Origin
Paterson, NJ
Late night in Paterson on Monday
Local time
12:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Paterson, NJ to Camden, NJ
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
97 mi
156 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 58m
★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paterson, NJ
Ren Aukeman
Camden, NJ
Garrison Gao
Trip Overview
Connecting Paterson to Camden, this 97-mile trip takes you across the state of New Jersey in approximately 2 hours and 6 minutes. It is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Expect to spend about $16 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly option for travel within the Northeast region. Because the route is primarily interstate-based, your transit will be quick and efficient. If you are looking for a practical way to travel between these two points without unnecessary detours, this route is your most direct option.
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
48.5 miles from Paterson, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a high-speed, interstate-heavy experience, as 88% of this journey is spent on major highways. You will rely heavily on the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway to navigate the distance. The longest uninterrupted portion of the drive is a 55.9-mile stretch on the New Jersey Turnpike, which defines the bulk of your time behind the wheel. As you transition toward the final leg of the trip, you will move off the major arteries and onto Kaighns Avenue to reach your destination. While the drive is efficient, be prepared for the steady pace of heavy-traffic thoroughfares rather than a leisurely backroad cruise.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New Jersey Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 55.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29.4 miles in near Exit 129.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 97 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 29.4 miles (Exit 129): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
29.4 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
Exit 129
Take the exit onto Exit 129 toward I 95, NJTP, US 9, NJ 440, I 287: New York City, Philadelphia, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
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 129
Toward I 95, NJTP, US 9, NJ 440, I 287: New Yor...
8
29.8 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Philadelphia
9
30.4 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
8
70.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
|
NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike toward NJTP South: Camden, Wilmington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none lane.
Toward NJTP South: Camden, Wilmington
7
87.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 73 North: Camden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 73 North: Camden
Towns Along This Route
Between Paterson, NJ and Camden, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp, Philadelphia, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy, Njtp: New York City and Njtp South: Trenton - among others.
Njtp
29.4 mi in
|
~41m
|
via Exit 129
Philadelphia
29.4 mi in
|
~41m
|
via Exit 129
Woodbridge
29.4 mi in
|
~41m
|
via Exit 129
Perth Amboy
29.4 mi in
|
~41m
|
via Exit 129
Njtp: New York City
29.8 mi in
|
~42m
Njtp South: Trenton
30.4 mi in
|
~43m
Njtp South: Camden
70.1 mi in
|
~1h 30m
|
via NJTP
Wilmington
70.1 mi in
|
~1h 30m
|
via NJTP
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 55.9 mi | 1h 4m |
| Garden State Parkway | 23.8 mi | 33m |
| Kaighns Avenue | 7.5 mi | 12m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| NJ 19 | 2 mi | 2m |
| NJ 73 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| NJ-73 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Broadway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 55.9 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paterson, NJ and Camden, NJ.
1
Start on Colt Street
216 ft
·
17 sec
·
Colt Street
2
Turn right onto Ellison Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Ellison Street
3
Turn right onto Memorial Drive
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Memorial Drive
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right
267 ft
·
9 sec
5
Turn straight onto Ward Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Ward Street
Use the none lane.
6
Continue on NJ 19
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Oliver Street
7
Turn slight left onto NJ 19
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 19
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP South
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto GSP
24 mi
·
33 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
10
Continue on Garden State Parkway
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the none lane.
11
Take the exit onto Exit 129
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Exit 129
Exit 129
Toward I 95, NJTP, US 9, NJ 440, I 287: New York City, Philadelphia, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
Toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Philadelphia
Use the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Use the slight left lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Use the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
39 mi
·
45 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Use the none lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
17 mi
·
19 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Toward NJTP South: Camden, Wilmington
Use the none lane.
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 4
Toward NJ 73: Mount Laurel, Camden
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward NJ 73 North: Camden
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto NJ 73
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 73
Use the none lane.
21
Continue on NJ-73
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
NJ-73
Use the none lane.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
Toward NJ 38 West: Camden, Ben Franklin Bridge
23
Merge onto NJ 38
5.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Kaighns Avenue
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 130
189 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Crescent Boulevard
Toward US 130 South, US 30 East
25
Turn slight right onto CR 607
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Kaighns Avenue
Use the none lane.
26
Turn left onto CR 551
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Broadway
27
Arrive at destination
CR 551
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule, but avoiding peak rush hour traffic is always a wise move when navigating major New Jersey arteries. You likely won't need to plan for scheduled stops given the two-hour duration, though having your fuel budget of $16 ready before you depart helps keep things simple. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you exit the Turnpike and transition onto local roads like Kaighns Avenue, as this marks the final change in pace before you arrive in Camden. Because this route is entirely highway-focused, ensure your vehicle is ready for sustained speeds and steady driving conditions. Enjoy the efficiency of a direct route that gets you from northern to southern New Jersey in a single afternoon.
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 48.5 miles from Paterson, NJ, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.9 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 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.5 miles or 1h 5m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Camden, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Paterson, 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 Paterson, NJ
This is one driving day of about 97 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Paterson, 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 New Jersey Turnpike for about 55.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.5 mi from Paterson, NJ · 1h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.5 miles from Paterson, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Camden, NJ
The final approach into Camden, 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 Camden, 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
$16.05 one way
$32.10 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $17.56 | $35.13 |
| premium | $4.92 | $18.80 | $37.59 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $21.55 | $43.10 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.40
New Jersey Turnpike
(55.9 mi)
$7.83
Garden State Parkway
(26.1 mi)
$1.57
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
$16
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.1 | 0 | $10.18 | $4.66 |
| Efficient EV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.49 | $3.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.8 | 0 | $13.58 | $6.21 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Camden, NJ
Late night in Camden on Monday
Local time
12:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
3 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 6m 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 Paterson, NJ to Camden, NJ covers 97 miles and takes about 2h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Kaighns 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 48.5 miles from Paterson, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.05 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 22 significant decision points across 97 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 29.4 miles (Exit 129): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Paterson, NJ and Camden, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp, Philadelphia, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy, Njtp: New York City and Njtp South: Trenton - among others.
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