Origin
Milford, NJ
Afternoon in Milford on Saturday
Local time
12:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Milford, 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 28m
Distance
64.7 mi
104 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Milford, NJ
Alexa V. Mato
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Milford, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 64.7 miles and takes about 1h 28m 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 $10.73 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 64.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Milford, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 64.7 miles and takes about 1h 28m, 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 25 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 27 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 64.7 miles you will encounter 22 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 27 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 48.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
27 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
48.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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
49 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
63.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m 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
64 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m 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 Milford, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Newark, Somerville and New York City.
Newark
12.9 mi in
|
~26m
Somerville
27 mi in
|
~42m
|
via Ramp to I-287
New York City
48.9 mi in
|
~1h 9m
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 | 4 mi | 7m |
| Pittstown Road | 4 mi | 7m |
| Milford - Mount Pleasant Road | 2.6 mi | 6m |
| Little York - Mount Pleasant Road | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| Interstate 80 East | 1.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 287
— 20.7 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Milford, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on Bridge Street
30 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bridge Street
2
Turn right onto CR 519
519 ft
·
12 sec
·
Frenchtown Road
3
Turn left onto CR 519
2.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Milford - Mount Pleasant Road
4
Turn right onto CR 519
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Little York - Mount Pleasant Road
5
Turn left onto CR 513
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Everittstown Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto CR 513; CR 579
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Pittstown Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: New York, Newark
8
Merge onto I 78; US 22
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 287 North: Morristown
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 287
21 mi
·
25 min
·
I 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 41A
Toward I 80 East: Smith Road, New York City
Use the slight right lane.
13
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.
14
Continue on I 80E
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate 80 East
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 80 East: Paterson, New York City
16
Merge onto I 80
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 57B
Toward NJ 19: Downtown, Paterson
Use the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto NJ 19
474 ft
·
5 sec
·
NJ 19
19
Take the exit
313 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Grand Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
24
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft
·
3 sec
·
Colt Street
25
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.3 mi from Milford, NJ · 49m 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 32.3 miles from Milford, 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
$10.73 one way
$21.45 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.75 | $23.50 |
| premium | $4.93 | $12.55 | $25.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.28 | $28.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.11 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.06 | $4.14 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Afternoon in Paterson on Saturday
Local time
12:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Bedminster, NJ
32 mi in
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
17 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 28m 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 Milford, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 64.7 miles and takes about 1h 28m 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 32.3 miles from Milford, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.73 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 64.7 miles you will encounter 22 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 27 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 48.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Milford, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Paterson, NJ
More from Milford, NJ
More trips to Paterson, NJ
Explore more options from Milford, NJ or browse trips ending in Paterson, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.