Origin
High Bridge, NJ
Afternoon in High Bridge on Sunday
Local time
12:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from High Bridge, 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
1h 5m
Distance
53.3 mi
86 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
High Bridge, NJ
Trap Typieee
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 53.3-mile drive from High Bridge, NJ, to Paterson, NJ, is a straightforward trip that can be completed in about 1 hour and 5 minutes. Primarily using I 287 and the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, this route focuses heavily on highway travel, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. With a projected fuel cost of around $9, it's an economical option for getting between these two points within New Jersey. The overall feel of the journey is efficient and direct, suitable for those prioritizing arrival time over leisurely exploration. Given its short duration and highway-centric profile, this route is well-suited for a quick transit between the Northeast regions of the state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 287 | 20.7 mi | 25m |
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 12.2 mi | 14m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 12.1 mi | 13m |
| Route 31 (CR 513) | 2 mi | 2m |
| Interstate 80 East | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| West Main Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Ramp to I-287 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| ramp to I-78/US 22 East | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 287
— 20.7 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between High Bridge, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on CR 513
335 ft
·
10 sec
·
Bridge Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto CR 513
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
3
Turn left onto NJ 31; CR 513
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Route 31 (CR 513)
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Take the exit onto ramp to I-78/US 22 East
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
ramp to I-78/US 22 East
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Newark
5
Merge onto I 78; US 22
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
6
Take the exit onto Ramp to I-287
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Ramp to I-287
Exit 29
Toward I 287: Morristown, Somerville
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 287 North: Morristown
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 287
21 mi
·
25 min
·
I 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 41A
Toward I 80 East: Smith Road, New York City
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 41A
Toward I 80 East: New York City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 80E
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate 80 East
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 80 East: Paterson, New York City
13
Merge onto I 80
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 57B
Toward NJ 19: Downtown, Paterson
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto NJ 19
474 ft
·
5 sec
·
NJ 19
16
Take the exit
313 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Grand Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
21
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft
·
3 sec
·
Colt Street
22
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.7 miles from High Bridge, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 15.7 and 52.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
15.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
Ramp to I-287
Take the exit onto Ramp to I-287 toward I 287: Morristown, Somerville
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 29
Toward I 287: Morristown, Somerville
8
37.5 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Smith Road, New York City
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 41A
Toward I 80 East: Smith Road, New York City
8
37.7 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 41A
Toward I 80 East: New York City
8
52.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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
8
52.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m 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
$8.84 one way
$17.67 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.68 | $19.36 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.34 | $20.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.77 | $23.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.46 | $3.41 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Afternoon in Paterson on Sunday
Local time
12:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Madison, NJ
27 mi in
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
19 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
1h 5m 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 highway-focused drive for this trip, with 71% of the journey taking place on major roadways like I 287. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 20.7 miles on I 287, allowing for a consistent pace. While the bulk of the route is on expressways, the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and Christopher Columbus Highway offer variations in the highway experience. This profile suggests a drive that is largely about covering ground efficiently, with fewer opportunities for spontaneous detours or scenic overlooks directly from the road.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.7 mi on I 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 287 and Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.7 miles in near Ramp to I-287.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.3 miles you will encounter 19 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 15.7 miles (Ramp to I-287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Between High Bridge, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Somerville and New York City.
Somerville
15.7 mi in
|
~19m
|
via Ramp to I-287
New York City
37.5 mi in
|
~46m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 53.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.7 miles on I 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 15.7 miles (Ramp to I-287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Thomas Edison 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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