Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
13.6 mi
22 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Lee, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
This short, 13.6-mile drive from Fort Lee to Paterson, NJ, is easily manageable in just 18 minutes, making it a perfect quick trip. With no highway driving and an estimated fuel cost of only $2, it's an economical choice for a local excursion. The route primarily follows Christopher Columbus Highway and Main Street, offering a straightforward journey. Since it's a single-day trip, you won't need an overnight stay. This drive stays within the Northeast region, connecting two points in New Jersey.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Fort Lee Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Degraw Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Schlosser Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Lemoine Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Colt Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lee, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
Start on NJ 67
Turn sharp left onto NJ 67
Turn left onto CR 56
Continue on CR 56
Continue on CR 56
Turn slight right
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on I 80
Take the exit
Turn left onto CR 509
Turn right onto CR 648
Turn left onto Colt Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 13 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn sharp left onto NJ 67 / Schlosser Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Turn left onto CR 56 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 West: Paterson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Paterson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto CR 509 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.25 one way
$4.51 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.47 | $4.94 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.64 | $5.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.00 | $6.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.43 | $0.65 |
| Efficient EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.19 | $0.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.90 | $0.87 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Fort Lee on Sunday
Local time
7:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Morning in Paterson on Sunday
Local time
7:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with no highway segments contributing to the 13.6 miles. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be 9.4 miles along Christopher Columbus Highway. The drive will feel like navigating through familiar neighborhoods and local thoroughfares rather than open highway cruising. It's a route where you'll be actively engaged with road turns and traffic signals.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near NJ 67 / Schlosser Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 13.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (NJ 67 / Schlosser Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles (CR 56 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fort Lee, NJ to Paterson, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Njtp along the way.
Njtp
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 13.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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