Origin
Rutherford, NJ
Late night in Rutherford on Tuesday
Local time
4:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rutherford, NJ to Edison, 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
50m
Distance
33 mi
53 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
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.
Rutherford, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Edison, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Rutherford, NJ to Edison, NJ is 33 miles and takes about 50 minutes via Garden State Parkway and NJ 21, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within the Northeast region, specifically within New Jersey, making it a quick hop. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, so expect efficient travel. Given its short duration, this route is perfect for a single-day excursion, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule. You'll spend most of your time on major arteries, so it's a functional commute rather than a scenic adventure.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 14.5 mi | 20m |
| NJ 21 | 6 mi | 6m |
| US 1 | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| Essex Freeway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Plainfield Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Park Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Fulton Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 14.5 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rutherford, NJ and Edison, NJ.
1
Start on CR 30
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Park Avenue
2
Turn right onto Marginal Road
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Marginal Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward NJ 3 West
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward NJ 21 North, NJ 21 South
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward NJ 21 South: Newark
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto NJ 21
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
NJ 21
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
50 ft
·
1 sec
Toward I 280 East, I 280 West: Harrison, Jersey City, The Oranges
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 280 West: The Oranges
9
Merge onto I 280
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Essex Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 12A; 12B
Toward GSP: Oraton Parkway, Clinton Street, East Orange
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 12B
Toward GSP: Garden State Parkway, Oraton Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward GSP South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
this road
14
Merge onto GSP
14 mi
·
20 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on Garden State Parkway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Garden State Parkway Southbound
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 130B-A
Toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 130B
Toward US 1 South: Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
US 1
19
Continue on US 1
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on US 1
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US 1
21
Take the exit
208 ft
·
3 sec
Use the slight right lane.
22
Turn straight onto Fulton Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Fulton Street
23
Turn right onto CR 529
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Plainfield Avenue
24
Turn left onto Central Avenue
345 ft
·
17 sec
·
Central Avenue
25
Turn right onto Reed Street
523 ft
·
28 sec
·
Reed Street
26
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.5 miles from Rutherford, 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 1.3 and 26.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 21 South: Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 21 South: Newark
8
9.4 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward GSP: Oraton Parkway, Clinton Street, East Orange
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 12A; 12B
Toward GSP: Oraton Parkway, Clinton Street, Eas...
10
9.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP: Garden State Parkway, Oraton Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 12B
Toward GSP: Garden State Parkway, Oraton Parkwa...
8
9.9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward GSP South
9
26.3 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 130B
Toward US 1 South: Trenton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.47 one way
$10.94 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.99 | $11.98 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.40 | $12.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.29 | $14.57 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.95
Garden State Parkway
(15.7 mi)
$0.95
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.47 | $1.58 |
| Efficient EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.89 | $1.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.62 | $2.11 |
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
Edison, NJ
Late night in Edison on Tuesday
Local time
4:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Sunny
E 0 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
60°F
Concord, NY
17 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
3 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
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?
This route is largely highway-focused, with 86% of the drive taking place on major roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 14.5 miles on the Garden State Parkway, offering a taste of consistent highway driving. The journey begins with routes like NJ 21 and US 1 before merging onto the Parkway, indicating a progression from more local roads to faster-paced travel. While not overly complex, the transition between these main thoroughfares defines the driving experience. Expect a steady pace for the majority of the trip.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.5 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 21. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 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 19 decision points packed into just 33 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 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rutherford, NJ and Edison, NJ, road signs point toward Jersey City, The Oranges, Orange, Gsp South and Trenton.
Jersey City
7.6 mi in
|
~10m
The Oranges
7.6 mi in
|
~10m
Orange
9.4 mi in
|
~13m
Gsp South
9.9 mi in
|
~14m
Trenton
26.1 mi in
|
~37m
About the Cities
Starting in Rutherford, NJ
Full guide →Rutherford is a cute suburb in Bergen County, New Jersey, becoming incredibly expensive to live in.
Top landmarks
- • Rutherford — New Jersey Transit railroad station
- • Woman's Club of Rutherford — women's club in Rutherford, New Jersey
Arriving in Edison, NJ
Full guide →Edison is a city in Middlesex, New Jersey. The city is named after Thomas Alva Edison who carried out most of his life's work, including the invention of the phonograph and the lightbulb, here. Menlo Park, where Edison's laboratories were located has a Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and Museum honoring him. The town of Edison now has a large concentration of Asians, and Oak Tree Road in Edison is the place to visit if you are looking for Indian food or Indian stores.
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 50m. Total distance: 33 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 (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.95 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. 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 Edison, 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 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Morristown 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 Edison, 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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