Origin
Old Bridge, NJ
Morning in Old Bridge on Tuesday
Local time
6:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Old Bridge, NJ to Elizabeth, 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
35m
Distance
24.6 mi
40 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Old Bridge, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 24.6 miles through the Northeast, this straightforward drive from Old Bridge to Elizabeth typically takes about 35 minutes. You will primarily navigate via a combination of the New Jersey Turnpike, State Route 18, and US 1. Because of the short distance, this trip is perfectly suited as a one-day excursion that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $4 for fuel makes this a very cost-effective commute or regional trip. Since both cities are located within New Jersey, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the journey. It is a practical, no-fuss route that gets you between these two points efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 14.6 mi | 16m |
| State Route 18 | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| US 1 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Bayway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Broad Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Old Bridge Turnpike | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 14.6 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Old Bridge, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on CR 615
400 ft
·
12 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto CR 527
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Old Bridge Turnpike
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
4
Merge onto NJ 18
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
State Route 18
5
Take the exit
487 ft
·
20 sec
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
6
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
this road
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
9
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
15 mi
·
16 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
10
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
2 min
Exit 13
Toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 278 West, NJ 439: Elizabeth, Linden
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
Toward NJ 439: Elizabeth
13
Continue on NJ 439
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Bayway
14
Turn right onto CR 623
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Broad Street
15
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1; US 9
16
Turn right
60 ft
·
6 sec
17
Turn right
383 ft
·
28 sec
18
Turn right
278 ft
·
22 sec
19
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
East Jersey Street
20
Turn right
34 ft
·
2 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 5.1 and 24.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpik...
9
5.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
8
20.6 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
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 13
Toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
5
22.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 439: Elizabeth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NJ 439: Elizabeth
5
24.3 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
East Jersey Street
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.08 one way
$8.16 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.47 | $8.93 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.77 | $9.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.43 | $10.86 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.04
New Jersey Turnpike
(14.6 mi)
$2.04
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$2
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.58 | $1.18 |
| Efficient EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.15 | $0.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.44 | $1.57 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% 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
Elizabeth, NJ
Morning in Elizabeth on Tuesday
Local time
6:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Partly Sunny
SW 10 mph
3% chance
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
45 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
35m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-intensity, highway-focused experience, as 83% of your journey takes place on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on fast-moving lanes, including a significant 14.6-mile stretch on the New Jersey Turnpike. The personality of this drive is functional and direct rather than leisurely, prioritizing speed over scenic detours. As you transition between State Route 18, US 1, and the Turnpike, you will notice the road surface and traffic density shift accordingly. Staying alert is essential, as the high percentage of highway driving means you will be moving at consistent speeds for nearly the entire 35-minute duration.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.6 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and State Route 18. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 18 decision points packed into just 24.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.6 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
146 ft
11 ft
Total Climb
259 ft
Total Descent
251 ft
Highest Point
146 ft
~1.8 mi in
Elevation Range
135 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 Old Bridge, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike, Njtp North: New York City, Staten Island and Linden.
Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
5.1 mi in
|
~6m
Njtp North: New York City
5.4 mi in
|
~8m
Staten Island
20.6 mi in
|
~26m
Linden
22 mi in
|
~28m
About the Cities
Starting in Old Bridge, NJ
Full guide →Old Bridge is a town in Middlesex County, New Jersey.
Top landmarks
- • Cedar Grove School — historic building in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey
Arriving in Elizabeth, NJ
Full guide →Elizabeth is the fourth largest city in 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 35m. Total distance: 24.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.6 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.04 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. 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 Elizabeth, 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 5.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area 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 Elizabeth, 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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