How far is Elizabeth, NJ from Hillsborough, NJ?

The driving distance from Elizabeth, NJ to Hillsborough, NJ is about 31.8 miles (51.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 25.4 miles (40.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 40m 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
31.73 mi
00h 50m
Flight
25.35 mi
40.8 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elizabeth.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
25.35 mi
Kilometers
40.8 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
31.73 mi
Kilometers
51.07 km
Drive Time
00h 50m

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 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hillsborough
Tue, May 26, 7:48 AM EDT
Return by in Elizabeth
Tue, May 26, 8:38 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elizabeth
2026-05-26T06:58
Arrive Hillsborough
Tue, May 26, 7:48 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:50 AM to 10:50 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:50 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elizabeth
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
South Plainfield
NJ

Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey

From Elizabeth
15.8 mi
00h 25m
To Hillsborough
15.9 mi
00h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Tuesday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph E
Destination
79°F
Tuesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Elizabeth and Hillsborough.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elizabeth and Hillsborough.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    11 m · 8 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Jersey Street

    1164 ft · 38 sec · East Jersey Street

  3. 3

    Turn right

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  4. 4

    Continue on Carlton Street

    1183 ft · 19 sec · Carlton Street

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    3.5 mi · 7 min

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    1387 ft · 28 sec

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    3.1 mi · 5 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right

    1.8 mi · 3 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit straight toward I 287 North: Morristown, Mahwah

    2003 ft · 60 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    9.1 mi · 11 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward CR 527: Easton Avenue, New Brunswick, South Bound Brook

    808 ft · 20 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on CR 527 South: Easton Avenue, New Brunswick

    155 m · 13 sec

  14. 14

    Continue on Easton Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · Easton Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Cedar Grove Lane

    3.1 mi · 5 min · Cedar Grove Lane

  16. 16

    Continue on Amwell Road

    2.7 mi · 5 min · Amwell Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Millstone Bypass

    1.3 km · 1 min · Millstone Bypass

  18. 18

    Continue on Amwell Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Amwell Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Willow Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Willow Road

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Willow Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Elizabeth and Hillsborough.

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
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
63.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Carlton Street
11 mi · 35%
I 287 North
9.5 mi · 30%
Amwell Road
3.75 mi · 12%
Cedar Grove Lane
3.06 mi · 10%
Willow Road
1.36 mi · 4%
Millstone Bypass
0.79 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 287 North

Merge slight left

9.12 mi · 00h 11m

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 50m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.4 mi
25.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
South Plainfield
00h 25m from Elizabeth
Leave By
4:50 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Elizabeth and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Hillsborough.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elizabeth to Hillsborough?

The road trip is about 31.8 miles (51.1 km) and usually takes 00h 50m 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?

South Plainfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 15.8 miles from Elizabeth and 15.9 miles from Hillsborough.

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

The direct path is about 25.4 miles (40.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.4 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 4:50 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.58 one way or $9.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Elizabeth and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Hillsborough.

Stop Ideas Near South Plainfield

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around South Plainfield, 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 South Plainfield.

RAIL

Metropark station

7 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

New Brunswick station

10 mi away
French and Albany Streets
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

23 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

27 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elizabeth and Hillsborough. Straight-line distance: 25.35 mi (40.8 km).

Elizabeth

#1 Elizabeth

The second most populous city in Union County, New Jersey.

Population128,382
Coordinates40.6639900, -74.2107000
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Hillsborough

#2 Hillsborough

Township in Somerset county, New Jersey

Population40,105
Coordinates40.4776000, -74.6268200
Altitude26
CountryUnited States
Start: Elizabeth (-74.2107, 40.66399)
End: Hillsborough (-74.62682, 40.4776)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 51 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.12 gal
4.24 L · about $4.58
Round trip
$9.15
2.24 gal · 8.48 L
Estimated CO2
10 kg one way
Round trip: 19.9 kg / 44 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $4.58 $9.15
Mid-grade $4.60 $5.15 $10.30
Premium $4.95 $5.55 $11.10
Diesel $5.98 $6.70 $13.40

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 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Elizabeth and Hillsborough. The current time is 06:58:25.

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.