This 122-mile drive from Absecon to Paterson, New Jersey, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 31 minutes. It's an ideal one-day trip, especially with a fuel cost estimate of around $20. The route primarily utilizes the Garden State Parkway, making it a convenient option for traversing the state. Given its relatively short duration and high highway share, it's a practical choice for a quick transit between the Northeast regions of New Jersey. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained parkways and highways.
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
61 miles from Absecon, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
115.1 mi
2h 21m
NJ 19
1.7 mi
1m
Absecon Boulevard
1.5 mi
1m
East White Horse Pike
1.2 mi
1m
Shore Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Grand Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Market Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 115.1 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Absecon, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on East Faunce Landing Road
71 ft·5 sec·East Faunce Landing Road
2
Turn left onto NJ 157
0.4 mi·34 sec·Shore Road
3
Take the ramp
133 ft·4 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto US 30
1.5 mi·1 min·Absecon Boulevard
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on US 30
1.2 mi·1 min·East White Horse Pike
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway North
7
Merge onto GSP
13 mi·15 min·Garden State Parkway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
50 mi·58 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
10
Continue on GSP
52 mi·1 hr 7 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 155AToward NJ 19: PatersonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Merge onto NJ 19
1.7 mi·1 min·NJ 19
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
313 ft·7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·23 sec
Toward Grand StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi·27 sec·Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi·29 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft·15 sec·Market Street
18
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft·3 sec·Colt Street
19
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 31-minute drive, starting your journey in the morning can help you avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach the Paterson area. With only an estimated $20 in fuel costs and a single suggested stop, you have a lot of flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on the Garden State Parkway is quite extensive. Consider making your planned stop around the midpoint to break up the drive comfortably. Since this is a short, highway-centric route, you can easily adapt your schedule based on your needs.
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 61 miles from Absecon, NJ, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.1 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 27 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61 miles or 1h 11m 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 1m
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 Absecon, 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 Absecon, NJ
This is one driving day of about 122 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Absecon, 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 115.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.6 and 121.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
16.6 mi into trip|~19m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
118.9 mi into trip|~2h 26m 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
121.3 mi into trip|~2h 29m 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
121.5 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|CR 638 / Grand Street
Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
121.6 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|CR 509 / Main Street
Turn left onto CR 509 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.23 one way
$40.45 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$22.15
$44.30
premium
$4.93
$23.66
$47.32
diesel
$5.61
$26.94
$53.87
Estimated Tolls: $6.90
Garden State Parkway
(115.1 mi)$6.90
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
$20
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.6
0
$12.81
$5.86
Efficient EV
30.5
0
$10.67
$4.88
EV Truck/SUV
48.8
0
$17.08
$7.81
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Absecon, NJ
Late night
in Absecon on Sunday
Local time
3:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Paterson, NJ
Late night
in Paterson on Sunday
Local time
3:52 AM
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
15 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 31m 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.
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 122
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
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 101
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
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 75.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with a 96% highway share. The majority of your travel will be on the Garden State Parkway, offering a consistent driving pace for a significant portion of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 115.1 miles on this parkway, allowing for sustained cruising. While primarily highway, the final approach to Paterson involves NJ 19, offering a slight shift in scenery and road type as you near your destination. The overall feel is efficient and direct, minimizing complex navigation.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 115.1 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 19. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.6 miles in near GSP / Garden State Parkway.
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 15 significant decision points across 122 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 16.6 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 122 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 115.1 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.90 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Paterson, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.6 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Morristown National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Paterson, NJ before heading back.
