Origin
Pennington, NJ
Late night in Pennington on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pennington, 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
1h 11m
Distance
46.1 mi
74 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pennington, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Pennington to Elizabeth, expect a straightforward 51.1-mile journey through the Northeast. This route typically takes about 1 hour and 6 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a quick day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $8, it is a cost-effective way to navigate between these two New Jersey locations. Because the duration is quite short, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics or mid-trip accommodations. It is an ideal drive for those who prefer to keep their travel time manageable and efficient.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 17.8 mi | 28m |
| Brunswick Pike | 17.1 mi | 24m |
| I 295 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| Pennington Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Carlton Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| East Edgar Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 17.8 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pennington, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on this road
124 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto East Delaware Avenue
165 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Delaware Avenue
3
Turn left onto CR 640
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
4
Continue on CR 640
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennington Road
5
Enter roundabout onto NJ 31
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Pennington Road
6
Continue on NJ 31
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Pennington Road
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 295 South: Princeton
8
Merge onto I 295
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 67
Toward US 1: New Brunswick, Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 1 North: New Brunswick
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto US 1
17 mi
·
24 min
·
Brunswick Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
504 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 1
Toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
366 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1
16
Continue on US 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1
17
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 1
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on US 1
7.2 mi
·
11 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on US 1
6.3 mi
·
10 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Edgar Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Carlton Street
23
Turn right
60 ft
·
6 sec
24
Turn right
383 ft
·
28 sec
25
Turn right
278 ft
·
22 sec
26
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
East Jersey Street
27
Turn right
34 ft
·
2 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.1 miles from Pennington, 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 25.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Delaware Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto East Delaware Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
9
7.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward US 1: New Brunswick, 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 67
Toward US 1: New Brunswick, Trenton
7
7.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 1 North: New Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 1 North: New Brunswick
7
25.7 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|New...
7
25.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.64 one way
$15.29 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.37 | $16.74 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.94 | $17.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.45 | $2.95 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Elizabeth, NJ
Late night in Elizabeth on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
New Brunswick, NJ
23 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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 11m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. You will spend 0% of your time on highways, as the path relies entirely on surface roads like East Delaware Avenue, South Main Street, and Pennington Road. This setup requires your full attention, as the road surface changes frequently compared to a standard freeway experience. Navigating these local stretches means you will experience a constant, steady pace without any long, uninterrupted highway segments. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged throughout the entire hour-long transit.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.8 mi on US 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Delaware Avenue.
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 46.1 miles you will encounter 19 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: near the start (East Delaware Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 7.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Pennington, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Trenton, Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark and New Brunswick.
Trenton
7.7 mi in
|
~12m
Newark|Newark
25.7 mi in
|
~38m
|
via US 1
Camden
25.7 mi in
|
~38m
|
via US 1
New Brunswick|Newark
25.7 mi in
|
~38m
|
via US 1
New Brunswick
25.7 mi in
|
~38m
|
via US 1
About the Cities
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 1h 11m. Total distance: 46.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.8 miles on US 1. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (East Delaware Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 7.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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