Trip from Paterson, NJ to Essex Fells, NJ

Data updated 22 minutes ago

Drive Time

21m

Distance

11.3 mi

18 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min

4 AM

0h 20m ★

6 AM

0h 22m

8 AM

0h 26m

10 AM

0h 23m

12 PM

0h 23m

3 PM

0h 23m

5 PM

0h 25m

8 PM

0h 21m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city in and the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States

Paterson, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Essex Fells, NJ

James Kampeis

Trip Overview

This short, 11.3-mile journey from Paterson to Essex Fells, NJ, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 21 minutes to complete. You'll navigate primarily local roads, with Union Boulevard, Central Avenue, and Union Avenue forming the backbone of the drive. With no highway driving and a minimal estimated fuel cost of $2, this is an easy and economical trip. The route's 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you'll be making frequent turns, so staying attentive is key. Given its brevity, this route is perfect for a quick excursion within the Northeast region.

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

5.7 miles from Paterson, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a highly local driving experience on this route, with a 0% highway share. The character is defined as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' so be prepared for frequent navigation adjustments. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be 2.7 miles along Union Boulevard before you need to make another turn. This drive won't feel like a monotonous interstate cruise; instead, it's a series of connected local streets that will likely take you through various residential and commercial areas as you make your way across towns.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Union Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 2.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Ellison Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 11.3 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ellison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Van Houten Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Ellison Street

Turn right onto Ellison Street

Navigation decision point

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Church Street

Turn left onto Church Street

Navigation decision point

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Van Houten Street

Turn left onto Van Houten Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | CR 509 / Main Street

Turn right onto CR 509 / Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

9.5 mi into trip | ~17m in | CR 506 / Bloomfield Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto CR 506 / Bloomfield Avenue

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Union Boulevard	2.7 mi	4m
Central Avenue	2.2 mi	3m
Union Avenue	1.3 mi	2m
Main Street	1.3 mi	2m
Grandview Avenue	1.2 mi	2m
Roseland Avenue	1.1 mi	1m
West Broadway	0.5 mi	1m
Bloomfield Avenue	0.4 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Union Boulevard — 2.7 mi, about 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Paterson, NJ and Essex Fells, NJ.

Start on Colt Street

216 ft · 17 sec · Colt Street

Turn right onto Ellison Street

290 ft · 13 sec · Ellison Street

Turn left onto Church Street

339 ft · 20 sec · Church Street

Turn left onto Van Houten Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Van Houten Street

Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn right onto CR 509

287 ft · 8 sec · Main Street

Use the right lane.

Turn slight left onto CR 509

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Broadway

Turn left onto CR 646

1.3 mi · 2 min · Union Avenue

Continue on CR 646

2.7 mi · 4 min · Union Boulevard

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto CR 631

1.2 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Continue on CR 631

0.7 mi · 1 min · Grandview Avenue

Continue on CR 631

0.5 mi · 57 sec · Grandview Avenue

Keep slight left at fork onto CR 631

291 ft · 5 sec · Grandview Avenue

Continue on CR 631

2.2 mi · 3 min · Central Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto CR 506

0.4 mi · 1 min · Bloomfield Avenue

Turn right onto CR 527

1.1 mi · 1 min · Roseland Avenue

Turn left onto Rensselaer Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Rensselaer Road

Turn right onto Beechtree Lane

101 ft · 4 sec · Beechtree Lane

Arrive at destination

Beechtree Lane

Trip Plan

With a quick 21-minute drive time, this route offers significant flexibility for when you depart. You can easily fit this into a morning, afternoon, or evening without needing to worry about splitting the drive. Since it's a short trip with a low fuel cost of around $2, you likely won't need to plan for extensive fuel stops. The 'turn-heavy' nature means keeping your navigation active and being mindful of your surroundings, especially on the longest stretch of 2.7 miles on Union Boulevard, to ensure you don't miss any key turns.

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 5.7 miles from Paterson, NJ, or about 10m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 2.7 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 11.3 miles or 21m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 5.7 miles or 10m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Essex Fells, 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 11.3 miles and 21m.

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 Union Boulevard for about 2.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 5.7 mi from Paterson, NJ · 10m into the drive

town in Rockland County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

6 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ramapo, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 5.7 miles from Paterson, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Essex Fells, NJ

The final approach into Essex Fells, 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 Essex Fells, 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 0.4

Caution: Limited Amphitheater Accessibility

Caution: Overlook Park Parking Lot - Vehicles Must Be Parked in a Designated Spot

View on nps.gov

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

4 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 near mile 11.3

View on nps.gov

Morristown National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

14 mi from route ~34 min detour Free near mile 10.9

View on nps.gov

Gateway National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

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...

26 mi from route ~66 min detour Free near mile 11.3

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.87 one way

$3.75 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$2.05	$4.10
premium	$4.93	$2.19	$4.38
diesel	$5.61	$2.49	$4.99

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	3.4	$1.19	$0.54
Efficient EV	2.8	$0.99	$0.45
EV Truck/SUV	4.5	$1.58	$0.72

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 5 days ago

Origin

Paterson, NJ

Evening in Paterson on Tuesday

Local time

7:45 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Essex Fells, NJ

Evening in Essex Fells on Tuesday

Local time

7:45 PM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

40°F

Ramapo, NY

6 mi in

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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

21m 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 Essex Fells, NJ covers 11.3 miles and takes about 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Union Boulevard, Central Avenue, Union Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 5.7 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 $1.87 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.

The route from Paterson, NJ to Essex Fells, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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