Origin
West Windsor, NJ
Late night in West Windsor on Sunday
Local time
5:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Windsor, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
36.2 mi
58 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Windsor, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 36.2-mile drive from West Windsor, NJ, to Elizabeth, NJ, is a straightforward trip that takes about 58 minutes to complete. With a modest fuel cost of around $6, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route primarily utilizes US 1 and Brunswick Pike, offering a mixed driving experience. Since it's a short distance, you won't need an overnight stay. This journey stays within the Northeast region, connecting two points in New Jersey. It's a practical choice for a quick transit between these locations without significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 17.8 mi | 28m |
| Brunswick Pike | 12.9 mi | 18m |
| Carlton Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Washington Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Princeton-Hightstown Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Edgar Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Penn Lyle Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 17.8 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Windsor, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on Ziff Lane
475 ft
·
22 sec
·
Ziff Lane
2
Turn right onto Princeton Place
378 ft
·
22 sec
·
Princeton Place
3
Turn left onto Canoe Brook Drive
406 ft
·
19 sec
·
Canoe Brook Drive
4
Turn right onto Penn Lyle Road
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Penn Lyle Road
5
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Clarksville Road
6
Turn left onto CR 526; CR 571
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Princeton-Hightstown Road
7
Turn right onto CR 526; CR 571
247 ft
·
5 sec
·
Washington Road
8
Continue on CR 526; CR 571
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Road
9
Enter roundabout onto US 1
76 ft
·
4 sec
·
Brunswick Pike
10
Continue on US 1
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Brunswick Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
504 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 1
Toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
366 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1
15
Continue on US 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1
16
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 1
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on US 1
7.2 mi
·
11 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on US 1
6.3 mi
·
10 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Edgar Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Carlton Street
22
Turn right
60 ft
·
6 sec
23
Turn right
383 ft
·
28 sec
24
Turn right
278 ft
·
22 sec
25
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
East Jersey Street
26
Turn right
34 ft
·
2 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.1 miles from West Windsor, 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 33.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Princeton Place
Turn right onto Princeton Place
Navigation decision point
6
15.7 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
15.8 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|New...
7
15.9 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
33.6 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
US 1; US 9 / East Edgar Road
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9 / East Edgar Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.00 one way
$12.00 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.57 | $13.15 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.02 | $14.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.99 | $15.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.80 | $1.74 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.17 | $1.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Elizabeth, NJ
Late night in Elizabeth on Sunday
Local time
5:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Edison, NJ
18 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
3 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
58m 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 personality of this drive is best described as a mixed bag, with 49% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on US 1, which can feel like a busy arterial road, interspersed with sections on Brunswick Pike and Carlton Street. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 17.8 miles on US 1, providing a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. Expect a blend of faster-paced highway segments and potentially more traffic-influenced local road driving as you navigate between towns.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.8 mi on US 1.
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 0.1 miles in near Princeton Place.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 19 decision points packed into just 36.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Princeton Place): Navigation decision point; at 15.7 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.8 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 West Windsor, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark and New Brunswick.
Newark|Newark
15.8 mi in
|
~25m
|
via US 1
Camden
15.8 mi in
|
~25m
|
via US 1
New Brunswick|Newark
15.8 mi in
|
~25m
|
via US 1
New Brunswick
15.8 mi in
|
~25m
|
via US 1
About the Cities
Starting in West Windsor, NJ
Full guide →West Windsor is a township of 28,000 people (2019) in New Jersey. It is among the highest-income municipalities in New Jersey. It is largely made up of expensive houses in carefully groomed developments.
Arriving in Elizabeth, NJ
Full guide →Elizabeth is the fourth largest city in New Jersey.
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 58m. Total distance: 36.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). 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 17.8 miles on US 1. 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 Elizabeth, 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 0.1 miles (Princeton Place): Navigation decision point; at 15.7 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.8 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). 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 Elizabeth, 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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