Planning a trip from Laurel Springs, NJ, to Paterson, NJ? This 96.8-mile journey is easily manageable as a single-day drive, taking approximately 2 hours and 6 minutes. You'll primarily be on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and I-295, with 91% of the route being highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $16, making it an economical option for exploring within the Northeast region. This route is a straightforward, highway-focused experience, perfect for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.4 miles from Laurel Springs, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 96.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-dominant experience on this 96.8-mile drive. With 91% of the route on major highways, you'll cover significant ground quickly. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 55.9 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. While the primary roads are interstates, you'll navigate between them using connections that keep the drive moving. The character remains consistently focused on efficient travel for the majority of the 2-hour, 6-minute duration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 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 9.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 96.8 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 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
9.1 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward NJ 73 South: Berlin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 36A
Toward NJ 73 South: Berlin
7
10.2 mi into trip|~17m 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
66.7 mi into trip|~1h 22m 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
67.1 mi into trip|~1h 23m 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
96.1 mi into trip|~2h 4m 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 Laurel Springs, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike, Njtp North: New York, Gsp and Woodbridge.
Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike
9.7 mi in|~15m
Njtp North: New York
10.2 mi in|~17m
Gsp
66.7 mi in|~1h 22m
Woodbridge
66.7 mi in|~1h 22m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
55.9 mi
1h 4m
Garden State Parkway
25.8 mi
35m
I 295
4.1 mi
4m
Burnt Mill Road
2.8 mi
5m
NJ 19
1.7 mi
1m
Laurel Road
0.7 mi
1m
White Horse Road West
0.6 mi
1m
Stone Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 55.9 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laurel Springs, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on Tomlinson Avenue
0.1 mi·33 sec·Tomlinson Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Atlantic Avenue
297 ft·13 sec·West Atlantic Avenue
3
Turn slight left onto CR 669
0.3 mi·51 sec·Stone Road
4
Turn right onto CR 673
0.7 mi·1 min·Laurel Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on CR 673
0.6 mi·1 min·White Horse Road West
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto CR 670
2.8 mi·5 min·Burnt Mill Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto CR 561
0.1 mi·10 sec·Haddonfield-Berlin Road
8
Continue on CR 561
0.1 mi·11 sec·Berlin Road
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 295 North
10
Merge onto I 295
4.1 mi·4 min·I 295
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 36AToward NJ 73 South: BerlinUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto NJ 73
0.2 mi·18 sec·NJ 73
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJTP: New Jersey Turnpike
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJTP North: New YorkUse the straight / right lanes.
15
Merge onto NJTP
15 mi·16 min·New Jersey Turnpike
16
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
41 mi·47 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 11Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, WoodbridgeUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward GSP North: Garden State ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto GSP
26 mi·35 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 155AToward NJ 19: PatersonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Merge onto NJ 19
1.7 mi·1 min·NJ 19
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
313 ft·7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·23 sec
Toward Grand StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
24
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi·27 sec·Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi·29 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
26
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft·15 sec·Market Street
27
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft·3 sec·Colt Street
28
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Trip Plan
For this 96.8-mile trip, leaving Laurel Springs, NJ, in the morning or late afternoon can help you avoid peak traffic, especially on the New Jersey Turnpike. With a duration of just over 2 hours and a fuel cost around $16, this drive is well-suited for a single day with no need to split it. Given the highway-focused nature, plan for fuel and restroom breaks at service areas along the New Jersey Turnpike or Garden State Parkway. A practical tip: check real-time traffic conditions before you depart, as congestion can significantly impact your 2-hour travel estimate.
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 48.4 miles from Laurel Springs, NJ, or about 1h 1m 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 21 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.4 miles or 1h 1m 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 41m
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 Laurel Springs, 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 Laurel Springs, NJ
This is one driving day of about 96.8 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Laurel Springs, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 48.4 mi from Laurel Springs, NJ
· 1h 1m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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 96.8
Caution: Limited Amphitheater Accessibility
Caution: Overlook Park Parking Lot - Vehicles Must Be Parked in a Designated Spot
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...
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 76.8
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...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 83.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.05 one way
$32.10 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$17.58
$35.15
premium
$4.93
$18.77
$37.55
diesel
$5.61
$21.37
$42.74
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
$16
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.16
$4.65
Efficient EV
24.2
0
$8.47
$3.87
EV Truck/SUV
38.7
0
$13.55
$6.20
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Laurel Springs, NJ
Late night
in Laurel Springs on Saturday
Local time
1:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Paterson, NJ
Late night
in Paterson on Saturday
Local time
1:24 AM
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
14 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 6m 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 Laurel Springs, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 96.8 miles and takes about 2h 6m 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, I 295. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.4 miles from Laurel Springs, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.05 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 23 significant decision points across 96.8 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 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Laurel Springs, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike, Njtp North: New York, Gsp and Woodbridge.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Morristown 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.
