Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
59.2 mi
95 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Lawrenceville, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Paterson, NJ to Lawrenceville, NJ is 59.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 25 minutes via US 1 and Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within New Jersey for its entirety, moving from the Northeast region down to another part of the Northeast. Expect a drive that is largely highway-focused, making it a straightforward journey. With a total distance of just under 60 miles and a short estimated travel time, this route is ideal for a single-day trip with plenty of time for other activities before or after you arrive. It's a practical option for connecting these two points efficiently.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 27.2 mi | 39m |
| Garden State Parkway | 23.8 mi | 33m |
| NJ 19 | 2 mi | 2m |
| I 295 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Ward Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Oliver Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Paterson, NJ and Lawrenceville, NJ.
Start on Colt Street
Turn right onto Ellison Street
Turn right onto Memorial Drive
Turn right
Turn straight onto Ward Street
Continue on NJ 19
Turn slight left onto NJ 19
Take the exit
Merge onto GSP
Continue on Garden State Parkway
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Take the exit
Merge onto I 295
Take the exit
Merge onto US 206
Continue on US 206
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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.
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 29.6 miles from Paterson, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 58.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Memorial Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 206 North: Lawrenceville, Princeton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$9.81 one way
$19.63 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.75 | $21.50 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.48 | $22.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.07 | $26.14 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.51
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$2
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.22 | $2.84 |
| Efficient EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.18 | $2.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.7 | 0 | $8.29 | $3.79 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Paterson on Saturday
Local time
4:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Lawrenceville on Saturday
Local time
4:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the journey on major roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 27.2 miles on US 1, which is the longest uninterrupted segment of the trip. The route predominantly utilizes highways like the Garden State Parkway and NJ 19, indicating a generally fast-paced and direct experience. While the profile suggests a consistent highway feel, the transition between these main roads will mark the primary changes in your driving environment. Expect to cover ground quickly on this largely high-speed route.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Memorial Drive.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.2 miles you will encounter 17 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: at 0.2 miles (Memorial Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Paterson, NJ to Lawrenceville, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Trenton along the way.
Trenton
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 59.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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