Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
37.4 mi
60 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
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.
Mount Ephraim, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trenton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Mount Ephraim to Trenton is 37.4 miles and takes about 46 minutes via I 295, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its relatively short length and predominantly highway profile, this route is ideal for a quick, straightforward transit. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it a practical option for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 33.2 mi | 38m |
| South Olden Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Arena Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Black Horse Pike | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Hamilton Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Kings Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Grant Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Linwood Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 72 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,686 veh/hr typical · worst 5,600
Quietest
2 AM
~312 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 98 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Ephraim, NJ and Trenton, NJ.
Start on Linwood Avenue
Turn right onto Grant Avenue
Turn right onto CR 551 Spur
Turn right onto NJ 168
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 295
Take the exit
Turn straight onto CR 620
Turn left onto CR 622
Turn left onto CR 606
Turn right onto CR 626
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 18.7 miles from Mount Ephraim, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 34.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Grant Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto CR 551 Spur / West Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto NJ 168 / Black Horse Pike
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 295
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Arena Drive West, Olden Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$6.25 one way
$12.50 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $6.88 | $13.76 |
| premium | $5.01 | $7.38 | $14.76 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $8.24 | $16.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.93 | $1.80 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.27 | $1.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15 | 0 | $5.24 | $2.39 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Mount Ephraim on Wednesday
Local time
2:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Trenton on Wednesday
Local time
2:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
81°F
Bristol, PA
19 mi in
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
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.
This drive is mostly highway, with 89% of the 37.4 miles on I 295. You'll experience a significant stretch of 33.2 miles on I 295 before transitioning to surface roads like South Olden Avenue and Arena Drive. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic as you approach Trenton. The latter part of the drive will involve navigating more local roads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and South Olden Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Grant Avenue.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 46m drive. You will face about 8 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 (Grant Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (CR 551 Spur / West Kings Highway): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (NJ 168 / Black Horse Pike): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
154 ft
Total Descent
117 ft
Highest Point
72 ft
~35 mi in
Elevation Range
50 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Mount Ephraim, NJ to Trenton, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Arena Drive West along the way.
Arena Drive West
Founded 1719
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.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 37.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.
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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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