Origin
Ridgewood, NJ
Morning in Ridgewood on Sunday
Local time
10:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ridgewood, NJ to Jersey City, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
33m
Distance
22.5 mi
36 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ridgewood, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Ridgewood to Jersey City, you are looking at a straightforward 22.5-mile journey that typically takes about 33 minutes. This trip is perfect for a one-day outing, as it is short enough to handle without any overnight stops. You will primarily navigate via NJ 17, NJ 3, and Tonnelle Avenue to reach your destination. Budgeting around $4 for fuel should be sufficient for the commute. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region of New Jersey, the transit is quick and familiar, serving as a highly efficient link between these two areas.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 17 | 11.7 mi | 14m |
| NJ 3 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| Tonnelle Avenue | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| East Ridgewood Avenue | 2 mi | 6m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Duncan Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Olean Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 17
— 11.7 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgewood, NJ and Jersey City, NJ.
1
Start on East Ridgewood Avenue
2.0 mi
·
6 min
·
East Ridgewood Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
3
Merge onto NJ 17
12 mi
·
14 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward NJ 3 East: New York
5
Merge onto NJ 3
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 1; US 9
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto CR 501
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
9
Turn right onto Duncan Avenue
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Duncan Avenue
10
Turn right onto Olean Avenue
316 ft
·
13 sec
·
Olean Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
Olean Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 22.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
NJ 17
Merge onto NJ 17
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
13.8 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward NJ 3 East: New York
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward NJ 3 East: New York
5
14.2 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
NJ 3
Merge onto NJ 3
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
20.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
US 1; US 9 / Tonnelle Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9 / Tonnelle Avenue toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hob...
5
22.4 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
Olean Avenue
Turn right onto Olean Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.73 one way
$7.46 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.09 | $8.17 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.36 | $8.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.97 | $9.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.36 | $1.08 |
| Efficient EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.97 | $0.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9 | 0 | $3.15 | $1.44 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Jersey City, NJ
Morning in Jersey City on Sunday
Local time
10:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
12 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
33m 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 highway-focused experience, as roughly 70 percent of your travel will take place on faster-paced roads. The most significant portion of your drive occurs on NJ 17, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of 11.7 miles. As you transition from the suburban feel of Ridgewood toward the urban environment of Jersey City, the road personality shifts from highway cruising to more congested local arteries like Tonnelle Avenue. You will find that the route balances high-speed transit with the inevitable buildup of traffic as you approach the city limits.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.7 mi on NJ 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 17 and NJ 3. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in near NJ 17.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 22.5 miles you will encounter 7 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 2.1 miles (NJ 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 14.2 miles (NJ 3): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
111 ft
7 ft
Total Climb
29 ft
Total Descent
133 ft
Highest Point
111 ft
Elevation Range
104 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.
On the drive from Ridgewood, NJ to Jersey City, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Pulaski Skyway along the way.
Pulaski Skyway
20.9 mi in
|
~29m
|
via US 1; US 9
About the Cities
Arriving in Jersey City, NJ
Full guide →Jersey City is New Jersey's second-largest city. Jersey City sits in Hudson County in the northeastern section of the state, across the Hudson from its older and bigger cousin, New York City, and south of Hoboken. It is frequently referred to as New York’s “sixth borough”. Until the early 1600s, the area was inhabited by Lenape Indians. The Dutch then settled here as a part of the colony of New Amsterdam. It evolved into an industrial powerhouse, with railroads winding up and down the city (some of these lines are still used today). Although Jersey City declined in the 1960s, an upswing began in the 1980s, and the city was transformed into what it is today.
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 33m. Total distance: 22.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.7 miles on NJ 17. 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 Jersey City, 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 2.1 miles (NJ 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 14.2 miles (NJ 3): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison 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 Jersey City, 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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