like a standard, functional transit route rather than a leisurely scenic tour. You will spend the vast majority of your time behind the wheel maintaining steady highway speeds before transitioning into the local road network.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.4 mi on I 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 287 and Stelton Road. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near CR 511 / Whippany Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 36.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.3 miles (CR 511 / Whippany Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (I 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
332 ft
283 ft
Total Climb
50 ft
Total Descent
33 ft
Highest Point
332 ft
~6 mi in
Elevation Range
50 ft
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 Monroe, NJ to Edison, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Mvc Agency along the way.
Mvc Agency
32.8 mi in
|
~39m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 36.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m 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 30.4 miles on I 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.3 miles (CR 511 / Whippany Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (I 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Morristown National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park 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 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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