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.
Main Roads
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
Longest stretch:
I 287
— 23.6 mi, about 28m
Traffic on I-287
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
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Trenton, NJ and Lake Hiawatha, NJ.
1
Start on CR 626
6 ft·6 sec·Chambers Street
2
Turn left onto CR 606
2.5 mi·4 min·Hamilton Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 295 North
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·17 sec
Toward I 295 North
5
Merge onto I 295
2.9 mi·3 min·I 295
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 67A-BToward US 1: New Brunswick, TrentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 67AToward US 1 North: New BrunswickUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto US 1
4.1 mi·5 min·Brunswick Pike
9
Enter roundabout onto CR 526; CR 571
339 ft·7 sec·Washington Road
10
Continue on CR 526; CR 571
1.6 mi·3 min·Washington Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto NJ 27
0.1 mi·30 sec·Nassau Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto Witherspoon Street
0.8 mi·2 min·Witherspoon Street
13
Continue on Mount Lucas Road
493 ft·20 sec·Mount Lucas Road
14
Turn left onto Cherry Hill Road
141 ft·8 sec·Cherry Hill Road
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto US 206; CR 533
3.1 mi·5 min·State Road
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on US 206; CR 533
5.3 mi·8 min·US 206; CR 533
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit onto US 206 BYP
0.2 mi·15 sec·Peter J. Biondi Memorial Bypass
18
Merge onto US 206 BYP
7.8 mi·11 min·Peter J. Biondi Memorial Bypass
Use the straight lane.
19
Enter roundabout onto US 206
209 ft·2 sec·US 206
Toward US 202 North, US 206 North: Netcong, New York
20
Continue on US 206
1.6 mi·2 min·US 206
Toward US 202 North, US 206 North: Netcong, New York
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 287 North: Netcong, Morristown
22
Merge onto I 287
24 mi·28 min·I 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 41AToward I 80 East: Smith Road, New York CityUse the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 41AToward I 80 East: New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 80E
1.2 mi·1 min·Interstate 80 East
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 45Toward Lake Hiawatha, WhippanyUse the slight right lane.
27
At end of road, turn left onto CR 637
0.2 mi·23 sec·South Beverwyck Road
28
Continue on North Beverwyck Road
1.4 mi·3 min·North Beverwyck Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
29
Turn right onto Chesapeake Avenue
207 ft·9 sec·Chesapeake Avenue
30
Arrive at destination
Chesapeake Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 24
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.
8
6 mi into trip|~8m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 67A-B
Toward US 1: New Brunswick, Trenton
8
6.2 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 North: New Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 67A
Toward US 1 North: New Brunswick
8
55.6 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 41A
Toward I 80 East: Smith Road, New York City
8
55.8 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 41A
Toward I 80 East: New York City
8
57.2 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 45
Toward Lake Hiawatha, Whippany
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.86 one way
$19.72 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.67
$10.85
$21.70
premium
$5.01
$11.64
$23.28
diesel
$5.60
$13.01
$26.01
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, 2026-08-31.
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Aug 20, 2026
Origin
Trenton, NJ
Night
in Trenton on Friday
Local time
11:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 0 to 5 mph87% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued August 20 at 2:16PM EDT until August 21 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued August 20 at 12:55PM EDT until August 21 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Lake Hiawatha, NJ
Night
in Lake Hiawatha on Friday
Local time
11:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 0 to 5 mph91% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued August 20 at 2:16PM EDT until August 21 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued August 20 at 12:55PM EDT until August 21 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 26m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
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.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.6 mi on I 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 6 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
367 ft57 ft
Total Climb
473 ft
Total Descent
277 ft
Highest Point
367 ft
~42.2 mi in
Elevation Range
310 ft
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 Lake Hiawatha, NJ, road signs point toward New York, Morristown and New York City.
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
•New Jersey State House — state capitol building of the U.S. state of New Jersey
•First Presbyterian Church — church in Trenton, New Jersey
•Calhoun Street Bridge — bridge over the Delaware River between Morrisville, Pennsylvania and Trenton, Ne...
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.6 miles on I 287. 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 Lake Hiawatha, 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 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.
Yes — Morristown National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. 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 Lake Hiawatha, NJ before heading back.
