Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
43.6 mi
70 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Somerville, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Lakewood, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Somerville to Lakewood is 43.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 6 minutes via US Highway 9, State Route 18, and I 287, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's primarily a highway route, making it a quick and efficient trip for getting from point A to point B. Given its short duration and minimal stops, it's ideal for a same-day excursion or a brief segment of a larger road trip.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 9 | 18.7 mi | 28m |
| State Route 18 | 10.5 mi | 16m |
| I 287 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| River Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| John A. Lynch Memorial Bridge | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| US 22 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Madison Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Bridge Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Somerville, NJ and Lakewood, NJ.
Start on North Bridge Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 22
Take the exit
Merge onto I 287
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto CR 622
Take the ramp
Merge onto NJ 18
Continue on NJ 18; CR 527
Take the exit
Merge onto US 9
Continue on US 9
Turn left onto 8th Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.8 miles from Somerville, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 43.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 287 South: Perth Amboy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward River Road, Bound Brook, Highland Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Highland Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward US 9 South: Freehold
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto 8th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$7.23 one way
$14.46 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.92 | $15.83 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.46 | $16.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.63 | $19.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.58 | $2.09 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.10 | $2.79 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Somerville on Tuesday
Local time
11:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Lakewood on Tuesday
Local time
11:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
This route is mostly highway, with 80% of the driving taking place on higher-speed roads. You'll encounter an 18.7-mile stretch on US Highway 9, offering a consistent cruising experience. The transition to surface roads will likely occur as you approach your destination, marked by more frequent exits and local traffic. Expect merging and exiting maneuvers typical of interstate travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 9 and State Route 18. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
285 ft
Total Descent
265 ft
Highest Point
169 ft
~31.2 mi in
Elevation Range
159 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Somerville, NJ and Lakewood, NJ, road signs point toward Bound Brook and Highland Park.
Bound Brook
Highland Park
Lakewood is a town in Ocean County, New Jersey.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 43.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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