This 130-mile drive from Salem, NJ, to Paterson, NJ, is a straightforward trip that can comfortably be completed in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 39 minutes. The route is predominantly highway, with 90% of the journey on major roads like the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. With an estimated fuel cost of $22, this trip is quite budget-friendly. It's a practical option for a day trip, allowing you to focus on reaching your destination efficiently without needing an overnight stay. Both locations are within the Northeast region, making for a contained New Jersey excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.9 miles from Salem, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 39m. Total distance: 129.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 130-mile journey, with a substantial 90% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a nearly uninterrupted 90-mile stretch on the New Jersey Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. While primarily a highway experience, the inclusion of roads like South Broadway suggests some transitions into more local thoroughfares as you approach your destination. This profile means you'll be navigating a generally fast-paced route with minimal deviations from major arteries.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 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 90 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 99.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 129.8 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 99.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 126.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
99.7 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Take the exit toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
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 11
Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbri...
7
100.2 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
7
126.8 mi into trip|~2h 34m in
Take the exit toward NJ 19: Paterson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 155A
Toward NJ 19: Paterson
8
129.1 mi into trip|~2h 38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Grand Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Grand Street
7
129.3 mi into trip|~2h 38m in|CR 638 / Grand Street
Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Salem, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Atlantic City, Gsp and Woodbridge.
Atlantic City
8.8 mi in|~11m
Gsp
99.7 mi in|~1h 56m
Woodbridge
99.7 mi in|~1h 56m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
90 mi
1h 43m
Garden State Parkway
25.8 mi
35m
South Broadway
7.8 mi
9m
NJ 19
1.7 mi
1m
West Broadway
0.5 mi
<1m
Broadway Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Front Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 90 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 49
0.5 mi·42 sec·West Broadway
2
Turn right onto NJ 49
0.2 mi·13 sec·Front Street
3
Continue on NJ 49
2.6 mi·2 min·South Broadway
4
Continue on NJ 49
0.3 mi·22 sec·Broadway Road
5
Continue on NJ 49
5.2 mi·6 min·South Broadway
6
Take the exit
300 ft·8 sec
Toward US 40 East, NJTP: Hook Road, Atlantic City
7
Turn straight onto Old Pennsville-Auburn Road
0.2 mi·20 sec·Old Pennsville-Auburn Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward US 40 East: Atlantic City
9
Merge onto NJTP; US 40
1.9 mi·2 min·New Jersey Turnpike
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·13 sec
11
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·11 sec·this road
12
Merge onto NJTP
47 mi·53 min·New Jersey Turnpike
13
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
41 mi·47 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 11Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, WoodbridgeUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward GSP North: Garden State ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto GSP
26 mi·35 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 155AToward NJ 19: PatersonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Merge onto NJ 19
1.7 mi·1 min·NJ 19
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
313 ft·7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·23 sec
Toward Grand StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi·27 sec·Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi·29 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft·15 sec·Market Street
24
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft·3 sec·Colt Street
25
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 39-minute duration and 130-mile distance, this trip is ideal for a single day. Consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic, especially on the New Jersey Turnpike. With only one recommended stop and a $22 fuel cost, you can plan your fuel and breaks efficiently. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 90 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, so be sure to have entertainment or a podcast ready for that segment. This route offers flexibility, allowing you to adjust your pace as needed.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.9 miles from Salem, NJ, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90 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 29 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.9 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paterson, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Salem, 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 Salem, NJ
This is one driving day of about 129.8 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Salem, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 90 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.9 mi from Salem, NJ
· 1h 16m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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 129.8
Caution: Limited Amphitheater Accessibility
Caution: Overlook Park Parking Lot - Vehicles Must Be Parked in a Designated Spot
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...
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 111.9
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...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 116.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.52 one way
$43.04 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$23.57
$47.14
premium
$4.93
$25.17
$50.35
diesel
$5.61
$28.66
$57.32
Estimated Tolls: $14.15
New Jersey Turnpike
(90 mi)$12.60
Garden State Parkway
(25.8 mi)$1.55
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
$22
Tolls
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
77 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Supercharger
Hamilton Township, New Jersey
Tesla
1 DCFC
Greenspot Charging Station
Trenton, New Jersey
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Maplewood, New Jersey
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Kearny, New Jersey
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
New Castle, Delaware
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Hamilton Township, New Jersey
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Cranbury, NJ
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Robbinsville Twp, New Jersey
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 46
Other: 10
Tesla: 9
Electrify America: 4
EVgo: 4
Blink: 2
EV Connect: 1
Tesla Destination: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.9
0
$13.63
$6.23
Efficient EV
32.5
0
$11.36
$5.19
EV Truck/SUV
51.9
0
$18.17
$8.31
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Salem, NJ
Evening
in Salem on Friday
Local time
5:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Paterson, NJ
Evening
in Paterson on Friday
Local time
5:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
12 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 39m 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 Salem, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 129.8 miles and takes about 2h 39m 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, South Broadway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.9 miles from Salem, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.52 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 129.8 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 99.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 126.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Salem, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Atlantic City, Gsp and Woodbridge.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
