Driving from New Jersey, gas to the closest state (Delaware) costs as little as $27 one way. To the far west coast (California), you’re looking at about $615. Most road trips from New Jersey land somewhere between those two numbers, and the exact cost comes down to where you’re headed and current AAA gas prices.
We built an interactive map that answers that question for every single state — at a glance.
Unlike most gas calculators that spit out one number based on a single national average, this map uses each state’s actual current gas price for the miles you drive through it. So the cost you see for California uses California’s expensive gas, and the cost for Tennessee uses Tennessee’s cheaper gas. The result is a more honest look at what your trip will really cost. There’s also an MPG box on the map — type in your car’s real number and every cost updates instantly.
New Jersey to anywhere
Total: ~4,424 miles · ~72 hours · Passport required · Route through 4 Canadian provinces/territories · Estimated gas cost ~$1,070 one way
How We Calculate Gas Cost From New Jersey To Every State
A few things worth knowing before you read the numbers:
- Vehicle: 20 MPG — a reasonable average for most cars and SUVs (use the MPG box on the map to set your own)
- Routes: Actual driving routes from Toms River, not straight-line distance
- Destination: The geographic center city of each state
- Gas prices: Each state’s own AAA average — not a national average
- Data source: AAA Gas Prices, June 2026
- Direction: One way from Toms River, New Jersey
This means if you’re driving to Tennessee, we used Tennessee’s gas price for the miles you’re in Tennessee — not New Jersey’s price for the whole trip. That’s what makes this different from a standard calculator.
Cheapest And Most Expensive Drives From New Jersey
- Delaware is the cheapest drive at $27 one way — barely over the bridge at 134 miles and about 2 hours.
- California is the most expensive at $615 — the full width of the country plus the priciest gas, at $5.76 a gallon.
- Texas is the best value for the distance: $323 for 1,745 miles, thanks to cheap gas most of the way down.
- Michigan and Kentucky both land at $147 — Michigan is a quick 10h45m shot, Kentucky’s a longer haul, but Kentucky’s cheaper gas evens them out.
- North Carolina is the sweet spot at $102 — about 8.5 hours and 526 miles, an easy run to the Outer Banks or Blue Ridge.
How Long Does It Take To Drive From New Jersey To Every State?
Gas cost is only half the story. Before you commit to a road trip, you also need to know how many hours you’ll be sitting in the car. We mapped that too — from a quick 2h20m hop to Delaware all the way out to 44 hours to California.
New Jersey to anywhere
Total: ~4,424 miles · ~72 hours · Passport required · Route through 4 Canadian provinces/territories · Estimated gas cost ~$1,070 one way
Gas Cost And Drive Time From New Jersey To Every State
Sorted by cost, lowest to highest. All prices one way from Toms River, New Jersey, at 20 MPG.
| State | Gas Cost | Drive Time | Miles | Gas Price There |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $27 | 2h 20m | 134 mi | $3.82 |
| Pennsylvania | $35 | 2h 55m | 168 mi | $4.23 |
| Connecticut | $38 | 2h 55m | 179 mi | $4.24 |
| Maryland | $39 | 3h 30m | 195 mi | $3.85 |
| Rhode Island | $53 | 4h 15m | 251 mi | $4.08 |
| Massachusetts | $55 | 4h 40m | 262 mi | $4.20 |
| New York | $56 | 4h 40m | 260 mi | $4.38 |
| Vermont | $79 | 6h 45m | 369 mi | $4.32 |
| New Hampshire | $81 | 6h 15m | 386 mi | $4.17 |
| Virginia | $83 | 6h 35m | 409 mi | $3.83 |
| West Virginia | $94 | 7h 30m | 457 mi | $4.04 |
| North Carolina | $102 | 8h 25m | 526 mi | $3.71 |
| Maine | $107 | 8h 40m | 512 mi | $4.17 |
| Ohio | $111 | 8h 10m | 528 mi | $4.09 |
| South Carolina | $128 | 10h 30m | 670 mi | $3.70 |
| Indiana | $144 | 11h 5m | 704 mi | $3.36 |
| Kentucky | $147 | 12h | 754 mi | $3.65 |
| Michigan | $147 | 10h 45m | 705 mi | $4.20 |
| Tennessee | $163 | 13h 10m | 856 mi | $3.64 |
| Georgia | $164 | 13h 15m | 863 mi | $3.77 |
| Illinois | $185 | 14h 15m | 914 mi | $4.40 |
| Alabama | $186 | 14h 55m | 981 mi | $3.70 |
