The Cost of a Trip between Boston, MA and Hackensack, NJ: How Gas Prices Affect Your Budget

Are you planning a road trip from Boston, MA to Hackensack, NJ? The cost of gas can quickly add up, making it important to plan your travel route in advance. In this article, we will explore the different routes you could take and break down the cost of each one. By the end, we'll recommend the best route for you and your budget.

The Different Routes

There are several routes you could take from Boston to Hackensack, each with different distances and costs. Let's take a look:

Route 1: I-95 S

Using I-95 S, the shortest and most direct route between Boston and Hackensack, you'll travel approximately 225 miles and should take around 4 hours and 10 minutes. However, this is also one of the most expensive routes for gas.

According to GasBuddy, the average price of gas in Massachusetts is $2.30 per gallon while the average price of gas in New Jersey is $2.32 per gallon. So, for a vehicle that averages 25 miles per gallon, you would need around 9 gallons of gas for this trip. That's a total gas cost of $20.70 for Massachusetts and $20.88 for New Jersey.

Adding up both state's costs, the total cost for this route is $41.58 in gas alone.

Route 2: I-90 W and I-287 S

If you're looking for a slightly longer route with cheaper gas, you could go west from Boston on I-90 W and then south on I-287 S. This route will take you approximately 236 miles and should take around 4 hours and 28 minutes.

The gas prices along this route vary considerably. The average price of gas in Massachusetts is $2.30 per gallon, while New York's average gas price is at $2.46 per gallon. New Jersey is also above the national average at $2.32 per gallon. If your car has an average MPG of 25, you would need around 9.5 gallons of gas for this trip, costing you $21.85 in Massachusetts, $23.37 in New York and $22.08 in New Jersey.

Adding up all three state's costs, the total cost for this route would be $67.30.

Route 3: I-84 W and US-6 E

Another scenic route would be to travel on I-84 W and then taking US-6 E towards Hackensack. This route will take you approximately 248 miles and should take around 4 hours and 40 minutes.

The average gas price in Massachusetts is $2.30 per gallon, and it lowers to $2.15 per gallon in Connecticut with New York and New Jersey having prices higher than the national average with $2.46 and $2.32 per gallon respectively. If your car's MPG is 25, you should expect to use around 10 gallons of gas, costing you $23.00 in Massachusetts, $21.88 in Connecticut, $24.60 in New York and $23.20 in New Jersey.

Adding up all four state's costs, the total cost for this route would be around $92.68.

Route 4: I-95 S and I-295 S

Another possibility is a combination of I-95 S and I-295 S, adding extra miles and time to the trip, and making traveling cheaper with the decrease in gas prices. This route will take you approximately 243 miles and should take around 4 hours and 32 minutes.

The average cost of gas in Massachusetts is $2.30 per gallon, decreasing considerably to $2.20 per gallon in Rhode Island and slightly more to $2.32 per gallon in New Jersey. If your car's MPG is 25, you should expect to use around 9.72 gallons of gas, costing you $22.35 in Massachusetts, $21.34 in Rhode Island and $21.85 in New Jersey.

Adding up all three state's costs, the total cost for this route would be around $65.54.

The Best Route Recommendation

After comparing all four routes, it is clear that Route 4 through I-95 and I-295 S is the cheapest of all. It is the most fuel-efficient and offers the most affordable gas prices, making it the most cost-effective option. The route only adds an extra 18 miles to the trip but is more than $25 cheaper than Route 1. Even Route 2, with the same mileage approximately, will cost you $2 per gallon more in New York state.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a road trip from Boston to Hackensack can be costly in terms of gas. The best and most cost-effective route, taking into consideration both distance and gas prices, is Route 4 through I-95 and I-295 S. It offers the most fuel-efficient drive, the cheapest gas prices, and is only slightly more time consuming than the shortest route. So, if you're planning a road trip, make sure you plan ahead and choose the best route for you and your budget.