How far is Princeton, NJ from Trenton, NJ?

The driving distance from Princeton, NJ to Trenton, NJ is about 13.5 miles (21.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 10.1 miles (16.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 44m 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
13.47 mi
00h 22m
Flight
10.12 mi
16.28 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Princeton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
10.12 mi
Kilometers
16.28 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
13.47 mi
Kilometers
21.68 km
Drive Time
00h 22m

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 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Trenton
Sat, May 2, 9:37 PM EDT
Return by in Princeton
Sat, May 2, 10:00 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Princeton
2026-05-02T21:15
Arrive Trenton
Sat, May 2, 9:37 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:22 AM to 7:22 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:46 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Princeton
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
6.3 mi
00h 11m
To Trenton
7.1 mi
00h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NW
Destination
58°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Nassau Street

    714 ft · 27 sec · Nassau Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Washington Road

    1.6 mi · 4 min · Washington Road

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Washington Road

    19 m · 4 sec · Brunswick Pike

  4. 4

    Exit the rotary onto Brunswick Pike

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Brunswick Pike

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right

    975 ft · 15 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    2012 ft · 31 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Brunswick Pike

    1.4 km · 1 min · Brunswick Pike

  8. 8

    Continue on Trenton Freeway

    3 mi · 4 min · Trenton Freeway

  9. 9

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

    145 m · 14 sec

  10. 10

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

    147 m · 14 sec · New York Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn left onto North Olden Avenue

    1.4 mi · 3 min · North Olden Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Hamilton Avenue

    2992 ft · 1 min · Hamilton Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Chambers Street

    2 m · 1 sec · Chambers Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Chambers Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Princeton 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
14 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
103.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Brunswick Pike
5.78 mi · 43%
Trenton Freeway
2.96 mi · 22%
Washington Road
1.65 mi · 12%
North Olden Avenue
1.39 mi · 10%
Hamilton Avenue
0.57 mi · 4%
Nassau Street
0.14 mi · 1%
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 22m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.4 mi
10.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lawrence
00h 11m from Princeton
Leave By
7:46 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Princeton and Partly Sunny near Trenton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 13.5 miles (21.7 km) and usually takes 00h 22m 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 6.3 miles from Princeton and 7.1 miles from Trenton.

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

The direct path is about 10.1 miles (16.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.4 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:46 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.96 one way or $3.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Princeton and Partly Sunny 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 9.5 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 5.5 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 5.4 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 and Trenton. Straight-line distance: 10.12 mi (16.28 km).

Princeton

#1 Princeton

Private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States

Population30,879
Coordinates40.3487200, -74.6590500
Altitude62
CountryUnited States
Trenton

#2 Trenton

The capital of New Jersey.

Population82,957
Coordinates40.2170500, -74.7429400
Altitude17
CountryUnited States
Start: Chapel Drive (-74.658709, 40.348041)
End: Chambers Street (-74.742936, 40.217034)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 22 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.48 gal
1.8 L · about $1.96
Round trip
$3.92
0.96 gal · 3.6 L
Estimated CO2
4.3 kg one way
Round trip: 8.5 kg / 19 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $1.96 $3.92
Mid-grade $4.60 $2.21 $4.42
Premium $4.95 $2.38 $4.76
Diesel $5.98 $2.87 $5.74

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 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Princeton and Trenton. The current time is 21:15:30.

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.