| Florida | $198 | 15h 25m | 1,039 mi | $3.86 |
| Mississippi | $214 | 17h 35m | 1,131 mi | $3.68 |
| Wisconsin | $221 | 16h 50m | 1,100 mi | $3.89 |
| Missouri | $226 | 17h 30m | 1,124 mi | $3.76 |
| Iowa | $232 | 17h 30m | 1,152 mi | $3.73 |
| Arkansas | $234 | 19h | 1,244 mi | $3.70 |
| Louisiana | $254 | 21h 5m | 1,348 mi | $3.67 |
| Minnesota | $269 | 20h 35m | 1,345 mi | $3.88 |
| Kansas | $270 | 21h 5m | 1,359 mi | $3.74 |
| Oklahoma | $277 | 21h 20m | 1,400 mi | $3.58 |
| Nebraska | $293 | 22h 35m | 1,469 mi | $3.91 |
| North Dakota | $320 | 24h | 1,610 mi | $3.86 |
| Texas | $323 | 27h | 1,745 mi | $3.54 |
| South Dakota | $324 | 23h 50m | 1,621 mi | $3.98 |
| Colorado | $364 | 28h | 1,836 mi | $4.13 |
| Wyoming | $378 | 29h | 1,892 mi | $4.23 |
| New Mexico | $382 | 30h | 1,965 mi | $3.94 |
| Montana | $418 | 31h | 2,085 mi | $4.25 |
| Utah | $455 | 33h | 2,253 mi | $4.31 |
| Arizona | $473 | 36h | 2,400 mi | $4.44 |
| Idaho | $494 | 36h | 2,424 mi | $4.43 |
| Nevada | $535 | 38h | 2,585 mi | $4.93 |
| Washington | $578 | 41h | 2,775 mi | $5.53 |
| Oregon | $587 | 42h | 2,812 mi | $5.01 |
| California | $615 | 44h | 2,917 mi | $5.76 |
| Alaska ⚠️ | ~$1,070 | ~72h | ~4,424 mi | varies* |
*Alaska gas price varies by Canadian province; estimate uses a blended rate. All figures one way from Toms River, NJ, at 20 MPG. AAA averages, June 2026.
Times are no traffic, direct route, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. Real world drive time will vary — budget extra for stops, construction, and the inevitable “we need snacks” moment 40 miles before the exit. 😄
Can You Drive From New Jersey To Alaska?
Yes, you can actually drive from New Jersey to Alaska. But let’s be real — this is a completely different kind of trip.
- Total miles: approximately 4,424 one way
- Drive time: roughly 72 hours
- Passport required: you drive through 4 Canadian provinces
- Route: New Jersey → Pennsylvania → Ohio → Indiana → Illinois → Wisconsin → Minnesota → North Dakota → Saskatchewan → Alberta → British Columbia → Yukon → Alaska
- Estimated gas cost: approximately $1,070 one way
British Columbia is typically the most expensive leg of the Canadian portion, and the sheer distance is what drives the total up. The Canadian provinces are surprisingly reasonable on their own — it’s just a LOT of road.
Worth knowing: some states issue Enhanced Driver’s Licenses that allow land border crossings into Canada without a full passport. Check with your state’s DMV before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because gas actually costs different amounts in different states. California and Washington run over $5.50 a gallon. Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee often sit under $3.65. If we used New Jersey’s price for the entire trip, you’d get a completely wrong number for anything far from home. We use the actual price in each state for the miles you drive there.
Using the geographic center of each state gives everyone a fair, consistent target. If we picked major cities, some states would look artificially cheap or expensive just because their biggest city happens to sit near a border. The center point puts every state on equal footing.
No — all numbers are one way. Double it for a rough round trip estimate, though your return cost may vary a little depending on gas prices when you travel.
Use the MPG box above the map — type your number and every cost updates instantly.
Gas prices are based on AAA state averages from June 2026. Gas prices change constantly — for the most current numbers before your trip, check aaa.com/gas.
Ready To Start Planning?
Now that you know what gas will cost, it’s time to figure out where to actually go. Check out our New Jersey road trip guides for ideas on where to stop, what to see, and how to make the most of your drive — whether you’re sticking close to the Shore or pointing the car somewhere brand new.
Hi, I’m Alice. I’ve been running Road Trip Owl for five years and taking 6+ multi-day road trips a year (plus more weekend escapes than I can count). These maps come from the real road — real routes, real prices, no national averages.
