If you are traveling from Phillipsburg to Cherry Hill, expect a straightforward 84.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 52 minutes. Since the route is entirely within the Northeast region of New Jersey, it serves as an efficient connection between the northern and southern parts of the state. You can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at $14, it is a budget-friendly option for commuters or visitors alike. This is a practical, no-nonsense trip designed for those who prioritize efficiency over detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.3 miles from Phillipsburg, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
30.8 mi
35m
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
13.3 mi
15m
NJ 31
10.3 mi
16m
Route 31 Southbound
9.9 mi
11m
NJ 38
6.6 mi
9m
US 202
5.8 mi
8m
US 22
3.2 mi
5m
Pennington Road
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 30.8 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Phillipsburg, NJ and Cherry Hill, NJ.
1
Start on Hudson Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Hudson Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto Warren Street
155 ft·8 sec·Warren Street
3
Turn right onto US 22
1.1 mi·2 min·Memorial Parkway
4
Turn straight onto US 22
2.4 mi·3 min·US 22
Toward New YorkUse the left lane.
5
Take the exit onto US 22
0.1 mi·17 sec·US 22
Toward I 78, US 22 East
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 22
0.6 mi·1 min·US 22
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: New YorkUse the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto I 78; US 22
13 mi·15 min·Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 17Toward NJ 31 South: Flemington, TrentonUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto NJ 31
9.9 mi·11 min·Route 31 Southbound
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Enter roundabout onto US 202; NJ 31
456 ft·8 sec·US 202; NJ 31
11
Continue on US 202; NJ 31
5.7 mi·8 min·US 202; NJ 31
12
Take the exit onto NJ 31
10 mi·16 min·NJ 31
Toward NJ 31 South, CR 579 South: TrentonUse the slight right lane.
13
Enter roundabout onto NJ 31
517 ft·9 sec·Pennington Road
14
Continue on NJ 31
1.3 mi·2 min·Pennington Road
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 295 South: Princeton
16
Merge onto I 295
6.7 mi·7 min·I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 65B-AToward Sloan AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·15 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·21 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 295
24 mi·27 min·I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 40Toward NJ 38: Moorestown, Trauma CenterUse the slight right lane.
22
Merge onto NJ 38
6.6 mi·9 min·NJ 38
23
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward Haddonfield Road South, Haddonfield, Garden State Park
24
Turn right onto CR 644
0.3 mi·27 sec·Haddonfield Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
25
Arrive at destination
CR 644
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around peak traffic times to ensure the sub-two-hour duration holds true. Since there are no mandatory stops included in this 84.6-mile route, feel free to adjust your pace based on your own comfort levels and fuel needs. Keep in mind that your $14 fuel budget is based on current projections, so checking your levels before hitting the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway is a smart move. Given the heavy reliance on I-295 for the final leg, monitor real-time traffic reports for that stretch specifically, as it is the most significant portion of your transit. Using this strategy allows you to maintain a predictable schedule throughout your day.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.3 miles from Phillipsburg, NJ, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.3 miles or 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cherry Hill, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Phillipsburg, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Phillipsburg, NJ
This is one driving day of about 84.6 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Phillipsburg, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 30.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 77.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.9 mi into trip|~7m in|US 22
Keep slight left at fork onto US 22 toward I 78 East, US 22 East: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: New York
8
17.8 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward NJ 31 South: Flemington, 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 17
Toward NJ 31 South: Flemington, Trenton
7
33.7 mi into trip|~44m in|NJ 31
Take the exit onto NJ 31 toward NJ 31 South, CR 579 South: 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.
Toward NJ 31 South, CR 579 South: Trenton
7
52.4 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward Sloan Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 65B-A
Toward Sloan Avenue
8
77.3 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward NJ 38: Moorestown, Trauma Center
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 40
Toward NJ 38: Moorestown, Trauma Center
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.03 one way
$28.05 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.36
$30.72
premium
$4.93
$16.41
$32.81
diesel
$5.61
$18.68
$37.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.4
0
$8.88
$4.06
Efficient EV
21.2
0
$7.40
$3.38
EV Truck/SUV
33.8
0
$11.84
$5.41
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Phillipsburg, NJ
Morning
in Phillipsburg on Sunday
Local time
7:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cherry Hill, NJ
Morning
in Cherry Hill on Sunday
Local time
7:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
7 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 52m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 17.5
Park Closure: Partial Reopening: Cross Estate Gardens
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 96% of the mileage consisting of fast-paced interstate and expressway travel. You will navigate a combination of the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, NJ 31, and I-295 to reach your destination. Be prepared for a consistent pace, particularly on the longest stretch of the drive, which covers 30.8 miles on I-295. While the transition between these roads keeps the drive moving, the personality of the route remains functional and utilitarian rather than leisurely. Expect a steady, high-speed experience that gets you from the Lehigh Valley border to the Philadelphia suburbs with minimal fuss.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.8 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in near US 22.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.6 miles you will encounter 21 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 3.9 miles (US 22): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.7 miles (NJ 31): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Phillipsburg, NJ and Cherry Hill, NJ, road signs point toward Trenton, Cr 579 South: Trenton and Trauma Center.
Trenton
17.8 mi in|~23m
Cr 579 South: Trenton
33.7 mi in|~44m|via NJ 31
Trauma Center
77.3 mi in|~1h 40m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 84.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.8 miles on I 295. 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 Cherry Hill, 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 3.9 miles (US 22): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.7 miles (NJ 31): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Morristown National Historical Park. 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 Cherry Hill, NJ before heading back.
