Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
59 mi
95 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trenton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Lake Hiawatha, NJ
David Kanigan
Trenton, NJ to Lake Hiawatha, NJ is 59 miles and takes about 1h 26m via Hamilton Avenue and I 295 North, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip entirely within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its short distance and primarily surface road profile, this route is ideal for those looking for a quick drive without extensive highway time. You'll experience a consistent driving environment for the entire 59 miles, making it easy to plan your departure and arrival.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 287 | 23.6 mi | 28m |
| Peter J. Biondi Memorial Bypass | 8 mi | 11m |
| US 206 | 6.9 mi | 10m |
| Brunswick Pike | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| State Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| I 295 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Hamilton Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Washington Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
8 AM
~4,443 veh/hr typical · worst 5,303
Quietest
2 AM
~334 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Trenton, NJ and Lake Hiawatha, NJ.
Start on CR 626
Turn left onto CR 606
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 295
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 1
Enter roundabout onto CR 526; CR 571
Continue on CR 526; CR 571
Turn left onto NJ 27
Turn right onto Witherspoon Street
Continue on Mount Lucas Road
Turn left onto Cherry Hill Road
Turn right onto US 206; CR 533
Continue on US 206; CR 533
Take the exit onto US 206 BYP
Merge onto US 206 BYP
Enter roundabout onto US 206
Continue on US 206
Take the exit
Merge onto I 287
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 80E
Take the exit
At end of road, turn left onto CR 637
Continue on North Beverwyck Road
Turn right onto Chesapeake Avenue
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 29.5 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 6 and 57.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward US 1: New Brunswick, Trenton
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 US 1 North: New Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Smith Road, New York City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Lake Hiawatha, Whippany
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$10.30 one way
$20.61 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.86 | $11.28 | $22.56 |
| premium | $5.20 | $12.07 | $24.14 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $14.58 | $29.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.83 |
| Efficient EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.16 | $2.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.26 | $3.78 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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 Trenton on Friday
Local time
11:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 22 at 2:55PM EDT until October 24 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Morning in Lake Hiawatha on Friday
Local time
11:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Clear
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 22 at 2:55PM EDT until October 24 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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 59-mile drive features a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the entire trip. The main roads include Hamilton Avenue and US 1, with I 295 North also noted. Expect a consistent, non-highway driving experience from start to finish. With no significant highway segments, you'll encounter more local traffic and intersections throughout the 1 hour and 26 minute estimated travel time.
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 6 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59 miles you will encounter 24 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 6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
473 ft
Total Descent
277 ft
Highest Point
367 ft
~42.2 mi in
Elevation Range
310 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Trenton, NJ and Lake Hiawatha, NJ, road signs point toward New York, Morristown and New York City.
New York
Morristown
New York City
Founded 1719
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.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 59 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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