If you are planning a trip from Elmer to Paterson, you are looking at a 118-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 31 minutes to complete. This route is designed as a single-day trip, making it an efficient choice for those who want to reach their destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $20 for fuel to cover the distance. Because you are traveling entirely within the Northeast region of New Jersey, the route stays within a consistent geographic context. It is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that prioritizes speed and directness over secondary roads. Overall, this is a practical trip for travelers who value efficiency and want a reliable way to navigate between these two points.
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
59 miles from Elmer, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
64.5 mi
1h 14m
Garden State Parkway
25.8 mi
35m
Veterans Memorial Highway
12.9 mi
15m
Buck Road
4 mi
5m
Harding Highway
1.7 mi
2m
NJ 19
1.7 mi
1m
Black Horse Pike
0.8 mi
1m
West Clements Bridge Road
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 64.5 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmer, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on US 40
431 ft·7 sec·Front Street
2
Continue on US 40
1.7 mi·2 min·Harding Highway
3
Turn left onto CR 553
4.0 mi·5 min·Buck Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward NJ 55 North: BellmawrUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto NJ 55
13 mi·15 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto Exit 58
0.3 mi·29 sec·Exit 58
Exit 58Toward Deptford, AlmonessonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on Deptford Center Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Deptford Center Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto NJ 41
0.7 mi·1 min·Hurffville Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on NJ 41; CR 544
0.3 mi·45 sec·Clements Bridge Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 41
0.8 mi·1 min·West Clements Bridge Road
11
Turn left onto NJ 168
0.8 mi·1 min·Black Horse Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward NJTP North: New YorkUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto NJTP
23 mi·26 min·New Jersey Turnpike
15
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
41 mi·47 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 11Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, WoodbridgeUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward GSP North: Garden State ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto GSP
26 mi·35 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 155AToward NJ 19: PatersonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Merge onto NJ 19
1.7 mi·1 min·NJ 19
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
313 ft·7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·23 sec
Toward Grand StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi·27 sec·Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi·29 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft·15 sec·Market Street
26
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft·3 sec·Colt Street
27
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable drive of under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning for typical regional traffic patterns is always wise. You will only need to account for one planned stop to keep your trip comfortable and efficient. Because your fuel costs are estimated at $20, it is easy to budget for the entire round trip in advance. Pay close attention to signage when transitioning between the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway to ensure you stay on track during the highway switches. Utilizing that single stop midway through the drive is the best way to keep your energy up before hitting the final stretch into Paterson.
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 59 miles from Elmer, NJ, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.5 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 26 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59 miles or 1h 14m 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 Elmer, 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 Elmer, NJ
This is one driving day of about 118 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Elmer, 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 64.5 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 19.1 and 117.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
19.1 mi into trip|~24m in|Exit 58
Take the exit onto Exit 58 toward Deptford, Almonesson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 58
Toward Deptford, Almonesson
7
22.8 mi into trip|~32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJTP North: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NJTP North: New York
8
87.8 mi into trip|~1h 48m 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
88.3 mi into trip|~1h 49m 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
8
117.3 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.56 one way
$39.13 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$21.43
$42.85
premium
$4.93
$22.88
$45.77
diesel
$5.61
$26.05
$52.11
Estimated Tolls: $10.58
New Jersey Turnpike
(64.5 mi)$9.03
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
$20
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.4
0
$12.39
$5.66
Efficient EV
29.5
0
$10.33
$4.72
EV Truck/SUV
47.2
0
$16.52
$7.55
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Elmer, NJ
Late night
in Elmer on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Paterson, NJ
Late night
in Paterson on Sunday
Local time
12:23 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
3 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 118
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 97.6
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 101.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed experience, as 78% of this route consists of major highway driving. You will spend the bulk of your time on the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, and the Veterans Memorial Highway. The most significant segment is a 64.5-mile stretch on the New Jersey Turnpike, which serves as the core of your journey. Because the route relies so heavily on these major arteries, the experience is largely about maintaining a steady pace through the state’s primary transit corridors. While you will encounter a mix of heavy-traffic infrastructure, the road remains consistent in its highway-focused character from start to finish.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.5 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 19.1 miles in near Exit 58.
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 22 significant decision points across 118 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 19.1 miles (Exit 58): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Between Elmer, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Deptford, Almonesson, Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike, Njtp North: New York, Gsp and Woodbridge.
Deptford
19.1 mi in|~24m|via Exit 58
Almonesson
19.1 mi in|~24m|via Exit 58
Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
22.5 mi in|~32m
Njtp North: New York
22.8 mi in|~32m
Gsp
87.8 mi in|~1h 48m
Woodbridge
87.8 mi in|~1h 48m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 118 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 (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.5 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $10.58 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. 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 19.1 miles (Exit 58): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
