This 78.4-mile drive from Burlington, NJ to Paterson, NJ is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 43 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-95 and the Garden State Parkway, this route is well-suited for a single day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of $13. Given its relatively short duration and highway-centric profile, it's a practical option for getting between these two New Jersey locations without needing an overnight stay. The drive remains within the Northeast region, offering a consistent experience throughout.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
39.2 miles from Burlington, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a highway-dominated experience on this route, with 89% of the drive taking place on major roadways. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 39.8 miles on I-95, which forms a substantial portion of the journey. While the profile is largely highway-focused, the inclusion of Burlington Pike suggests a transition or initial segment on a more local road before merging onto the faster interstates. The overall character is one of efficient travel rather than scenic exploration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 39.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 48.3 miles in.
Route Complexity10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 78.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 48.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
48.3 mi into trip|~1h in
Take the exit toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbri...
7
48.7 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
7
75.3 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward NJ 19: Paterson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 155A
Toward NJ 19: Paterson
8
77.7 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Grand Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Grand Street
7
77.9 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|CR 638 / Grand Street
Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Burlington, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike, Njtp North: New York City, Camden, Gsp and Woodbridge.
Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
4.9 mi in|~8m
Njtp North: New York City
5.2 mi in|~9m
Camden
5.2 mi in|~9m
Gsp
48.3 mi in|~1h
Woodbridge
48.3 mi in|~1h
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
39.8 mi
45m
Garden State Parkway
25.8 mi
35m
Burlington Pike
4.8 mi
8m
New Jersey Turnpike Pennsylvania Extension
2.6 mi
2m
NJ 19
1.7 mi
1m
Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Grand Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Market Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 39.8 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on US 130; CR 543
107 ft·4 sec·Burlington Pike
2
Take the exit
474 ft·20 sec
3
Turn left
47 ft·6 sec
4
Turn left
84 ft·7 sec
5
Turn slight right onto US 130; CR 543
4.7 mi·8 min·Burlington Pike
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City, Camden
8
Merge onto I 95
2.6 mi·2 min·New Jersey Turnpike Pennsylvania Extension
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
40 mi·45 min·I 95
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 11Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, WoodbridgeUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward GSP North: Garden State ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto GSP
26 mi·35 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 155AToward NJ 19: PatersonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Merge onto NJ 19
1.7 mi·1 min·NJ 19
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
313 ft·7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·23 sec
Toward Grand StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi·27 sec·Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi·29 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft·15 sec·Market Street
20
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft·3 sec·Colt Street
21
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Trip Plan
With a duration of just under two hours, this trip offers flexibility; you can depart at your convenience. Consider leaving early to avoid potential traffic on I-95 and the Garden State Parkway, especially if you are traveling on a weekday. Since the longest stretch without a break is nearly 40 miles, plan for a fuel or rest stop around that point if needed, though with the entire trip being only 78.4 miles, this might not be necessary for most drivers. The low fuel cost of $13 makes this an economical choice for a quick transit.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.2 miles from Burlington, NJ, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 78.4 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.2 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paterson, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burlington, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Burlington, NJ
This is one driving day of about 78.4 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Burlington, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 39.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.2 mi from Burlington, NJ
· 49m into the drive
The midpoint is around 39.2 miles from Burlington, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Paterson, NJ
The final approach into Paterson, NJ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Paterson, NJ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
0 mi from route
~1 min detour
Free
near mile 78.4
Caution: Limited Amphitheater Accessibility
Caution: Overlook Park Parking Lot - Vehicles Must Be Parked in a Designated Spot
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 59.5
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 64.9
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.5
0
$8.23
$3.76
Efficient EV
19.6
0
$6.86
$3.14
EV Truck/SUV
31.4
0
$10.98
$5.02
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast data refreshed 23 hours ago
Origin
Burlington, NJ
Night
in Burlington on Tuesday
Local time
10:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Paterson, NJ
Night
in Paterson on Tuesday
Local time
10:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 43m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Burlington, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 78.4 miles and takes about 1h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Garden State Parkway, Burlington Pike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.2 miles from Burlington, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.00 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 78.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 48.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Burlington, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike, Njtp North: New York City, Camden, Gsp and Woodbridge.
