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Trip from Jackson, NJ to Paterson, NJ

Data updated 3 hours ago

Drive Time

2h 9m

Distance

100.4 mi

162 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
2h 1m ★
6 AM
2h 10m
8 AM
2h 28m
10 AM
2h 16m
12 PM
2h 15m
3 PM
2h 17m
5 PM
2h 27m
8 PM
2h 4m

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

township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States

Jackson, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

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

Paterson, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 100.4-mile drive from Jackson, NJ, to Paterson, NJ, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 9 minutes. Given its relatively short duration and the fact that both locations are within the Northeast region of New Jersey, this route is ideal as a single-day trip. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $17, making it an economical option for many travelers. The route predominantly utilizes major roadways, including the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway, with a significant 94% of the drive being on highways, suggesting a fast-paced transit.

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

50.2 miles from Jackson, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a highway-centric experience for most of this 100.4-mile trip, with 94% of the drive taking place on major roadways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the New Jersey Turnpike, where the longest uninterrupted stretch measures 55.9 miles. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes efficient travel over scenic byways, characterized by consistent speed limits and multiple lanes. While NJ 73 is also part of the main roads, the overall feel remains that of a rapid connection between your origin and destination.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New Jersey Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 55.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.5 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 100.4 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 13.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

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

7
13.5 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward NJTP

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward NJTP
7
13.8 mi into trip | ~20m in

Keep slight left at fork toward NJTP North: New York

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward NJTP North: New York
8
70.3 mi into trip | ~1h 26m 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
70.8 mi into trip | ~1h 27m 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
8
99.7 mi into trip | ~2h 8m 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 Jackson, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp, Njtp North: New York, Gsp and Woodbridge.

Njtp

13.5 mi in | ~20m

Njtp North: New York

13.8 mi in | ~20m

Gsp

70.3 mi in | ~1h 26m

Woodbridge

70.3 mi in | ~1h 26m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
New Jersey Turnpike 55.9 mi 1h 4m
Garden State Parkway 25.8 mi 35m
NJ 73 11 mi 15m
Jackson Road 2.6 mi 4m
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: New Jersey Turnpike — 55.9 mi, about 1h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on CR 534

2.6 mi · 4 min · Jackson Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
2

Turn right onto NJ 73

2.0 mi · 2 min · NJ 73
Use the right lane.
3

Continue on NJ 73

8.9 mi · 12 min · NJ 73
Use the straight lane.
4

Continue on NJ 73

198 ft · 3 sec · NJ 73
Use the right lane.
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward NJTP Use the slight right lane.
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward NJTP North: New York Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Merge onto NJTP

15 mi · 16 min · New Jersey Turnpike
8

Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP

41 mi · 47 min · New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 11 Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge Use the slight right lane.
10

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway Use the slight right lane.
11

Merge onto GSP

26 mi · 35 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
12

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 155A Toward NJ 19: Paterson Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13

Merge onto NJ 19

1.7 mi · 1 min · NJ 19
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

313 ft · 7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
15

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 23 sec
Toward Grand Street Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16

Turn right onto CR 638

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17

Turn left onto CR 509

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Main Street
Use the straight lane.
18

Turn right onto CR 648

453 ft · 15 sec · Market Street
19

Turn left onto Colt Street

42 ft · 3 sec · Colt Street
20

Arrive at destination

Colt Street

Trip Plan

For this 2-hour, 9-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, especially if traveling on a weekday. With no designated stops, you have the flexibility to take breaks as needed, though planning for a fuel stop before you start or at a service plaza on the Turnpike is wise given the $17 estimated fuel cost. The longest stretch without a turn is 55.9 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, so ensure you're comfortable with sustained highway driving or plan a brief pause before hitting that segment.

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 50.2 miles from Jackson, NJ, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.9 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 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 50.2 miles or 1h 3m 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 44m

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 Jackson, 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 Jackson, NJ

This is one driving day of about 100.4 miles and 2h 9m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Jackson, 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 New Jersey Turnpike for about 55.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 50.2 mi from Jackson, NJ · 1h 3m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

50 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 50.2 miles from Jackson, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.65 one way

$33.29 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $18.23 $36.46
premium $4.93 $19.47 $38.94
diesel $5.61 $22.17 $44.33

Estimated Tolls: $9.38

New Jersey Turnpike (55.9 mi) $7.83
Garden State Parkway (25.8 mi) $1.55

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

$17

Tolls

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.1 0 $10.54 $4.82
Efficient EV 25.1 0 $8.79 $4.02
EV Truck/SUV 40.2 0 $14.06 $6.43

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 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.

Forecast data refreshed 12 hours ago

Origin

Jackson, NJ

Morning in Jackson on Wednesday

Local time

6:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Paterson, NJ

Morning in Paterson on Wednesday

Local time

6:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

87°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 12 mph 18% chance 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

29 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

2h 9m 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 Jackson, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 100.4 miles and takes about 2h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, NJ 73. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.2 miles from Jackson, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.65 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 17 significant decision points across 100.4 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 13.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Jackson, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp, Njtp North: New York, Gsp and Woodbridge.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Paterson, NJ to Jackson, NJ

Plan the drive back the other way.

101.4 mi 2h 12m

Explore more options from Jackson, NJ or browse trips ending in Paterson, NJ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.

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