Origin
Paramus, NJ
Late night in Paramus on Friday
Local time
4:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Paramus, NJ to Paterson, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
9.7 mi
16 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 17m
★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 22m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 19m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 21m
8 PM
0h 17m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paramus, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 9.7-mile drive from Paramus to Paterson, New Jersey, is easily manageable in just 18 minutes, making it an ideal quick trip. You'll primarily navigate via the Christopher Columbus Highway and the Garden State Parkway, with a brief portion on Country Club Road. Given its brevity, this route is perfect as a single-day excursion with no need for an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $2, reflecting the short distance. This drive stays within the Northeast region, offering a straightforward transition between two New Jersey locales.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 9.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive presents a mixed profile, blending faster highway sections with more local road travel. Approximately 31% of the journey involves highway driving, offering stretches where you can maintain consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 3.2 miles on the Christopher Columbus Highway. This means you'll experience a variety of road types, transitioning from potentially quicker highway travel to more varied conditions as you approach your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Christopher Columbus Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 3.2 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 1.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 9.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 18m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward GSP Toll South: Parkway South, Shore Points
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward GSP Toll South: Parkway South, Shore Poi...
8
4.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 80: Saddle Brook, 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 159
Toward I 80: Saddle Brook, Paterson
8
5.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Elmwood Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Elmwood Park
6
5.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 West
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 80 West
6
8.9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward Paterson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Paterson
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Paramus, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll South: Parkway South, Shore Points, Saddle Brook and Elmwood Park.
Gsp Toll South: Parkway South
1.9 mi in
|
~6m
Shore Points
1.9 mi in
|
~6m
Saddle Brook
5.3 mi in
|
~11m
Elmwood Park
5.4 mi in
|
~11m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| Garden State Parkway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Country Club Road | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| NJ 17 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Midland Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Molnar Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Christopher Columbus Highway
— 3.2 mi, about 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paramus, NJ and Paterson, 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
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
NJ 17
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll South: Parkway South, Shore Points
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto GSP
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Garden State Parkway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 159
Toward I 80: Saddle Brook, Paterson
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right
137 ft
·
3 sec
Toward Saddle Brook
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
159 ft
·
4 sec
Toward Elmwood Park
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto Molnar Drive
308 ft
·
13 sec
·
Molnar Drive
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 80 West
16
Merge onto I 80
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Paterson
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto CR 509
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
20
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft
·
3 sec
·
Colt Street
21
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.61 one way
$3.22 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $1.76 | $3.52 |
| premium | $4.93 | $1.88 | $3.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.14 | $4.28 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.15
Garden State Parkway
(2.5 mi)
$0.15
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$0
Total
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.02 | $0.47 |
| Efficient EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.85 | $0.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.36 | $0.62 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (67% 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
Late night in Paterson on Friday
Local time
4:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
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
18m 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 Paterson, NJ covers 9.7 miles and takes about 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Christopher Columbus Highway, Garden State Parkway, Country Club Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.8 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 $1.61 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 17 decision points packed into just 9.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 18m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Paramus, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll South: Parkway South, Shore Points, Saddle Brook and Elmwood Park.
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 and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than 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. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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