Swedesboro, NJ to Somerset, NJ is 79.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 39 minutes via New Jersey Turnpike, Memorial Parkway, and Kings Highway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New Jersey, moving from the South to the Northeast region of the state. Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience for this relatively short trip. Given the under two-hour drive time, it's a straightforward journey perfect for a single-day trip, whether you're heading north for business or leisure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.6 miles from Swedesboro, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
70 mi
1h 20m
Memorial Parkway
1.9 mi
2m
Kings Highway
1.3 mi
2m
State Route 18
1 mi
1m
Franklin Boulevard
0.8 mi
2m
Swedesboro Road
0.8 mi
1m
Belmar Street
0.4 mi
1m
Landing Lane
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 70 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Swedesboro, NJ and Somerset, NJ.
1
Start on CR 551
1.3 mi·2 min·Kings Highway
Use the right lane.
2
Turn right onto US 322; CR 536
0.8 mi·1 min·Swedesboro Road
Use the right lane.
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward NJTP Toll: New Jersey TurnpikeUse the right lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ Turnpike North, New York City
5
Merge onto NJTP
36 mi·41 min·New Jersey Turnpike
6
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
34 mi·38 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 9Toward NJ 18, US 1: New BrunswickUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers UniversityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
323 ft·7 sec
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University
10
Merge onto NJ 18; CR 527
1.0 mi·1 min·State Route 18
11
Continue on NJ 18
1.9 mi·2 min·Memorial Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward Easton Avenue, So Bound BrookUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto (672)
0.2 mi·18 sec·George Street
14
Turn left onto CR 609
0.3 mi·26 sec·Landing Lane
15
Continue on CR 617
0.8 mi·2 min·Franklin Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto Belmar Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Belmar Street
17
At end of road, turn left onto Abbott Road
0.2 mi·47 sec·Abbott Road
18
Turn left onto West Point Avenue
0.1 mi·31 sec·West Point Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
West Point Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this trip is only about 1 hour and 39 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Leaving mid-morning can help you avoid the worst of rush hour traffic in the Northeast region of New Jersey. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan for a brief break as needed, perhaps around the halfway point. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, keeping your tank topped off is easy. A good tip for this route is to be aware of the 70-mile stretch on the New Jersey Turnpike; ensure you're comfortable with sustained highway driving before starting.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.6 miles from Swedesboro, NJ, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.6 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Somerset, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Swedesboro, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Swedesboro, NJ
This is one driving day of about 79.2 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Swedesboro, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 70 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 76.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.1 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
8
72.7 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward NJ 18, US 1: New Brunswick
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 9
Toward NJ 18, US 1: New Brunswick
8
73.4 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers Univ...
7
73.6 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers Univ...
7
76.6 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward Easton Avenue, So Bound Brook
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Easton Avenue, So Bound Brook
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.13 one way
$26.26 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.38
$28.76
premium
$4.93
$15.36
$30.72
diesel
$5.61
$17.49
$34.97
Estimated Tolls: $9.79
New Jersey Turnpike
(70 mi)$9.79
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.8
0
$8.32
$3.80
Efficient EV
19.8
0
$6.93
$3.17
EV Truck/SUV
31.7
0
$11.09
$5.07
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Swedesboro, NJ
Late night
in Swedesboro on Sunday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Somerset, NJ
Late night
in Somerset on Sunday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 39m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
19 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 76.4
Park Closure: Partial Reopening: Cross Estate Gardens
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
$10
near mile 76.4
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 73.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll encounter stretches on the New Jersey Turnpike, which constitutes the longest uninterrupted stretch at 70 miles. The Memorial Parkway and Kings Highway offer some variation, but the overall feel is one of efficient travel on established roads. Be prepared for a consistent pace dictated by highway speeds for the majority of your time behind the wheel.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Memorial Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.2 miles you will encounter 14 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: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.4 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.
On the drive from Swedesboro, NJ to Somerset, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Rutgers University along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 79.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.79 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 Somerset, 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: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Morristown National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area. 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 Somerset, NJ before heading back.
