Origin
Clinton, NJ
Morning in Clinton on Sunday
Local time
11:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clinton, NJ to Paterson, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
14m
Distance
9.9 mi
16 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 13m
★
6 AM
0h 15m
8 AM
0h 17m
10 AM
0h 16m
12 PM
0h 15m
3 PM
0h 16m
5 PM
0h 17m
8 PM
0h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clinton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Clinton, NJ to Paterson, NJ is 9.9 miles and takes about 14m via Christopher Columbus Highway and US 46, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within New Jersey, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a very turn-heavy local drive, making it ideal for a quick transfer or a short excursion rather than an extended road trip. With minimal driving time and a low fuel cost, this route offers a straightforward way to get between these two New Jersey locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| US 46 | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| Horseneck Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| NJ 23 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Hollywood Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Grand Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| NJ 19 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Christopher Columbus Highway
— 4.3 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on CR 625
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Hollywood Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto CR 626
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Horseneck Road
3
Turn left
247 ft
·
18 sec
4
Turn right onto US 46
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US 46
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward NJ 23 North
Use the slight right lane.
6
Continue on NJ 23
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
NJ 23
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 80 East: New York
8
Merge onto I 80
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 57B
Toward NJ 19: Downtown, Paterson
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto NJ 19
474 ft
·
5 sec
·
NJ 19
11
Take the exit
313 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Grand Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
16
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft
·
3 sec
·
Colt Street
17
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 9.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward NJ 23 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 23 North
8
8.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward NJ 19: Downtown, Paterson
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 57B
Toward NJ 19: Downtown, Paterson
6
9.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
8
9.2 mi into trip
|
~13m 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
9.4 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
CR 638 / Grand Street
Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.64 one way
$3.28 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $1.80 | $3.60 |
| premium | $4.93 | $1.92 | $3.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.19 | $4.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3 | 0 | $1.04 | $0.48 |
| Efficient EV | 2.5 | 0 | $0.87 | $0.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4 | 0 | $1.39 | $0.63 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
Morning in Paterson on Sunday
Local time
11:16 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
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
14m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized by its frequent turns, fitting its 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile. With only a 29% highway share, you'll spend most of your time on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 4.3 miles along Christopher Columbus Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before more turns and intersections appear. As you progress, the route transitions from more open highway segments to more intricate local road navigation, requiring your attention throughout the 14-minute journey.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.3 mi on Christopher Columbus Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 9.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 14m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Clinton, NJ to Paterson, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Del Water Gap along the way.
Del Water Gap
9.1 mi in
|
~12m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 14m. Total distance: 9.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.3 miles on Christopher Columbus Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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