Origin
West Long Branch, NJ
Afternoon in West Long Branch on Sunday
Local time
3:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Long Branch, NJ to Trenton, 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 3m
Distance
44.8 mi
72 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 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Long Branch, NJ
Malcolm Garret
Trenton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 44.8-mile drive from West Long Branch, NJ, to Trenton, NJ, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 3 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, it requires no overnight stops. With an estimated fuel cost of just $7, this route is quite economical. You'll primarily navigate on roads like Central Jersey Expressway, NJ 18, and Monmouth Road, experiencing a mixed driving profile. Since both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region and the state of New Jersey, you won't encounter significant regional shifts, making for a predictable and efficient trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Jersey Expressway | 14.5 mi | 16m |
| NJ 18 | 8.2 mi | 8m |
| Monmouth Road | 8.2 mi | 12m |
| Colts Neck Road | 5.6 mi | 9m |
| NJ 36 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Arena Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
| South Olden Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Hamilton Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Central Jersey Expressway
— 14.5 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Long Branch, NJ and Trenton, NJ.
1
Start on CR 15
104 ft
·
9 sec
·
Locust Avenue
2
Turn left onto Parker Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Parker Road
3
Turn right onto NJ 71
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Monmouth Road
4
Turn left onto NJ 36
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
NJ 36
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 18: Point Pleasant, New Burnswick
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick
7
Merge onto NJ 18
8.2 mi
·
8 min
·
NJ 18
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 22B
Toward CR 537 West: Freehold
Use the right lane.
9
Turn straight onto CR 537
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Colts Neck Road
10
Continue on CR 537
7.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Monmouth Road
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 195 West
12
Merge onto I 195
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Central Jersey Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 2
Toward US 206: South Broad Street, Arena Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 2
Toward Arena Drive
15
Turn straight onto CR 620
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Arena Drive
16
Turn left onto CR 622
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Olden Avenue
17
Turn left onto CR 606
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hamilton Avenue
18
Turn right onto CR 626
6 ft
·
0 sec
·
Chambers Street
19
Arrive at destination
CR 626
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 22.4 miles from West Long Branch, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 40.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward NJ 18: Point Pleasant, New Burnswick
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 18: Point Pleasant, New Burnswick
5
3.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick
7
12.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward CR 537 West: Freehold
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 22B
Toward CR 537 West: Freehold
8
40.7 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward US 206: South Broad Street, Arena Drive
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 2
Toward US 206: South Broad Street, Arena Drive
7
40.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Arena Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 2
Toward Arena Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.43 one way
$14.85 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.13 | $16.27 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.69 | $17.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.89 | $19.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.70 | $2.15 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.92 | $1.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.27 | $2.87 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Trenton, NJ
Afternoon in Trenton on Sunday
Local time
3:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Manalapan, 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 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 3m 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?
The drive offers a mixed driving experience, with 55% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 14.5 miles on the Central Jersey Expressway, providing a chance for consistent speed. The route transitions between faster-paced highway sections and more local road segments, particularly as you approach your destination. This variety means you'll experience different driving dynamics, from cruising on expressways to navigating through more built-up areas.
55% 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: 14.5 mi on Central Jersey Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 3 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 12.2 miles: 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 West Long Branch, NJ and Trenton, NJ, road signs point toward New Burnswick and Cr 537 West: Freehold.
New Burnswick
3 mi in
|
~5m
Cr 537 West: Freehold
12.2 mi in
|
~16m
About the Cities
Arriving 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 3m. Total distance: 44.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). 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 14.5 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 Trenton, 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 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 12.2 miles: 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 Trenton, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Trenton, NJ
More from West Long Branch, NJ
More trips to Trenton, NJ
Explore more options from West Long Branch, NJ or browse trips ending in Trenton, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.