Origin
Trenton, NJ
Late night in Trenton on Sunday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Trenton, NJ to Island Heights, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
43.9 mi
71 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trenton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Island Heights, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Trip Overview
This 43.9-mile drive from Trenton, NJ, to Island Heights, NJ, is a straightforward 1-hour trip, perfect for a single day. You'll primarily navigate via Central Jersey Expressway, Lakewood Road, and Whitesville Road, with about half of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $7, making it an economical option. Given its short distance and duration, this route is easily manageable in one go without needing an overnight stay. The mixed drive profile offers a bit of variety as you transition from urban edges toward your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Jersey Expressway | 19 mi | 21m |
| Lakewood Road | 4.8 mi | 7m |
| Whitesville Road | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| East Veterans Highway | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Route 37 East | 3 mi | 4m |
| Cedar Swamp Road | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Arena Drive | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| South Olden Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Central Jersey Expressway
— 19 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Trenton, NJ and Island Heights, NJ.
1
Start on CR 626
6 ft
·
6 sec
·
Chambers Street
2
Turn left onto CR 606
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hamilton Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 622
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Olden Avenue
4
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 620
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Arena Drive
5
Turn right onto Hempstead Road
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Hempstead Road
6
Turn straight onto CR 524
286 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Broad Street
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 195 East, NJTP: Shore Points
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Merge onto I 195
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Central Jersey Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 21
Toward CR 526, CR 527: Siloam, Jackson
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward CR 527 South: Jackson
Use the left / right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto CR 527
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Cedar Swamp Road
12
Continue on CR 527; CR 528
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
East Veterans Highway
13
Turn right onto CR 527
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Whitesville Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto CR 622
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Cox Cro Road
15
Turn right onto US 9
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Lakewood Road
16
Continue on NJ 166
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Lakewood Road
17
Turn left onto NJ 37
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Route 37 East
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn right onto (627)
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
(627)
Where to Stop
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.9 miles from Trenton, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 30.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 195 East, NJTP: Shore Points
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 195 East, NJTP: Shore Points
5
4.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 195 / Central Jersey Expressway
Merge onto I 195 / Central Jersey Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
23.3 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward CR 526, CR 527: Siloam, Jackson
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 21
Toward CR 526, CR 527: Siloam, Jackson
8
23.5 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CR 527 South: Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward CR 527 South: Jackson
6
30.2 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
CR 527 / Whitesville Road
Turn right onto CR 527 / Whitesville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.28 one way
$14.56 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.97 | $15.94 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.51 | $17.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.69 | $19.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.4 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 | 13.2 | 0 | $4.61 | $2.11 |
| Efficient EV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.15 | $2.81 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Island Heights, NJ
Late night in Island Heights on Sunday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
70°F
Lakewood, NJ
22 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
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
1h 4m 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 mixed drive on this 1-hour journey through New Jersey. With 50% of the route on highways, you'll experience some faster-paced travel, particularly during the longest stretch of 19 miles on the Central Jersey Expressway. As you progress, the roads will likely transition, offering glimpses of local scenery from Lakewood Road and Whitesville Road. It's not a continuous interstate grind, nor is it entirely scenic backroads; rather, it’s a practical blend of efficient travel and more local road experiences.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19 mi on Central Jersey Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles (I 195 / Central Jersey Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.3 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Trenton, NJ and Island Heights, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: Shore Points, Cr 526, Cr 527: Siloam, Jackson and Cr 527 South: Jackson.
Njtp: Shore Points
4 mi in
|
~7m
Cr 526
23.3 mi in
|
~30m
Cr 527: Siloam
23.3 mi in
|
~30m
Jackson
23.3 mi in
|
~30m
Cr 527 South: Jackson
23.5 mi in
|
~30m
About the Cities
Starting in Trenton, NJ
Full guide →Trenton is in Mercer County, and is the capital of New Jersey. The city's strategic location in between New York City and Philadelphia has historically contributed to its growth and significantly impacts local culture. Located on the Delaware River across from Pennsylvania, Trenton is the only accessible capital city in the United States to border another state.
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 1h 4m. Total distance: 43.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19 miles on Central Jersey Expressway. 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 Island Heights, 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 4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles (I 195 / Central Jersey Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Island Heights, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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