Origin
Paramus, NJ
Late night in Paramus on Friday
Local time
3:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Paramus, NJ to Jersey City, NJ
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
30m
Distance
20.4 mi
33 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paramus, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 20.4-mile drive from Paramus, NJ, to Jersey City, NJ, is designed to take about 30 minutes, making it an ideal single-day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $3, it's a budget-friendly excursion. The route primarily utilizes major roadways like NJ 17 and NJ 3, giving it a highway-focused feel. You'll be staying within the Northeast region and within New Jersey for the entirety of this journey. This trip is perfect for a quick commute or a short hop between these two New Jersey locales, requiring no overnight stays.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 20.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a drive that's predominantly highway, with 71% of the journey on faster-paced roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.3 miles on NJ 17, offering a consistent cruising experience. You'll navigate using key routes like NJ 17, NJ 3, and Tonnelle Avenue, which are designed for efficient travel. The character of the drive is largely functional, prioritizing getting you from point A to point B smoothly rather than offering scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NJ 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 10.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 17 and NJ 3. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 20.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (Midland Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (NJ 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Midland Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Midland Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
NJ 17
Merge onto NJ 17
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
12.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
NJ 3
Merge onto NJ 3
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
18.8 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 1; US 9 / Tonnelle Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9 / Tonnelle Avenue toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hob...
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 Paramus, NJ to Jersey City, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Pulaski Skyway along the way.
Pulaski Skyway
18.8 mi in
|
~26m
|
via US 1; US 9
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 17 | 10.3 mi | 12m |
| NJ 3 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| Tonnelle Avenue | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Country Club Road | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| Midland Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Duncan Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Olean Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 17
— 10.3 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paramus, NJ and Jersey City, NJ.
1
Start on this road
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
2
Turn right
194 ft
·
20 sec
3
Turn left
129 ft
·
9 sec
4
Turn right onto Country Club Road
94 ft
·
7 sec
·
Country Club Road
5
Continue on Country Club Road
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Country Club Road
6
At end of road, turn right onto Midland Avenue
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Midland Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto NJ 17
10 mi
·
12 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward NJ 3 East: New York
10
Merge onto NJ 3
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 1; US 9
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto CR 501
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
14
Turn right onto Duncan Avenue
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Duncan Avenue
15
Turn right onto Olean Avenue
316 ft
·
13 sec
·
Olean Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Olean Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.38 one way
$6.76 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.70 | $7.41 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.96 | $7.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.50 | $9.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.86 | $1.31 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Jersey City, NJ
Late night in Jersey City on Friday
Local time
3:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
30m 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 Paramus, NJ to Jersey City, NJ covers 20.4 miles and takes about 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NJ 17, NJ 3, Tonnelle Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.2 miles from Paramus, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.38 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 short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 20.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (Midland Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (NJ 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Paramus, NJ to Jersey City, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Pulaski Skyway along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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