Origin
Nutley, NJ
Morning in Nutley on Tuesday
Local time
6:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nutley, NJ to Trenton, NJ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
56.4 mi
91 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nutley, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trenton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Nutley to Trenton, you are in for a straightforward 56.4-mile journey across New Jersey. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 25 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. The route is highly efficient, utilizing a combination of the Garden State Parkway, US 1, and the Trenton Freeway. With a fuel budget of roughly $9, it is a budget-friendly option for a quick transit between these two Northeast locations. Since you will be on the road for less than two hours, you can easily complete the entire trip in a single day without any planned stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 27.4 mi | 39m |
| Garden State Parkway | 18.6 mi | 26m |
| Trenton Freeway | 3 mi | 4m |
| North Olden Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Bloomfield Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Brunswick Pike | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Hamilton Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 27.4 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nutley, NJ and Trenton, NJ.
1
Start on Hillside Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Hillside Avenue
2
Turn right onto Mountainview Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Mountainview Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto Bloomfield Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Bloomfield Avenue
4
Turn right onto CR 651
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
Hoover Avenue
5
Turn left onto Summit Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Summit Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward GSP Toll South
7
Merge onto GSP
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on Garden State Parkway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Garden State Parkway Southbound
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 130B-A
Toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 130B
Toward US 1 South: Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
US 1
12
Continue on US 1
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 1
7.4 mi
·
11 min
·
US 1
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on US 1
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
276 ft
·
4 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
387 ft
·
6 sec
·
US 1
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 1
18
Continue on US 1
14 mi
·
19 min
·
US 1
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
21
Merge onto US 1
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Brunswick Pike
22
Continue on US 1
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Trenton Freeway
23
Take the exit
474 ft
·
14 sec
Toward Olden Avenue, New York Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
24
At end of road, turn left onto New York Avenue
481 ft
·
14 sec
·
New York Avenue
25
Turn left onto CR 622
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Olden Avenue
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto CR 606
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hamilton Avenue
27
Turn right onto CR 626
6 ft
·
0 sec
·
Chambers Street
28
Arrive at destination
CR 626
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.2 miles from Nutley, 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 205 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 54.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
22 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
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 130B-A
Toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
9
22.2 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 130B
Toward US 1 South: Trenton
7
32.3 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
54.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward Olden Avenue, New York 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.
Toward Olden Avenue, New York Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.35 one way
$18.70 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.24 | $20.48 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.94 | $21.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.45 | $24.90 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.19
Garden State Parkway
(19.8 mi)
$1.19
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.92 | $2.71 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.90 | $3.61 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Trenton, NJ
Morning in Trenton on Tuesday
Local time
6:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 25m 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 trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 89% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a series of fast-paced roads that prioritize speed and efficiency over winding, scenic detours. A significant portion of the drive involves a 27.4-mile stretch on US 1, which serves as the backbone of your journey. As you transition between the Garden State Parkway and the Trenton Freeway, the character of the road remains consistent and functional. Do not expect technical local roads or rural back-country lanes; instead, prepare for a steady, high-speed transit through the heart of the state.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.4 mi on US 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near GSP / Garden State Parkway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.4 miles you will encounter 20 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 2.2 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Nutley, NJ
Full guide →Nutley is a town of 27,000 in Essex County, in Northern New Jersey.
Arriving in Trenton, NJ
Full guide →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.
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 1h 25m. Total distance: 56.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.4 miles on US 1. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.19 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. 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 Trenton, 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 2.2 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Morristown 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 Trenton, 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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