Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
37.7 mi
61 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Passaic, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
East Franklin, NJ
Matt Weissinger
This 37.7-mile drive from Passaic, NJ, to East Franklin, NJ, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 55 minutes. With 89% of the route on highways, it's designed for efficient travel, making it perfect for a single-day trip. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $6, which is quite budget-friendly. Since both the origin and destination are within New Jersey, you'll be navigating familiar Northeast territory. This route is ideal if you're looking for a quick and direct connection between these two points without much fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 17.3 mi | 20m |
| NJ 21 | 11.2 mi | 16m |
| US 1 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Hamilton Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| NJ 81 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| State Route 18 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Route 18 Service Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Paulison Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Passaic, NJ and East Franklin, NJ.
Start on Passaic Avenue
Turn left onto CR 618
Turn right onto CR 601
Take the ramp
Merge onto NJ 21
Merge onto US 1; US 9
Continue on US 1; US 9
Take the exit
Continue on NJ 81
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto NJ 18; CR 527
Take the exit onto CR 527
Turn straight onto Route 18 Service Road
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto NJ 27; CR 514
Turn right onto CR 514; CR 527
Turn left onto CR 514
Turn right onto North Lawrence Avenue
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 37.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 18.9 miles from Passaic, 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 14.9 and 34.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NJ 18 East, US 1 East: New Brunswick
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto CR 527 toward NJ 172: New Brunswick, Cook/Douglass Campus, Paul Robeson Boulevard, New Street, Highland Park
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 | $4.61 | $6.85 | $13.69 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.31 | $14.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.32 | $16.65 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.42
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 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 | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.41 |
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 Passaic on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in East Franklin on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
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.
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 89% of the drive utilizing high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.3 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. This highway-focused profile means you'll likely encounter steady traffic flow for the majority of the journey. While the specific roads like NJ 21 and US 1 will offer some variation, the overall character is one of efficient, direct travel designed to get you to your destination promptly.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and NJ 21. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.9 miles in.
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 19 decision points packed into just 37.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 14.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Passaic, NJ and East Franklin, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp South: Trenton, Rutgers University, Cook/Douglass Campus, Highland Park and Princeton.
Njtp South: Trenton
Rutgers University
Cook/Douglass Campus
Highland Park
Princeton
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 37.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m 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.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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