Drive Time
48m
Distance
30.3 mi
49 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
Photo: Aisling Kerr
The drive from Paterson, NJ to Port Reading, NJ covers 30.3 miles and takes about 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ellison Street, Memorial Drive, Market Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.01 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
15.1 miles from Paterson, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
Expect a 48m drive with frequent turns across 30.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Paterson, NJ to Port Reading, NJ is easy. At 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Paterson, NJ to Port Reading, NJ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ellison Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Memorial Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Market Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 21st Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| McLean Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 95 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New Jersey Turnpike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Carteret | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Paterson, NJ and Port Reading, NJ.
Start on Colt Street
Turn right onto Ellison Street
Turn right onto Memorial Drive
Turn left onto Market Street
Turn slight left onto 21st Avenue
Turn slight right onto McLean Boulevard
Merge slight right
Keep slight left
Merge slight left
Continue straight
Take the exit slight left
Continue straight
Keep slight right to continue on I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Keep slight right to continue on I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Continue straight
Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike
Take the exit slight right toward Carteret, Rahway
Keep slight right to continue on Carteret, West Carteret, Rahway
Keep slight right to continue on West Carteret, Rahway
Turn straight onto Roosevelt Avenue
Turn left onto Minue Street
Continue on Federal Boulevard
Turn left onto Blair Road
Turn right onto Langford Avenue
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 30.3 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.1 miles or 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Reading, NJ than in the middle of the route.
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 30.3 miles and 48m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.1 mi from Paterson, NJ · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 15.1 miles from Paterson, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Port Reading, 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 Port Reading, NJ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$5.01 one way
$10.03 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $5.49 | $10.97 |
| premium | $4.92 | $5.87 | $11.74 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.73 | $13.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.45 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.65 | $1.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Night in Paterson on Saturday
Local time
9:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Night in Port Reading on Saturday
Local time
9:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
61°F
New York City, NY
15 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
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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