Origin
Spotswood, NJ
Late night in Spotswood on Saturday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Spotswood, NJ to Paterson, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
44.1 mi
71 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spotswood, NJ
Alexa V. Mato
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 43.1-mile journey from Spotswood, NJ, to Paterson, NJ, is a straightforward, local drive designed to be completed in about 55 minutes. With no highway driving and a modest fuel cost of approximately $7, it's an easy day trip. The route is characterized by its frequent turns, making it a more engaging experience than a typical interstate cruise. Given its short duration and local road nature, it’s perfect for a quick excursion within the Northeast region. You won't need to worry about overnight stays for this trip.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 44.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this entire 43.1-mile stretch. With 0% highway share, you'll be navigating through towns and local streets, primarily using Eaton Avenue, Snowhill Street, and Main Street. There isn't a 'longest stretch' to speak of, as the nature of this route involves continuous interaction with the road network, requiring your attention for frequent direction changes. The drive progresses by taking you through various local environments rather than a single, continuous type of road.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Garden State Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 25.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US 1. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near CR 617 / Rues Lane.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.1 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 2.6 miles (CR 617 / Rues Lane): Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CR 617 / Rues Lane
Turn right onto CR 617 / Rues Lane
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward US 1 North: Newark
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 1 North: Newark
7
41.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 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
43.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m 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
43.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
CR 638 / Grand Street
Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 25.1 mi | 34m |
| US 1 | 7.2 mi | 11m |
| State Route 18 | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| NJ 19 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Summerhill Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Rues Lane | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Snowhill Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 25.1 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spotswood, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on Willard Clark Circle
236 ft
·
15 sec
·
Willard Clark Circle
2
Turn left onto Eaton Avenue
332 ft
·
16 sec
·
Eaton Avenue
3
Turn right onto Snowhill Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Snowhill Street
4
Continue on CR 615
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Main Street
5
Turn left onto CR 613
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Summerhill Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto CR 617
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Rues Lane
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto NJ 18
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
State Route 18
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward US 1 North: Newark
Use the left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 1
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1
10
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 1
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on US 1
5.9 mi
·
9 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
14
Merge onto GSP
25 mi
·
34 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 155A
Toward NJ 19: Paterson
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Merge onto NJ 19
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 19
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
313 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Grand Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
22
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft
·
3 sec
·
Colt Street
23
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.1 mi from Spotswood, NJ · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.1 miles from Spotswood, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Paterson, NJ
The final approach into Paterson, NJ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.31 one way
$14.62 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.01 | $16.01 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.55 | $17.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.74 | $19.47 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.51
Garden State Parkway
(25.1 mi)
$1.51
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.63 | $2.12 |
| Efficient EV | 11 | 0 | $3.86 | $1.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.17 | $2.82 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Paterson, NJ
Late night in Paterson on Saturday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
16 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
1h 5m 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 Spotswood, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 44.1 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, US 1, State Route 18. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.1 miles from Spotswood, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.31 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.1 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (CR 617 / Rues Lane): Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Spotswood, NJ to Paterson, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Morristown National Historical Park. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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