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Trip from West Cape May, NJ to Paterson, NJ

Drive Time

3h 20m

Distance

162.4 mi

261 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

39 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 9m ★
6 AM
3h 21m
8 AM
3h 45m
10 AM
3h 29m
12 PM
3h 27m
3 PM
3h 30m
5 PM
3h 43m
8 PM
3h 13m

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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Downtown Paterson, NJ, NJ

Paterson, NJ

Ren Aukeman

Trip Overview

The drive from West Cape May, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 162.4 miles and takes about 3h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Garden State Parkway, Lafayette Street, NJ 19 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 154.9 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.87 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

81.2 miles from West Cape May, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 3h 20m highway drive covering 162.4 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and Lafayette Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 154.9 miles on Garden State Parkway.

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.
Garden State Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 154.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Lafayette Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near NJ 109; OD / Washington Street.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 162.4 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 2.4 miles (NJ 109; OD / Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (NJ 109; OD / Washington Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 159.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

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

8
2.4 mi into trip | ~5m in | NJ 109; OD / Washington Street

At end of road, turn left onto NJ 109; OD / Washington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
2.5 mi into trip | ~5m in | NJ 109; OD / Washington Street

Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 109; OD / Washington Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
159.3 mi into trip | ~3h 15m 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
161.7 mi into trip | ~3h 18m 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
161.9 mi into trip | ~3h 19m 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 154.9 mi 3h 7m
Lafayette Street 2.1 mi 3m
NJ 19 1.7 mi 1m
Sunset Boulevard 0.7 mi 1m
West Perry Street 0.3 mi <1m
Main Street 0.3 mi <1m
Grand Street 0.2 mi <1m
Washington Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 154.9 mi, about 3h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Cape May, NJ and Paterson, NJ.

1

Start on 2nd Avenue

217 ft · 16 sec · 2nd Avenue
2

Turn left onto CR 607

414 ft · 14 sec · South Bayshore Drive
3

Turn left onto CR 606; OD

0.7 mi · 1 min · Sunset Boulevard
4

Continue on CR 606

0.3 mi · 31 sec · West Perry Street
5

Continue on CR 606

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Jackson Street
6

Turn left onto NJ 109

1.1 mi · 2 min · Lafayette Street
7

Turn right onto NJ 109; OD

265 ft · 10 sec · Sidney Avenue
Use the right lane.
8

At end of road, turn left onto NJ 109; OD

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Washington Street
Use the left lane.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 109; OD

102 ft · 2 sec · Washington Street
Use the right lane.
10

Turn straight onto NJ 109; OD

1.0 mi · 1 min · Lafayette Street
11

Turn straight onto GSP

19 mi · 22 min · Garden State Parkway
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway North Use the slight right lane.
12

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 31 sec
13

Merge onto GSP

34 mi · 39 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

50 mi · 58 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 31 sec
16

Continue on GSP

52 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 155A Toward NJ 19: Paterson Use 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 Street Use 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

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 81.2 miles from West Cape May, NJ, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.9 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 81.2 miles or 1h 37m 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 41m

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 West Cape May, 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 West Cape May, NJ

This is one driving day of about 162.4 miles and 3h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from West Cape May, 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 Garden State Parkway for about 154.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 81.2 mi from West Cape May, NJ · 1h 37m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

81 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 81.2 miles from West Cape May, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 154.9 miles.

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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Paterson, NJ.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

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 162.4
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

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...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 near mile 151.2
View on nps.gov
Morristown National Historical Park

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...

15 mi from route ~38 min detour Free near mile 140
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area

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...

18 mi from route ~45 min detour Free near mile 117.6
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.87 one way

$53.75 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 57 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $29.40 $58.81
premium $4.92 $31.47 $62.94
diesel $5.64 $36.08 $72.16

Estimated Tolls: $9.29

Garden State Parkway (154.9 mi) $9.29

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

$27

Tolls

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$61–$86

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

39 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Middle Township, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Plaza at Cape May Courthouse - Tesla Supercharger

Cape May Court House, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Ocean View, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Stafford Township, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Somers Point, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

JR's Fresh Market - Tesla Supercharger

Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 20 Tesla: 9 Blink Network: 5 Non-Networked: 1 EV Connect: 1 EVIUM: 1 CHARGEUP: 1 CHARGESMART_EV: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48.7 0 $17.05 $7.80
Efficient EV 40.6 0 $14.21 $6.50
EV Truck/SUV 65 0 $22.74 $10.39

Gas CO2

57 kg

EV CO2

19 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 data refreshed 3 years ago

Origin

West Cape May, NJ

Afternoon in West Cape May on Monday

Local time

1:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Paterson, NJ

Afternoon in Paterson on Monday

Local time

1:27 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

9 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

3h 20m 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 West Cape May, NJ to Paterson, NJ covers 162.4 miles and takes about 3h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Lafayette Street, NJ 19. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 81.2 miles from West Cape May, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.87 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 19 significant decision points across 162.4 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 2.4 miles (NJ 109; OD / Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (NJ 109; OD / Washington Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 159.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from West Cape May, NJ to Paterson, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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