Origin
Trenton, NJ
Late night in Trenton on Sunday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Trenton, NJ to Monmouth Beach, 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 10m
Distance
48.6 mi
78 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trenton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Monmouth Beach, NJ
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
Trenton to Monmouth Beach is 48.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 10 minutes via Central Jersey Expressway and NJ 18, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive is entirely within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a mixed drive that transitions from expressway to more local roads as you approach your destination. It's a straightforward trip, perfect for a single day if you're looking for a relatively quick transit between areas without committing to an overnight stay. Consider this route for its efficiency in covering a moderate distance.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Jersey Expressway | 14.9 mi | 17m |
| NJ 18 | 8.1 mi | 8m |
| Monmouth Road | 8 mi | 12m |
| NJ 36 | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| West Main Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| East Main Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Arena Drive | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| South Olden Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Central Jersey Expressway
— 14.9 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Trenton, NJ and Monmouth Beach, 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
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Central Jersey Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto 16B
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
16B
Exit 16B
Toward CR 537 East: Freehold
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto CR 537
8.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Monmouth Road
11
Continue on CR 537
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
West Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 537
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
East Main Street
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward NJ 18 South: Shore Points, Collingswood Park
14
Merge onto NJ 18
8.1 mi
·
8 min
·
NJ 18
15
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 13B
Toward NJ 36 East: Eatontown, Long Branch
16
Merge onto NJ 36
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
NJ 36
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto NJ 36
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Ocean Boulevard North
18
Turn left
246 ft
·
24 sec
19
Turn sharp right onto Riverdale Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Riverdale Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Riverdale Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.3 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 42.1 — 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.
7
19.1 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
16B
Take the exit onto 16B toward CR 537 East: Freehold
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 16B
Toward CR 537 East: Freehold
6
41.2 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward NJ 36 East: Eatontown, Long Branch
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 13B
Toward NJ 36 East: Eatontown, Long Branch
5
42.1 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
NJ 36
Merge onto NJ 36
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.06 one way
$16.11 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.82 | $17.65 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.43 | $18.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.73 | $21.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.10 | $2.33 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.25 | $1.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.80 | $3.11 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Monmouth Beach, NJ
Late night in Monmouth Beach on Sunday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Manalapan, NJ
24 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
9 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 10m 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?
This drive offers a blend of highway speeds and local road navigation, with 58% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a 14.9-mile stretch on the Central Jersey Expressway, providing a consistent, faster-paced segment. As you continue on NJ 18 and Monmouth Road, the character shifts to a more mixed drive, likely involving more traffic signals and potentially varied speed limits. This progression means you'll get a taste of both open road travel and more typical commuter conditions as you get closer to Monmouth Beach.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.9 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 48.6 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 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 19.1 miles (16B): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Monmouth Beach, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: Shore Points, Cr 537 East: Freehold, Collingswood Park and Long Branch.
Njtp: Shore Points
4 mi in
|
~7m
Cr 537 East: Freehold
19.1 mi in
|
~25m
|
via 16B
Collingswood Park
32.8 mi in
|
~47m
Long Branch
41.2 mi in
|
~56m
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 10m. Total distance: 48.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). 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 14.9 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 Monmouth Beach, 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 19.1 miles (16B): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — 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 Monmouth Beach, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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