Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
55.8 mi
90 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
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.
Passaic, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Manalapan, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Passaic, NJ to Manalapan, NJ is 55.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 13 minutes via New Jersey Turnpike and NJ 33, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within New Jersey. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly on major highways, making it a convenient option for getting between these two points. It's a short enough distance that you can easily fit it into a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 33.3 mi | 38m |
| NJ 21 | 11.2 mi | 16m |
| NJ 33 | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| US 1 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| NJ 81 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Paulison Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Hightstown Bypass | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Passaic, NJ and Manalapan, 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
Continue on NJ 133
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto NJ 33
Turn right onto CR 527A
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.9 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 50.1 — 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
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NJ 33, NJ 133: Hightstown, Freehold
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NJ 33: Hightstown, Freehold
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 33 East: Freehold
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$9.75 one way
$19.49 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.86 | $10.67 | $21.34 |
| premium | $5.20 | $11.41 | $22.83 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $13.79 | $27.57 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.67
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$5
Total
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.86 | $2.68 |
| Efficient EV | 14 | 0 | $4.88 | $2.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.81 | $3.57 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Passaic on Friday
Local time
10:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in Manalapan on Friday
Local time
10:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Clear then Patchy Frost
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 route is 95% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest stretch on a single highway is 33.3 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike. You'll encounter numerous exits and merges as you navigate these major arteries. The final portion will transition to surface roads as you approach your destination.
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.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 14.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
291 ft
Total Descent
251 ft
Highest Point
152 ft
~55.8 mi in
Elevation Range
141 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Passaic, NJ and Manalapan, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp South: Trenton and Freehold.
Njtp South: Trenton
Freehold
Founded 1679
Passaic is a city in New Jersey.
Top landmarks
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 55.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). 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, 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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