How far is Cranbury, NJ from Jersey City, NJ?

The driving distance from Cranbury, NJ to Jersey City, NJ is about 40.8 miles (65.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 36.5 miles (58.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 38m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
40.81 mi
00h 49m
Flight
36.54 mi
58.8 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cranbury.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
36.54 mi
Kilometers
58.8 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
40.81 mi
Kilometers
65.68 km
Drive Time
00h 49m

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 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Jersey City
Sat, May 30, 3:01 AM EDT
Return by in Cranbury
Sat, May 30, 3:50 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cranbury
2026-05-30T02:11
Arrive Jersey City
Sat, May 30, 3:01 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:49 AM to 10:49 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:52 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cranbury
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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 Cranbury
20.2 mi
00h 24m
To Jersey City
20.6 mi
00h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph N
Destination
69°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
14 to 20 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cranbury and Jersey City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cranbury and Jersey City.

  1. 1

    Start on Plainsboro Road

    952 ft · 29 sec · Plainsboro Road

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Maplewood Avenue

    72 m · 7 sec · Maplewood Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Half Acre Road

    87 m · 10 sec · Half Acre Road

  4. 4

    Turn left

    603 ft · 17 sec

  5. 5

    Turn slight right onto South River Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · South River Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Cranbury-South River Road

    2797 ft · 60 sec · Cranbury-South River Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Forsgate Drive

    48 m · 3 sec · Forsgate Drive

  8. 8

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

    3054 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 95, NJTP North: New York City

    2247 ft · 55 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right

    2858 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike

    31.6 mi · 38 min · New Jersey Turnpike

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur

    1.1 mi · 1 min · New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Newark, Jersey City

    2138 ft · 59 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on US 1 Truck North, US 9 Truck North: Jersey City, Doremus Avenue

    98 m · 8 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on US 1 North Truck, US 9 North Truck: Jersey City

    1290 ft · 31 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Lincoln Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight left toward US 1 Truck North, US 9 Truck North

    1.1 km · 2 min

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Duncan Avenue

    2210 ft · 52 sec · Duncan Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Olean Avenue

    96 m · 14 sec · Olean Avenue

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Olean Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cranbury and Jersey City.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
20 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
49 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
New Jersey Turnpike
31.6 mi · 77%
South River Road
1.93 mi · 5%
Lincoln Highway
1.49 mi · 4%
New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
1.06 mi · 3%
I 95
0.97 mi · 2%
US 1 Truck North
0.73 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

New Jersey Turnpike

Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike

31.6 mi · 00h 38m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 49m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.3 mi
36.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fords
00h 24m from Cranbury
Leave By
4:52 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Cranbury and Mostly Sunny near Jersey City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cranbury to Jersey City?

The road trip is about 40.8 miles (65.7 km) and usually takes 00h 49m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Fords is a useful midpoint, sitting about 20.2 miles from Cranbury and 20.6 miles from Jersey City.

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

The direct path is about 36.5 miles (58.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:52 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.88 one way or $11.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Cranbury and Mostly Sunny near Jersey City.

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 Cranbury and Jersey City. Straight-line distance: 36.54 mi (58.8 km).

Cranbury

#1 Cranbury

Township of New Jersey

Population4,153
Coordinates40.3162200, -74.5137600
Altitude30
CountryUnited States
Jersey City

#2 Jersey City

The second most populous city in New Jersey and the center of the Jersey City metropolitan area.

Population262,075
Coordinates40.7281600, -74.0776400
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: Plainsboro Road (-74.513693, 40.316367)
End: Olean Avenue (-74.077772, 40.728219)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 66 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.44 gal
5.45 L · about $5.88
Round trip
$11.77
2.88 gal · 10.9 L
Estimated CO2
12.8 kg one way
Round trip: 25.6 kg / 56 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $5.88 $11.77
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.62 $13.25
Premium $4.95 $7.13 $14.27
Diesel $5.98 $8.61 $17.22

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 · May 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Cranbury and Jersey City. The current time is 02:11:57.

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.