Origin
Princeton, NJ
Morning in Princeton on Sunday
Local time
7:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Princeton, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ
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
35.3 mi
57 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Princeton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning just 35.3 miles, this quick trip from Princeton to Elizabeth is a straightforward journey through the heart of New Jersey. You can easily complete the drive in about 55 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Budgeting roughly $6 for fuel should cover your needs for the entire distance. Since both towns reside in the Northeast region, you won't experience any major shifts in climate or terrain along the way. Because of the short duration, there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated scheduling. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that serves as a reliable connection between these two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 17.8 mi | 28m |
| Brunswick Pike | 13 mi | 18m |
| Washington Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Carlton Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Edgar Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Nassau Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 17.8 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Princeton, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 27
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Nassau Street
2
Turn right onto CR 526; CR 571
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Enter roundabout onto US 1
348 ft
·
10 sec
·
Brunswick Pike
4
Continue on US 1
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Brunswick Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
504 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 1
Toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
366 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1
9
Continue on US 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1
10
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 1
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on US 1
7.2 mi
·
11 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on US 1
6.3 mi
·
10 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Edgar Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Carlton Street
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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from Princeton, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 32.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 526; CR 571 / Washington Road
Turn right onto CR 526; CR 571 / Washington Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
14.8 mi into trip
|
~22m 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.
7
14.9 mi into trip
|
~22m 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
15 mi into trip
|
~22m 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.
6
32.6 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
US 1; US 9 / East Edgar Road
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9 / East Edgar Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.85 one way
$11.70 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.41 | $12.82 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.85 | $13.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.79 | $15.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.09 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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 Sunday
Local time
7:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Partly Sunny
SW 10 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
63°F
Edison, NJ
18 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
29 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
55m 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 mixed drive that transitions between local thoroughfares and faster arterial roads. With a highway share of 51%, your time behind the wheel will be split fairly evenly between slower-paced local streets and higher-speed travel. You will navigate via Washington Road and Brunswick Pike before spending your longest uninterrupted stretch of 17.8 miles on US 1. This variety keeps the drive from feeling like a monotonous interstate grind, though you should be prepared for the typical rhythm of New Jersey traffic. The route offers a functional mix of road types that change as you progress toward your destination.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 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?
9/10
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 around 0.1 miles in near CR 526; CR 571 / Washington Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 14 decision points packed into just 35.3 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 0.1 miles (CR 526; CR 571 / Washington Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.9 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
205 ft
17 ft
Total Climb
180 ft
Total Descent
366 ft
Highest Point
205 ft
Elevation Range
189 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 Princeton, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark and New Brunswick.
Newark|Newark
14.9 mi in
|
~22m
|
via US 1
Camden
14.9 mi in
|
~22m
|
via US 1
New Brunswick|Newark
14.9 mi in
|
~22m
|
via US 1
New Brunswick
14.9 mi in
|
~22m
|
via US 1
About the Cities
Starting in Princeton, NJ
Full guide →Princeton, home to the prestigious Princeton University, is a municipality with a population of approximately 32,000 (2017) in Mercer County, central 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 55m. Total distance: 35.3 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 (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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: at 0.1 miles (CR 526; CR 571 / Washington Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.9 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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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