Origin
Montague, NJ
Night in Montague on Friday
Local time
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
54.4 mi
87 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Montague, NJ
Dajana Blakcori
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Montague, NJ to Paterson, NJ is 54.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 15 minutes via Walling Avenue and Deckertown Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This journey stays within New Jersey, moving from the Northeast region towards another part of the Northeast. The drive primarily utilizes local roads, offering a more connected feel to the landscape rather than a high-speed interstate experience. It's a straightforward trip, ideal for a quick transition between two points in the state, and easily manageable within a single day.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 54.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 52% of the route on highways. You'll encounter stretches on Walling Avenue, Deckertown Turnpike, and Paterson - Hamburg Turnpike. The longest uninterrupted drive segment is 18.1 miles on Walling Avenue, allowing for a sustained period of travel before any significant changes in road type. Expect a blend of faster-paced sections and more local road driving as you progress towards Paterson.
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 42.3 miles in near NJ 23.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.4 miles you will encounter 16 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 42.3 miles (NJ 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 23
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight right at fork toward Grand Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street
Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Montague, NJ to Paterson, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Clifton along the way.
Clifton
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Walling Avenue | 18.1 mi | 27m |
| Deckertown Turnpike | 11 mi | 16m |
| Paterson - Hamburg Turnpike | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| NJ 23 | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| Libertyville Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Grand Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Montague, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
Start on CR 521
Turn left onto CR 650
Turn left onto CR 653
Turn right onto CR 650
Continue on CR 650
At end of road, turn right onto NJ 23
Continue on NJ 23
Continue on NJ 23
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 23
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ 19
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto CR 638
Turn left onto CR 509
Turn right onto CR 648
Turn left onto Colt Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.2 mi from Montague, NJ · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.2 miles from Montague, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$9.02 one way
$18.04 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.88 | $19.76 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.55 | $21.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.01 | $24.02 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.46
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.76 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.62 | $3.48 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Montague on Friday
Local time
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Paterson on Friday
Local time
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
44°F
Bloomingdale, NJ
27 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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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