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Trip from Caldwell, NJ to Paterson, NJ

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

17m

Distance

10.8 mi

17 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 16m ★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 21m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 18m
3 PM
0h 19m
5 PM
0h 21m
8 PM
0h 17m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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borough in Essex County, New Jersey, USA

Caldwell, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

city in and the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States

Paterson, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This short 10.8-mile drive from Caldwell, NJ to Paterson, NJ takes approximately 17 minutes and is perfect for a quick local excursion. With a minimal highway share of 10%, you'll primarily navigate local roads, making it a straightforward, turn-heavy journey. This route is ideal as a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. Budget around $2 for fuel, which is quite affordable for this brief transit. Both your origin and destination are nestled within the Northeast region, offering a familiar local feel 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

5.4 miles from Caldwell, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this trip, with only a small portion on the highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 4.3 miles along Christopher Columbus Highway. You'll primarily be navigating through Central Avenue and Grandview Avenue, which suggests a more urban or suburban driving experience with frequent intersections and potential traffic lights. This isn't a high-speed, open-road adventure, but rather a series of connected local streets.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Christopher Columbus Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 4.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 10.8 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 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
9.8 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the exit toward NJ 19: Downtown, Paterson

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 57B Toward NJ 19: Downtown, Paterson
6
10.1 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the exit toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
8
10.1 mi into trip | ~16m 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
10.3 mi into trip | ~16m in | CR 638 / Grand Street

Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
10.5 mi into trip | ~16m in | CR 509 / Main Street

Turn left onto CR 509 / Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Caldwell, NJ to Paterson, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Del Water Gap along the way.

Del Water Gap

10.1 mi in | ~15m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Christopher Columbus Highway 4.3 mi 4m
Central Avenue 2.2 mi 3m
Grandview Avenue 1.2 mi 2m
Newark - Pompton Turnpike 0.9 mi 1m
Main Street 0.8 mi 1m
Bloomfield Avenue 0.3 mi 1m
Grand Street 0.2 mi <1m
NJ 19 <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Christopher Columbus Highway — 4.3 mi, about 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Caldwell, NJ and Paterson, NJ.

1

Start on this road

79 ft · 10 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto CR 506

0.3 mi · 1 min · Bloomfield Avenue
3

Turn right onto CR 631

2.2 mi · 3 min · Central Avenue
4

Continue on CR 631

1.2 mi · 2 min · Grandview Avenue
5

Continue on CR 631

0.5 mi · 1 min · Main Street
6

Turn left onto NJ 23

0.9 mi · 1 min · Newark - Pompton Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 80 East: New York
8

Merge onto I 80

4.3 mi · 4 min · Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 57B Toward NJ 19: Downtown, Paterson Use the slight right lane.
10

Merge onto NJ 19

474 ft · 5 sec · NJ 19
11

Take the exit

313 ft · 7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 23 sec
Toward Grand Street Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13

Turn right onto CR 638

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Turn left onto CR 509

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Main Street
Use the straight lane.
15

Turn right onto CR 648

453 ft · 15 sec · Market Street
16

Turn left onto Colt Street

42 ft · 3 sec · Colt Street
17

Arrive at destination

Colt Street

Trip Plan

Given the short 17-minute duration and only 10.8 miles, this route offers great flexibility. You can easily depart at any time of day without needing to plan for extensive stops or overnight breaks. The estimated fuel cost of $2 means you likely won't need to worry about finding gas stations along the way. A specific tip for this drive: pay close attention to your navigation as you approach Central Avenue and Grandview Avenue, as these roads are key to the many turns on this route and can be easy to miss if you're not focused.

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 5.4 miles from Caldwell, NJ, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.3 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 10.8 miles or 17m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 5.4 miles or 10m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 14m

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 Caldwell, 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 Caldwell, NJ

This is one driving day of about 10.8 miles and 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Caldwell, 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 Christopher Columbus Highway for about 4.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 5.4 mi from Caldwell, NJ · 10m into the drive

town in Rockland County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

5 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Ramapo, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ramapo, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 5.4 miles from Caldwell, 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

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 10.8
Caution: Limited Amphitheater Accessibility
Caution: Overlook Park Parking Lot - Vehicles Must Be Parked in a Designated Spot
View on nps.gov
Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

4 mi from route ~11 min detour $10
View on nps.gov
Morristown National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

14 mi from route ~36 min detour Free near mile 0.4
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area

Gateway National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

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...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.79 one way

$3.58 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $1.96 $3.92
premium $4.93 $2.09 $4.19
diesel $5.61 $2.38 $4.77

Estimated Tolls: $0.07

Newark - Pompton Turnpike (0.9 mi) $0.07

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 3.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.2 0 $1.13 $0.52
Efficient EV 2.7 0 $0.95 $0.43
EV Truck/SUV 4.3 0 $1.51 $0.69

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 4 days ago

Origin

Caldwell, NJ

Afternoon in Caldwell on Tuesday

Local time

4:59 PM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Paterson, NJ

Afternoon in Paterson on Tuesday

Local time

4:59 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

40°F

Ramapo, NY

5 mi in

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

3 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

17m 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 Caldwell, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 10.8 miles and takes about 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Christopher Columbus Highway, Central Avenue, Grandview Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.4 miles from Caldwell, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.79 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 13 significant decision points across 10.8 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 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Caldwell, NJ to Paterson, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Del Water Gap along the way.

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