Origin
Newark, NJ
Morning in Newark on Saturday
Local time
6:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newark, NJ to Hillsborough, NJ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
41.3 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newark, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Hillsborough, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Newark, NJ to Hillsborough, NJ covers 41.3 miles and takes about 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, US 206, I 287 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24 miles on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.10 one way before food or hotel costs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 24 mi | 27m |
| US 206 | 7.5 mi | 11m |
| I 287 | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Irvine Turner Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| US 202 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Hillsborough Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Springfield Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Market Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
— 24 mi, about 27m
Traffic on I-78
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,598 veh/hr typical · worst 4,220
Quietest
2 AM
~240 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 48 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newark, NJ and Hillsborough, NJ.
1
Start on CR 510
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Market Street
2
Turn left onto CR 510; CR 603
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Springfield Avenue
3
Turn left onto Irvine Turner Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Irvine Turner Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
474 ft
·
11 sec
Toward I 78
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 78
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 78 West: Clinton
Use the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto I 78
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
24 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 78
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
I 78
Toward I 78 West: Clinton
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 78
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 29
Toward I 287: Morristown, Somerville
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 287 South, US 202 South, US 206 South: Somerville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 287
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 287
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 17
Toward US 202 South, US 206 South: Somerville, Flemington
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Merge onto US 202; US 206
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 202; US 206
17
Take the exit onto US 206
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 206
Toward US 206 South, NJ 28: Somerville, Princeton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Enter roundabout onto US 206
525 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 206
19
Continue on US 206
7.2 mi
·
11 min
·
US 206
20
Turn left onto Hillsborough Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillsborough Road
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto Willow Road
57 ft
·
1 sec
·
Willow Road
22
Arrive at destination
Willow Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.6 miles from Newark, 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 31.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 78 West: Clinton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 78 West: Clinton
7
9.4 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 78
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78 toward I 78 West: Clinton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 78 West: Clinton
8
27.4 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 287: Morristown, Somerville
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 29
Toward I 287: Morristown, Somerville
8
27.8 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 287 South, US 202 South, US 206 South: Somerville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 287 South, US 202 South, US 206 South:...
8
31.2 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward US 202 South, US 206 South: Somerville, Flemington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 17
Toward US 202 South, US 206 South: Somerville,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.10 one way
$14.19 round trip
$4.37/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $7.79 | $15.58 |
| premium | $5.13 | $8.34 | $16.67 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $9.70 | $19.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.34 | $1.98 |
| Efficient EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.78 | $2.64 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Hillsborough, NJ
Morning in Hillsborough on Saturday
Local time
6:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Long Hill, NJ
21 mi in
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
15 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
54m 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?
41.3 mi in 54m, mostly highway — 24 mi of that is on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24 mi on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and US 206. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 18 decision points packed into just 41.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (I 78): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.4 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
427 ft
32 ft
Total Climb
598 ft
Total Descent
547 ft
Highest Point
427 ft
~17.7 mi in
Elevation Range
395 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.
Between Newark, NJ and Hillsborough, NJ, road signs point toward Somerville, Flemington and Princeton.
Somerville
27.4 mi in
|
~34m
Flemington
31.2 mi in
|
~39m
Princeton
32.8 mi in
|
~41m
|
via US 206
About the Cities
Starting in Newark, NJ
Full guide →Founded 1666
Newark is New Jersey's largest city and second largest in Metro New York. Although one of the great historic cities of the Northeast and the most culture-rich city in the state, Newark is often overlooked in favor of Goliath-like Manhattan and towns along the Hudson River, such as Jersey City and Hoboken. While no longer the industrial powerhouse it once was, Newark remains one of America's major shipping, rail, and air hubs. Public transportation is abundant, making it easy to get to, from, and around the city. Newark has been economically disadvantaged for some time, and suffers from a bad reputation, often informed by negative stereotyping. Thanks in large part to a nationally high-profile mayor (Cory Booker, now a U.S.
Top landmarks
- • Newark Liberty International Airport — international airport in Newark, New Jersey
- • Newark Penn Station — railway station in Newark, New Jersey, United States
- • Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart — cathedral in Newark, New Jersey
Arriving in Hillsborough, NJ
Full guide →Founded 1771
Hillsborough is a town in Somerset County (New Jersey).
Top landmarks
- • River Road Historic Rural District — historic district in New Jersey, United States
- • Millstone Valley Agricultural District — historic district in New Jersey, United States
- • Neshanic Mills — historic district in Somerset County, New Jersey
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 41.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24 miles on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Hillsborough, 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 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (I 78): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hillsborough, 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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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