Origin
Cape May, NJ
Night in Cape May on Sunday
Local time
9:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cape May, NJ to Paterson, NJ
Drive Time
3h 18m
Distance
160.9 mi
259 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 7m
★
6 AM
3h 19m
8 AM
3h 43m
10 AM
3h 27m
12 PM
3h 25m
3 PM
3h 29m
5 PM
3h 42m
8 PM
3h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cape May, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Paterson, NJ
Ren Aukeman
Trip Overview
Stretching 160.9 miles across the Northeast, this trip from Cape May to Paterson is a straightforward journey that typically takes 3 hours and 18 minutes. Because the route is primarily highway-focused, you can comfortably complete the drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $27 on fuel for the trek. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Garden State Parkway, connecting the southern tip of New Jersey to the northern reaches of the state. It is an efficient path for those looking to move between these two distinct regions quickly and reliably.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.5 miles from Cape May, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a high-speed, efficient experience where 97% of your travel occurs on highways. The road's personality is defined by the Garden State Parkway, which accounts for a significant 154.9-mile stretch of the journey. You will find this to be a consistent, highway-focused drive rather than a winding backroad excursion. As you transition from the southern coast toward the northern urban landscape, the pace remains steady and fast-moving. Navigating the final transition onto NJ 19 and Lafayette Street serves as the main shift in scenery as you reach your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Garden State Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 154.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 19. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Washington Street.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 160.9 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 0.8 miles (Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (NJ 109; OD / Washington Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 157.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
NJ 109; OD / Washington Street
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 109; OD / Washington Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
157.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 13m 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
160.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 17m 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
160.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 17m in
|
CR 638 / Grand Street
Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 154.9 mi | 3h 7m |
| NJ 19 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Lafayette Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Reading Avenue | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Grand Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 154.9 mi, about 3h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape May, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on this road
82 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto New York Avenue
104 ft
·
6 sec
·
New York Avenue
3
Turn right onto Reading Avenue
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Reading Avenue
4
Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue
324 ft
·
19 sec
·
Massachusetts Avenue
5
Turn left onto East Street
302 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Street
6
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Washington Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 109; OD
102 ft
·
2 sec
·
Washington Street
Use the right lane.
8
Turn straight onto NJ 109; OD
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lafayette Street
Use the none lane.
9
Turn straight onto GSP
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway North
Use the none lane.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
11
Merge onto GSP
34 mi
·
39 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
50 mi
·
58 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
14
Continue on GSP
52 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 155A
Toward NJ 19: Paterson
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Merge onto NJ 19
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 19
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
313 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Grand Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
22
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft
·
3 sec
·
Colt Street
23
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs, as the long, uninterrupted stretch on the Garden State Parkway can be fatiguing. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before starting, budgeting about $27 to ensure you reach Paterson without stress. Because the route is so heavily reliant on the Parkway, check traffic reports for that specific corridor before you pull out of your driveway to avoid unnecessary delays. This practical approach helps you maintain a smooth pace throughout the entire 160.9-mile trip.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.5 miles from Cape May, NJ, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.9 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 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.5 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 40m
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 Cape May, 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 Cape May, NJ
This is one driving day of about 160.9 miles and 3h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cape May, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 154.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 80.5 mi from Cape May, NJ · 1h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80.5 miles from Cape May, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 154.9 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.62 one way
$53.25 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $29.13 | $58.27 |
| premium | $4.92 | $31.18 | $62.36 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $35.75 | $71.49 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.29
Garden State Parkway
(154.9 mi)
$9.29
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
$27
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.3 | 0 | $16.89 | $7.72 |
| Efficient EV | 40.2 | 0 | $14.08 | $6.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.4 | 0 | $22.53 | $10.30 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Paterson, NJ
Night in Paterson on Sunday
Local time
9:34 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
6 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
3h 18m 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 Cape May, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 160.9 miles and takes about 3h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, NJ 19, Lafayette Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80.5 miles from Cape May, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.62 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 160.9 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 0.8 miles (Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (NJ 109; OD / Washington Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 157.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Cape May, NJ to Paterson, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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