How far is Plainsboro Center, NJ from Elizabeth, NJ?

The driving distance from Plainsboro Center, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ is about 39.1 miles (62.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 30.6 miles (49.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 37m 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
39.08 mi
00h 48m
Flight
30.56 mi
49.18 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Plainsboro Center.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
30.56 mi
Kilometers
49.18 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
39.08 mi
Kilometers
62.89 km
Drive Time
00h 48m

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 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elizabeth
Fri, Apr 17, 6:09 AM EDT
Return by in Plainsboro Center
Fri, Apr 17, 6:57 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Plainsboro Center
2026-04-17T05:20
Arrive Elizabeth
Fri, Apr 17, 6:09 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 48m
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 Plainsboro Center
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
Piscataway
NJ

Township in New Jersey, United States

From Plainsboro Center
18.3 mi
00h 24m
To Elizabeth
20.8 mi
00h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Friday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
81°F
Friday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Plainsboro Center and Elizabeth.

  1. 1

    Start on Edgemere Avenue

    1011 ft · 36 sec · Edgemere Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on Dey Road

    4.6 mi · 8 min · Dey Road

  3. 3

    Turn left

    1.3 mi · 2 min

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward NJ 32 East: Jamesburg

    785 ft · 30 sec

  5. 5

    Continue on Forsgate Drive

    1.4 km · 1 min · Forsgate Drive

  6. 6

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

    3054 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

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

    2247 ft · 55 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right

    2858 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike

    24 mi · 28 min · New Jersey Turnpike

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island

    1.4 mi · 2 min

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto I 278 West, NJ 439: Elizabeth, Linden

    1931 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on NJ 439: Elizabeth

    774 ft · 35 sec

  13. 13

    Continue on Bayway

    1795 ft · 42 sec · Bayway

  14. 14

    Turn right onto South Broad Street

    1732 ft · 52 sec · South Broad Street

  15. 15

    Turn right

    1.6 km · 2 min

  16. 16

    Turn right

    18 m · 6 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right

    117 m · 28 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right

    85 m · 22 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right onto East Jersey Street

    1535 ft · 50 sec · East Jersey Street

  20. 20

    Turn right

    11 m · 3 sec

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
21 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
53.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
New Jersey Turnpike
24 mi · 61%
Dey Road
4.62 mi · 12%
I 278
1.42 mi · 4%
I 95
0.97 mi · 2%
Forsgate Drive
0.84 mi · 2%
NJTP Toll
0.58 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

New Jersey Turnpike

Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike

24 mi · 00h 28m

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 48m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.5 mi
30.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Piscataway
00h 24m from Plainsboro Center
Leave By
4:52 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Plainsboro Center and Chance Rain Showers near Elizabeth.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Plainsboro Center to Elizabeth?

The road trip is about 39.1 miles (62.9 km) and usually takes 00h 48m 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?

Piscataway is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.3 miles from Plainsboro Center and 20.8 miles from Elizabeth.

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

The direct path is about 30.6 miles (49.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.5 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 $5.64 one way or $11.28 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Plainsboro Center and Chance Rain Showers near Elizabeth.

Stop Ideas Near Piscataway

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

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

RAIL

New Brunswick station

4 mi away
French and Albany Streets
RAIL

Metropark station

10 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

Princeton Junction station

28 mi away
2 Wallace Road
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

29 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Plainsboro Center and Elizabeth. Straight-line distance: 30.56 mi (49.18 km).

Plainsboro Center

#1 Plainsboro Center

Town

Population2,712
Coordinates40.3317700, -74.5946000
Altitude22
CountryUnited States
Elizabeth

#2 Elizabeth

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

Population128,382
Coordinates40.6639900, -74.2107000
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Start: Edgemere Avenue (-74.594405, 40.331577)
End: (-74.210651, 40.663974)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 63 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.38 gal
5.22 L · about $5.64
Round trip
$11.28
2.76 gal · 10.44 L
Estimated CO2
12.3 kg one way
Round trip: 24.5 kg / 54 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $5.64 $11.28
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.35 $12.69
Premium $4.95 $6.84 $13.67
Diesel $5.98 $8.25 $16.50

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Plainsboro Center and Elizabeth. The current time is 05:20:11.

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.