Origin
Hackensack, NJ
Late night in Hackensack on Sunday
Local time
3:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hackensack, 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
13m
Distance
8.6 mi
14 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 12m
★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 16m
10 AM
0h 14m
12 PM
0h 14m
3 PM
0h 14m
5 PM
0h 16m
8 PM
0h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hackensack, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 8.6-mile drive from Hackensack to Paterson, New Jersey, will only take you about 13 minutes to complete, making it a very manageable trip. The estimated fuel cost is a low $1, and with no overnight stays recommended, it's perfect for a quick local excursion within the Northeast region. You'll primarily navigate local roads, as this route has a 0% highway share. Prepare for a drive that's more about navigating local streets than cruising on open highways, with a turn-heavy profile that keeps you engaged. This trip is straightforward, designed for efficiency and ease.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| Essex Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| State Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Riverview Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Colt Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Christopher Columbus Highway
— 5.2 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hackensack, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on this road
44 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto State Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
3
Turn right onto CR 56
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Essex Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto Riverview Avenue
189 ft
·
5 sec
·
Riverview Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
6
Merge onto I 80
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Paterson
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto CR 509
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
10
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft
·
3 sec
·
Colt Street
11
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 8.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 56 / Essex Street
Turn right onto CR 56 / Essex Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
2.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Riverview Avenue
Turn left onto Riverview Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
7.8 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward Paterson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Paterson
6
8.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
CR 509 / Main Street
Turn left onto CR 509 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.43 one way
$2.85 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $1.56 | $3.12 |
| premium | $4.93 | $1.67 | $3.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.90 | $3.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 3 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 | 2.6 | 0 | $0.90 | $0.41 |
| Efficient EV | 2.2 | 0 | $0.75 | $0.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.20 | $0.55 |
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
Late night in Paterson on Sunday
Local time
3:47 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
13m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with the entirety of your journey on surface streets and no highway cruising. You'll be utilizing roads like Christopher Columbus Highway, Essex Street, and State Street. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.2 miles along Christopher Columbus Highway. This isn't a route for settling into a high-speed rhythm; instead, anticipate frequent intersections and traffic lights that define the character of this urban and suburban traversal. The road's personality is one of constant, albeit brief, engagement with the local infrastructure.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.2 mi on Christopher Columbus Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near CR 56 / Essex Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 8.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.6 miles (CR 56 / Essex Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (Riverview Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 13m. Total distance: 8.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.2 miles on Christopher Columbus Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.6 miles (CR 56 / Essex Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (Riverview Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
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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