The Cost of a Road Trip between Boxborough, Massachusetts and Raritan, New Jersey

As the summer vacation is approaching, many people are planning their road trips. One of the places that could be on your list is Raritan, New Jersey. This town is only a few hours away from Boxborough, Massachusetts, making it an ideal destination for a weekend getaway. In this article, we will explore the cost of a road trip between Boxborough and Raritan, and we will suggest the best route to take to make your trip as economical as possible.

Possible Routes

Before we dive into the cost of the trip, let's first see what possible routes we can take to get from Boxborough to Raritan. There are several routes, but the three most popular ones are:

Route 1: The Fastest Route

The fastest route is via I-90 W and I-84 W. This route takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes and covers a distance of 195 miles.

Route 2: The Scenic Route

If you prefer a scenic drive, then you might prefer to take Route 2. This route takes approximately 5 hours and 40 minutes, covering a distance of 289 miles.

Route 3: The Economical Route

If you are looking to save some money on gas, then you might consider taking Route 3. This route takes approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes, but it covers a distance of only 197 miles.

Cost of Gasoline

The cost of gas is a crucial factor to consider when planning a road trip. Gas prices vary from state to state and even from one gas station to another. Therefore, we checked the gas prices in Massachusetts and New Jersey to provide you with accurate information.

According to GasBuddy, the average gas price in Massachusetts is $2.89 per gallon, while in New Jersey, it is $2.70 per gallon. Knowing these prices, we can calculate the cost of gas for each route.

Route 1: The Fastest Route

If we assume that your car gets an average of 30 miles per gallon, then you will need to buy around 6.5 gallons of gas to drive 195 miles. At $2.89 per gallon, this will cost you $18.80 one way.

Route 2: The Scenic Route

If you take Route 2, which is longer, you will need to buy more gas. Assuming the same car and gas mileage, you will need to buy around 9.6 gallons of gas to drive 289 miles. At $2.89 per gallon, this will cost you $27.74 one way.

Route 3: The Economical Route

Route 3 is the shortest, which means you will need to buy less gas. Assuming the same car and gas mileage, you will need to buy around 6.6 gallons of gas to drive 197 miles. At $2.89 per gallon, this will cost you $19.05 one way.

Additional Costs

Gas is not the only expense to consider when planning a road trip. You must also take into account other expenses such as tolls, food, and accommodations.

Tolls

There are several tolls throughout the trip, including the Massachusetts Turnpike and the New Jersey Turnpike. You should budget around $32 for tolls for a one-way trip.

Food

Assuming you eat three meals a day, you should budget around $30-$40 per day for food per person.

Accommodations

If you plan on staying in a hotel, you should budget around $80-$100 per night for a standard room.

Recommended Route

Taking into account the distances, gas prices, tolls, and additional costs, Route 3 is the most economical route. It is also less congested than Route 1 and avoids the scenic detour of Route 2, which means less gas consumed.

Conclusion

To summarize, the cost of a road trip between Boxborough, Massachusetts and Raritan, New Jersey depends on several factors. Gas prices, distance, tolls, and additional costs such as food and accommodations are all significant expenses. Based on the information provided, Route 3 is the most economical route, costing around $51 for gas and $32 for tolls for a one-way trip. Factoring in additional costs, such as food and accommodations, we recommend budgeting around $200 for a two-day trip. With planning and preparation, you can enjoy a weekend getaway without breaking the bank. Safe travels!