How far is Princeton Junction, NJ from Jersey City, NJ?

The driving distance from Princeton Junction, NJ to Jersey City, NJ is about 45.4 miles (73.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 40.2 miles (64.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 00m 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
45.45 mi
01h 00m
Flight
40.21 mi
64.71 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Princeton Junction.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
40.21 mi
Kilometers
64.71 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
45.45 mi
Kilometers
73.15 km
Drive Time
01h 00m

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 01h 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Jersey City
Thu, Apr 23, 1:49 AM EDT
Return by in Princeton Junction
Thu, Apr 23, 2:50 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Princeton Junction
2026-04-23T00:49
Arrive Jersey City
Thu, Apr 23, 1:49 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:30 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Princeton Junction
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
Metuchen
NJ

Borough in New Jersey, United States

From Princeton Junction
22.7 mi
00h 30m
To Jersey City
22.7 mi
00h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NW
Destination
71°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Princeton Junction and Jersey City.

  1. 1

    Start on Cranbury Road

    18 m · 6 sec · Cranbury Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Princeton-Hightstown Road

    1521 ft · 33 sec · Princeton-Hightstown Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Washington Road

    75 m · 5 sec · Washington Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Washington Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Washington Road

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Washington Road

    23 m · 4 sec · Brunswick Pike

  6. 6

    Exit the rotary onto Brunswick Pike

    12.9 mi · 18 min · Brunswick Pike

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    603 ft · 9 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick

    154 m · 8 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    112 m · 6 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    2.5 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward NJ 18 South: East Brunswick

    1290 ft · 37 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto State Route 18

    2411 ft · 55 sec · State Route 18

  13. 13

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

    2094 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

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

    1498 ft · 36 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right

    1933 ft · 47 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike

    22.1 mi · 27 min · New Jersey Turnpike

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur

    1.1 mi · 1 min · New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur

  18. 18

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

    2138 ft · 59 sec

  19. 19

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

    98 m · 8 sec

  20. 20

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

    1290 ft · 31 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Lincoln Highway

  22. 22

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

    1.1 km · 2 min

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Duncan Avenue

    2210 ft · 52 sec · Duncan Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Olean Avenue

    96 m · 14 sec · Olean Avenue

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Olean Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Princeton Junction 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
25 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
54.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
New Jersey Turnpike
22.1 mi · 49%
Brunswick Pike
13.1 mi · 29%
Newark|Newark
2.68 mi · 6%
Lincoln Highway
1.49 mi · 3%
Washington Road
1.09 mi · 2%
New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
1.06 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

New Jersey Turnpike

Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike

22.1 mi · 00h 27m

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
01h 00m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.2 mi
40.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Metuchen
00h 30m from Princeton Junction
Leave By
4:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Princeton Junction 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 Princeton Junction to Jersey City?

The road trip is about 45.4 miles (73.1 km) and usually takes 01h 00m 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?

Metuchen is a useful midpoint, sitting about 22.7 miles from Princeton Junction and 22.7 miles from Jersey City.

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

The direct path is about 40.2 miles (64.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.2 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 4:30 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.54 one way or $13.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Metuchen

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

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

RAIL

Metropark station

4 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

New Brunswick station

9 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 Princeton Junction and Jersey City. Straight-line distance: 40.21 mi (64.71 km).

Princeton Junction

#1 Princeton Junction

Town

Population2,465
Coordinates40.3173300, -74.6198800
Altitude23
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: Cranbury Road (-74.619882, 40.317407)
End: Olean Avenue (-74.077772, 40.728219)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 73 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 38m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.6 gal
6.07 L · about $6.54
Round trip
$13.08
3.2 gal · 12.14 L
Estimated CO2
14.2 kg one way
Round trip: 28.4 kg / 63 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $6.54 $13.08
Mid-grade $4.60 $7.36 $14.72
Premium $4.95 $7.93 $15.85
Diesel $5.98 $9.57 $19.14

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Princeton Junction and Jersey City. The current time is 00:49:19.

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.