How far is Princeton Junction, NJ from Trenton, NJ?

The driving distance from Princeton Junction, NJ to Trenton, NJ is about 12.7 miles (20.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 9.5 miles (15.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 39m 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
12.69 mi
00h 19m
Flight
9.49 mi
15.28 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Princeton Junction.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
9.49 mi
Kilometers
15.28 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
12.69 mi
Kilometers
20.43 km
Drive Time
00h 19m

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 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Trenton
Wed, Apr 22, 11:27 PM EDT
Return by in Princeton Junction
Wed, Apr 22, 11:47 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Princeton Junction
2026-04-22T23:07
Arrive Trenton
Wed, Apr 22, 11:27 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:20 AM to 7:20 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:50 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Princeton Junction
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
Lawrence
NJ

Township in Mercer County, New Jersey

From Princeton Junction
6.2 mi
00h 09m
To Trenton
6.5 mi
00h 09m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW
Destination
66°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Princeton Junction and Trenton.

  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 4 toward Washington Road

    106 m · 10 sec · Brunswick Pike

  6. 6

    Exit the rotary onto Brunswick Pike

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Brunswick Pike

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right

    975 ft · 15 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    2012 ft · 31 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Brunswick Pike

    1.4 km · 1 min · Brunswick Pike

  10. 10

    Continue on Trenton Freeway

    3 mi · 4 min · Trenton Freeway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Olden Avenue, New York Avenue

    145 m · 14 sec

  12. 12

    At the end of the road, turn left onto New York Avenue

    147 m · 14 sec · New York Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto North Olden Avenue

    1.4 mi · 3 min · North Olden Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Hamilton Avenue

    2992 ft · 1 min · Hamilton Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Chambers Street

    2 m · 1 sec · Chambers Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Chambers Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Princeton Junction and Trenton.

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
16 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
126 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Brunswick Pike
5.81 mi · 46%
Trenton Freeway
2.96 mi · 23%
North Olden Avenue
1.39 mi · 11%
Washington Road
1.12 mi · 9%
Hamilton Avenue
0.57 mi · 4%
Princeton-Hightstown Road
0.29 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Brunswick Pike

Exit the rotary onto Brunswick Pike

4.34 mi · 00h 06m

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 19m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.2 mi
9.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lawrence
00h 09m from Princeton Junction
Leave By
7:50 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Princeton Junction and Chance Rain Showers near Trenton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Princeton Junction to Trenton?

The road trip is about 12.7 miles (20.4 km) and usually takes 00h 19m 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?

Lawrence is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6.2 miles from Princeton Junction and 6.5 miles from Trenton.

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

The direct path is about 9.5 miles (15.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.2 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:50 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.84 one way or $3.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Princeton Junction and Chance Rain Showers near Trenton.

Stop Ideas Near Lawrence

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Lawrence and the surrounding midpoint area.
Old City Hall
Scenic stop 9.3 mi away

Old City Hall

Bordentown , NJ
11 Crosswicks St, Bordentown, NJ 08505
Rating 4.6/5 13 reviews Historical landmark
Trenton City Hall
Meeting point 5.3 mi away

Trenton City Hall

Trenton , NJ
319 E State St, Trenton, NJ 08608
Rating 3.8/5 67 reviews City Hall
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 5.3 mi away

Trenton Health & Human Services

Trenton , NJ
319 E State St #3rd, Trenton, NJ 08608
Public health department

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Princeton Junction station

7 mi away
2 Wallace Road
RAIL

Trenton Transit Center

9 mi away
72 South Clinton Avenue
RAIL

New Brunswick station

31 mi away
French and Albany Streets
RAIL

Cornwells Heights

32 mi away
700 Station Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Princeton Junction and Trenton. Straight-line distance: 9.49 mi (15.28 km).

Princeton Junction

#1 Princeton Junction

Town

Population2,465
Coordinates40.3173300, -74.6198800
Altitude23
CountryUnited States
Trenton

#2 Trenton

The capital of New Jersey.

Population82,957
Coordinates40.2170500, -74.7429400
Altitude17
CountryUnited States
Start: Cranbury Road (-74.619882, 40.317407)
End: Chambers Street (-74.742936, 40.217034)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 20 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.45 gal
1.7 L · about $1.84
Round trip
$3.68
0.9 gal · 3.4 L
Estimated CO2
4 kg one way
Round trip: 8 kg / 18 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $1.84 $3.68
Mid-grade $4.60 $2.07 $4.14
Premium $4.95 $2.23 $4.46
Diesel $5.98 $2.69 $5.38

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 Trenton. The current time is 23:07:28.

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.