Embarking on a journey from Mystic Island to Paterson, NJ, covers 108.8 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 23 minutes. This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 90% of the route utilizing major roadways, making it a convenient single-day trip. You can expect a fuel cost of around $18 for this excursion. The drive is straightforward, connecting two points within the Northeast region of the US. Given its manageable duration and highway nature, it's well-suited for a day trip, allowing for a prompt arrival without the need for an overnight stay.
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
54.4 miles from Mystic Island, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Loading map...
Drive Character
This route offers a highway-focused experience, with 90% of the journey on main roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Garden State Parkway, including a continuous stretch of 96.4 miles. While the primary roads are designed for efficiency, the transition onto local streets like Radio Road and North Green Street in the latter stages will offer a different feel. The overall character is one of steady progress, minimizing complex navigation and maximizing your time on faster-paced driving.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 96.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Radio Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Radio Road.
Route Complexity8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 108.8 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 0.3 miles (Radio Road): Navigation decision point; at 105.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Radio Road
At end of road, turn right onto Radio Road
Navigation decision point
7
105.8 mi into trip|~2h 18m 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
108.2 mi into trip|~2h 21m 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
108.3 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|CR 638 / Grand Street
Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
108.5 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|CR 509 / Main Street
Turn left onto CR 509 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Mystic Island, NJ to Paterson, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll North along the way.
Gsp Toll North
8.6 mi in|~16m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
96.4 mi
1h 59m
Radio Road
4.3 mi
9m
North Green Street
3.3 mi
5m
NJ 19
1.7 mi
1m
Great Bay Boulevard
0.4 mi
<1m
West Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Louisiana Drive
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 96.4 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mystic Island, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on Louisiana Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Louisiana Drive
2
At end of road, turn right onto Radio Road
4.3 mi·9 min·Radio Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto CR 601
0.4 mi·49 sec·Great Bay Boulevard
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 9
0.3 mi·45 sec·West Main Street
5
Turn left onto CR 539
3.3 mi·5 min·North Green Street
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
7
Merge onto GSP
45 mi·52 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
9
Continue on GSP
52 mi·1 hr 7 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 155AToward NJ 19: PatersonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Merge onto NJ 19
1.7 mi·1 min·NJ 19
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
313 ft·7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·23 sec
Toward Grand StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi·27 sec·Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi·29 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft·15 sec·Market Street
17
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft·3 sec·Colt Street
18
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Trip Plan
For this 108.8-mile drive, a single day is ample, offering flexibility in your departure time. Since the majority of the route is on the Garden State Parkway, aim to depart outside of peak commuter hours to make the most of the 2 hour and 23-minute estimated travel time. With a fuel cost of approximately $18, you won't need to worry excessively about frequent stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch on the Parkway, to ensure you have enough to reach Paterson comfortably.
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 54.4 miles from Mystic Island, NJ, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.4 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 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.4 miles or 1h 11m 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 56m
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 Mystic Island, 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 Mystic Island, NJ
This is one driving day of about 108.8 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mystic Island, 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 96.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.4 mi from Mystic Island, NJ
· 1h 11m into the drive
The midpoint is around 54.4 miles from Mystic Island, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 96.4 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.
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 108.8
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 90.1
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 63.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.04 one way
$36.08 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$19.76
$39.51
premium
$4.93
$21.10
$42.20
diesel
$5.61
$24.02
$48.04
Estimated Tolls: $5.78
Garden State Parkway
(96.4 mi)$5.78
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
$18
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.1 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
32.6
0
$11.42
$5.22
Efficient EV
27.2
0
$9.52
$4.35
EV Truck/SUV
43.5
0
$15.23
$6.96
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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 2 hours ago
Origin
Mystic Island, NJ
Evening
in Mystic Island on Tuesday
Local time
8:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Paterson, NJ
Evening
in Paterson on Tuesday
Local time
8:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph18% chanceLive 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
32 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 23m 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 Mystic Island, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 108.8 miles and takes about 2h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Radio Road, North Green Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.4 miles from Mystic Island, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.04 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 15 significant decision points across 108.8 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 0.3 miles (Radio Road): Navigation decision point; at 105.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Mystic Island, NJ to Paterson, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll North along the way.
