Origin
Frenchtown, NJ
Morning in Frenchtown on Saturday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Frenchtown, NJ to Paterson, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
63.3 mi
102 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Frenchtown, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Frenchtown, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 63.3 miles and takes about 1h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 287, Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, Christopher Columbus Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.7 miles on I 287. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.49 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 63.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Frenchtown, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 63.3 miles and takes about 1h 23m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 287 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 25.6 miles in near Ramp to I-287.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.3 miles you will encounter 21 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 25.6 miles (Ramp to I-287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
25.6 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
Ramp to I-287
Take the exit onto Ramp to I-287 toward I 287: Morristown, Somerville
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 29
Toward I 287: Morristown, Somerville
8
47.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Smith Road, New York City
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 41A
Toward I 80 East: Smith Road, New York City
8
47.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 41A
Toward I 80 East: New York City
8
62.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m 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
8
62.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Frenchtown, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Newark, Somerville and New York City.
Newark
11.5 mi in
|
~20m
Somerville
25.6 mi in
|
~37m
|
via Ramp to I-287
New York City
47.5 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 287 | 20.7 mi | 25m |
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 13.8 mi | 15m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 12.1 mi | 13m |
| Everittstown Road | 6.5 mi | 11m |
| Pittstown Road | 4 mi | 7m |
| Interstate 80 East | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Everittstown Hill Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Ramp to I-287 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 287
— 20.7 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Frenchtown, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on South Harrison Street
47 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Harrison Street
2
Turn left
152 ft
·
16 sec
3
Turn left onto Trenton Avenue
133 ft
·
4 sec
·
Trenton Avenue
4
Turn right onto NJ 12
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Race Street
5
Continue on CR 513
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Everittstown Hill Road
6
Continue on CR 513
6.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Everittstown Road
7
At end of road, turn left onto CR 513; CR 579
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Pittstown Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: New York, Newark
9
Merge onto I 78; US 22
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto Ramp to I-287
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Ramp to I-287
Exit 29
Toward I 287: Morristown, Somerville
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 287 North: Morristown
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 287
21 mi
·
25 min
·
I 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 41A
Toward I 80 East: Smith Road, New York City
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 41A
Toward I 80 East: New York City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 80E
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate 80 East
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 80 East: Paterson, New York City
17
Merge onto I 80
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 57B
Toward NJ 19: Downtown, Paterson
Use the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto NJ 19
474 ft
·
5 sec
·
NJ 19
20
Take the exit
313 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Grand Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
25
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft
·
3 sec
·
Colt Street
26
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.6 mi from Frenchtown, NJ · 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.6 miles from Frenchtown, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.49 one way
$20.99 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.49 | $22.99 |
| premium | $4.93 | $12.28 | $24.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.98 | $27.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19 | 0 | $6.65 | $3.04 |
| Efficient EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.54 | $2.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.86 | $4.05 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Morning in Paterson on Saturday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
SW 2 to 15 mph
15% chance
Live forecast
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
16 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 23m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Frenchtown, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 63.3 miles and takes about 1h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 287, Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, Christopher Columbus Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.6 miles from Frenchtown, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.49 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.3 miles you will encounter 21 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 25.6 miles (Ramp to I-287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Frenchtown, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Newark, Somerville and New York City.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Thomas Edison National Historical Park. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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