How far is Carteret, NJ from New Brunswick, NJ?

The driving distance from Carteret, NJ to New Brunswick, NJ is about 18.1 miles (29.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 13.3 miles (21.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 53m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
18.06 mi
00h 26m
Flight
13.32 mi
21.44 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Carteret.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
13.32 mi
Kilometers
21.44 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
18.06 mi
Kilometers
29.06 km
Drive Time
00h 26m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in New Brunswick
Wed, Apr 22, 8:25 PM EDT
Return by in Carteret
Wed, Apr 22, 8:51 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Carteret
2026-04-22T19:58
Arrive New Brunswick
Wed, Apr 22, 8:25 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:27 AM to 7:27 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:36 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Carteret
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Fords
NJ

Town

From Carteret
8.8 mi
00h 13m
To New Brunswick
9.3 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph SE
Destination
61°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Carteret and New Brunswick.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Carteret and New Brunswick.

  1. 1

    Start on Carteret Avenue

    59 m · 11 sec · Carteret Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Linden Street

    771 ft · 39 sec · Linden Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Washington Avenue

    2928 ft · 1 min · Washington Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Roosevelt Avenue

    1743 ft · 50 sec · Roosevelt Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Industrial Highway

    906 ft · 26 sec · Industrial Highway

  6. 6

    Take the ramp left toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike

    1630 ft · 50 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton

    1444 ft · 35 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right

    1754 ft · 43 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike

    11.8 mi · 14 min · New Jersey Turnpike

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward NJ 18, US 1: New Brunswick

    1.3 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University

    1148 ft · 28 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University

    99 m · 8 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto State Route 18

    1.6 km · 2 min · State Route 18

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward NJ 172: New Brunswick, Cook/Douglass Campus, Paul Robeson Boulevard, New Street, Highland Park

    878 ft · 17 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto Route 18 Service Road

    2097 ft · 47 sec · Route 18 Service Road

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Paul Robeson Boulevard

    2025 ft · 1 min · Paul Robeson Boulevard

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Suydam Street

    2289 ft · 1 min · Suydam Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Livingston Avenue

    1589 ft · 37 sec · Livingston Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Delavan Street

    21 m · 3 sec · Delavan Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Delavan Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Carteret and New Brunswick.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
20 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
110.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
New Jersey Turnpike
11.8 mi · 65%
State Route 18
0.97 mi · 5%
NJ 18
0.8 mi · 4%
I 95 South
0.61 mi · 3%
Washington Avenue
0.55 mi · 3%
Suydam Street
0.43 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

New Jersey Turnpike

Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike

11.8 mi · 00h 14m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 26m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.8 mi
13.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fords
00h 13m from Carteret
Leave By
7:36 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Carteret and Chance Rain Showers near New Brunswick.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Carteret to New Brunswick?

The road trip is about 18.1 miles (29.1 km) and usually takes 00h 26m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Fords is a useful midpoint, sitting about 8.8 miles from Carteret and 9.3 miles from New Brunswick.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 13.3 miles (21.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:36 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.62 one way or $5.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Carteret and Chance Rain Showers near New Brunswick.

Stop Ideas Near Fords

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Fords, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Fords.

RAIL

Metropark station

4 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

New Brunswick station

12 mi away
French and Albany Streets
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

22 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

26 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Carteret and New Brunswick. Straight-line distance: 13.32 mi (21.44 km).

Carteret

#1 Carteret

Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States

Population23,383
Coordinates40.5773300, -74.2282000
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
New Brunswick

#2 New Brunswick

The most populous city in Middlesex County, New Jersey.

Population56,182
Coordinates40.4862200, -74.4518200
Altitude26
CountryUnited States
Start: Carteret Avenue (-74.22821, 40.577319)
End: Delavan Street (-74.451875, 40.486167)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 29 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.64 gal
2.41 L · about $2.62
Round trip
$5.23
1.28 gal · 4.82 L
Estimated CO2
5.7 kg one way
Round trip: 11.4 kg / 25 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $2.62 $5.23
Mid-grade $4.60 $2.94 $5.89
Premium $4.95 $3.17 $6.34
Diesel $5.98 $3.83 $7.65

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in New Jersey · Apr 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Carteret and New Brunswick. The current time is 19:58:36.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.