Origin
Passaic, NJ
Afternoon in Passaic on Monday
Local time
4:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Passaic, NJ to Upper Saddle River, NJ
Drive Time
26m
Distance
19 mi
31 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Passaic, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Upper Saddle River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Passaic, NJ to Upper Saddle River, NJ covers 19 miles and takes about 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Garden State Parkway, NJ 21, Lake Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.14 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
9.5 miles from Passaic, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 26m highway drive covering 19 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and NJ 21. The longest continuous stretch is about 12.5 miles on Garden State Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 12.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 21. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 19 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 0.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.6 miles (US 46): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
3.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 46
Keep slight right at fork onto US 46 toward US 46 East: Elmwood Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 46 East: Elmwood Park
5
4.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
17 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward Montvale, Park Ridge
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.
Exit 172
Toward Montvale, Park Ridge
5
17.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
CR 94 / Grand Avenue West
Turn left onto CR 94 / Grand Avenue West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Along This Route
Between Passaic, NJ and Upper Saddle River, NJ, road signs point toward Montvale and Park Ridge.
Montvale
17 mi in
|
~21m
Park Ridge
17 mi in
|
~21m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 12.5 mi | 15m |
| NJ 21 | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| Lake Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| US 46 | 0.9 mi | <1m |
| Grand Avenue West | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Gregory Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Passaic Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| River Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 12.5 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Passaic, NJ and Upper Saddle River, NJ.
1
Start on Passaic Avenue
377 ft
·
14 sec
·
Passaic Avenue
2
Turn right onto Gregory Avenue
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Gregory Avenue
3
Turn sharp left onto CR 624
291 ft
·
9 sec
·
River Drive
4
Keep slight right at fork
366 ft
·
7 sec
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward NJ 21 North
6
Merge onto NJ 21
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 21
7
Merge onto US 46
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 46
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 46
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 46
Toward US 46 East: Elmwood Park
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
10
Merge onto GSP
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 172
Toward Montvale, Park Ridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto CR 94
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on CR 96
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Lake Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Arrive at destination
CR 96
Trip Plan
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 9.5 miles from Passaic, NJ, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.5 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.5 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Upper Saddle River, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Passaic, 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 Passaic, NJ
This is one driving day of about 19 miles and 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Passaic, 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 12.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.5 mi from Passaic, NJ · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.5 miles from Passaic, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Upper Saddle River, NJ
The final approach into Upper Saddle River, 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 Upper Saddle River, NJ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.14 one way
$6.29 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $3.44 | $6.88 |
| premium | $4.92 | $3.68 | $7.36 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.22 | $8.44 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.75
Garden State Parkway
(12.5 mi)
$0.75
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
$3
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.66 | $0.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.66 | $1.22 |
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
Upper Saddle River, NJ
Afternoon in Upper Saddle River on Monday
Local time
4:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live 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
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
26m 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 Passaic, NJ to Upper Saddle River, NJ covers 19 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, NJ 21, Lake 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 9.5 miles from Passaic, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.14 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 11 significant decision points across 19 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 0.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.6 miles (US 46): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Passaic, NJ and Upper Saddle River, NJ, road signs point toward Montvale and Park Ridge.
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