Origin
Lacey, NJ
Evening in Lacey on Sunday
Local time
7:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lacey, NJ to Paterson, NJ
Drive Time
1h 56m
Distance
86.9 mi
140 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 48m
★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 1m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 13m
8 PM
1h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lacey, NJ
Ronin .
Paterson, NJ
Ren Aukeman
Trip Overview
Traveling from Lacey to Paterson covers 86.9 miles, typically taking about 1 hour and 56 minutes. This straightforward journey stays within the Northeast region of New Jersey, making it a manageable day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You should expect to spend roughly $14 on fuel for the complete one-way trek. Because the route is highly efficient, you can easily complete the drive in a single session without needing scheduled stops. It is a practical choice if you are looking to move between these two areas quickly and reliably.
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
43.4 miles from Lacey, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 88% of your time spent on high-speed thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your journey on the Garden State Parkway, which accounts for a significant 74.3-mile stretch of the trip. After navigating the Parkway, you will transition onto Dover Road and finally NJ 19 to reach your destination. Expect a consistent, fast-paced environment that prioritizes efficiency over local backroads. The transition from the more open stretches of the Parkway to the final local road segments defines the overall character of this transit.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 74.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Dover Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near CR 618 / Dover Road.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 86.9 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 1.9 miles (CR 618 / Dover Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (US 9): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CR 618 / Dover Road
Turn right onto CR 618 / Dover Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / none lanes.
7
8.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
US 9
Take the ramp onto US 9 toward GSP Toll North, US 9 Toll North: Lakewood, New York
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward GSP Toll North, US 9 Toll North: Lakewoo...
7
83.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m 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
86.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m 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
86.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m in
|
CR 638 / Grand Street
Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Along This Route
Between Lacey, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North and New York.
Gsp Toll North
8.8 mi in
|
~16m
|
via US 9
New York
8.8 mi in
|
~16m
|
via US 9
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 74.3 mi | 1h 34m |
| Dover Road | 6.9 mi | 10m |
| NJ 19 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Lacey Road | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 9 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Grand Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 74.3 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lacey, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on this road
0.6 mi
·
3 min
·
this road
2
Turn left onto CR 614
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Lacey Road
3
Turn right onto CR 618
6.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Dover Road
Use the left / none lanes.
4
Continue on CR 530
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Dover Road
5
Take the ramp onto US 9
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 9
Toward GSP Toll North, US 9 Toll North: Lakewood, New York
6
Merge onto GSP; US 9
23 mi
·
26 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the none lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
8
Continue on GSP
52 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 155A
Toward NJ 19: Paterson
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Merge onto NJ 19
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 19
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
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
To ensure the smoothest experience, keep in mind that the 1 hour and 56 minute duration is highly dependent on traffic flow along the Garden State Parkway. Since this is a relatively short trip with no mandatory stops, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around peak congestion hours to avoid delays. Make sure your tank is prepped for the $14 fuel cost before you merge onto the highway to avoid unnecessary deviations. A helpful tip for this specific route is to monitor real-time traffic updates for the Parkway section, as it is the most critical link in your 86.9-mile journey.
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 43.4 miles from Lacey, NJ, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.3 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 80 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.4 miles or 59m 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 38m
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 Lacey, 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 Lacey, NJ
This is one driving day of about 86.9 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lacey, 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 Garden State Parkway for about 74.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.4 mi from Lacey, NJ · 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 43.4 miles from Lacey, 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 74.3 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.38 one way
$28.76 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $15.73 | $31.47 |
| premium | $4.92 | $16.84 | $33.68 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $19.31 | $38.61 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.46
Garden State Parkway
(74.3 mi)
$4.46
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
$14
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.12 | $4.17 |
| Efficient EV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.60 | $3.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.17 | $5.56 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Paterson, NJ
Evening in Paterson on Sunday
Local time
7:17 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
2 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 56m 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 Lacey, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 86.9 miles and takes about 1h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Dover Road, NJ 19. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.4 miles from Lacey, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.38 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 86.9 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 1.9 miles (CR 618 / Dover Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (US 9): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Lacey, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North and New York.
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