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Trip from Raritan, NJ to Bayonne, NJ

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

50m

Distance

38.2 mi

61 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 47m ★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States

Raritan, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States

Bayonne, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick trip from Raritan to Bayonne, expect a straightforward 38.6-mile journey that typically takes about 43 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single day, as it covers a manageable distance within the Northeast region. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, it is an economical choice for commuters or travelers moving between these two New Jersey hubs. You will primarily utilize I-287 North, I-78 East, and the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway to navigate your way. Because the total duration is under an hour, there is no need for an overnight split, allowing you plenty of flexibility for your schedule.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway 26.6 mi 31m
New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension 3.3 mi 4m
I 287 2.5 mi 2m
US 202 1.9 mi 2m
Broadway 1.3 mi 3m
Thompson Street 0.3 mi 1m
East 53rd Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway — 26.6 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Raritan, NJ and Bayonne, NJ.

1

Start on Thompson Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Thompson Street
2

Turn right onto US 202

1.9 mi · 2 min · US 202
3

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Toward I 287 North: Netcong, Morristown
4

Merge onto I 287

2.5 mi · 2 min · I 287
5

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 21A Toward I 78 East: New York City Use the slight right lane.
6

Merge onto I 78

0.5 mi · 37 sec · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 78

17 mi · 19 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 78

7.8 mi · 9 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 34 sec
Toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City Use the slight left lane.
10

Merge onto I 78

0.7 mi · 55 sec · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 20 sec
Exit 58A-B Toward NJTP, I 95, US 1-9, NJ 21, US 22: Port Newark Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Merge onto I 78

1.0 mi · 1 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 78; NJTP

3.3 mi · 4 min · New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 14A Toward NJ 440: Bayonne Use the slight right lane.
15

Take the exit

247 ft · 8 sec
Toward East 53rd Street
16

Continue on East 53rd Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · East 53rd Street
17

Turn left onto Broadway

1.3 mi · 3 min · Broadway
Use the left lane.
18

Arrive at destination

Broadway

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Plainfield, NJ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.1 miles from Raritan, 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 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.1 and 36.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
5.1 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the exit toward I 78 East: New York City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 21A Toward I 78 East: New York City
6
6.3 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
30.7 mi into trip | ~37m in

Take the exit toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City
8
31.8 mi into trip | ~39m in

Take the exit toward NJTP, I 95, US 1-9, NJ 21, US 22: Port Newark

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 58A-B Toward NJTP, I 95, US 1-9, NJ 21, US 22: Port N...
7
36.4 mi into trip | ~45m in

Take the exit toward NJ 440: Bayonne

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 14A Toward NJ 440: Bayonne

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.33 one way

$12.67 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $6.94 $13.87
premium $4.93 $7.41 $14.82
diesel $5.61 $8.43 $16.87

Estimated Tolls: $0.47

New Jersey Turnpike (3.3 mi) $0.47

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Tolls

$0

Total

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 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 11.5 0 $4.01 $1.83
Efficient EV 9.6 0 $3.34 $1.53
EV Truck/SUV 15.3 0 $5.35 $2.44

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Raritan, NJ

Late night in Raritan on Sunday

Local time

12:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bayonne, NJ

Late night in Bayonne on Sunday

Local time

12:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

5 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

50m 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 monotonous interstate cruise. While you will utilize major thoroughfares like I-78 and the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, the road profile remains technical and requires your full attention. The route features a 0% highway share in terms of long, straight stretches, emphasizing a more involved experience behind the wheel. You will find that the character of the road shifts as you transition between local segments and highway connectors. Prepare for a driving environment that demands frequent navigation through turns rather than long, uninterrupted highway miles.

90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.6 mi on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 15 decision points packed into just 38.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles: 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 Raritan, NJ and Bayonne, NJ, road signs point toward Morristown, New York City and Njtp.

Morristown

2.2 mi in | ~4m

New York City

30.7 mi in | ~37m

Njtp

31.8 mi in | ~39m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 38.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 26.6 miles on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.47 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 Bayonne, 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 5.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area (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 Bayonne, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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