Origin
Jackson, NJ
Late night in Jackson on Tuesday
Local time
4:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jackson, NJ to Paterson, NJ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 9m
Distance
100.4 mi
162 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 1m
★
6 AM
2h 10m
8 AM
2h 28m
10 AM
2h 16m
12 PM
2h 15m
3 PM
2h 17m
5 PM
2h 27m
8 PM
2h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jackson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 100.4-mile drive from Jackson, NJ, to Paterson, NJ, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 9 minutes. Given its relatively short duration and the fact that both locations are within the Northeast region of New Jersey, this route is ideal as a single-day trip. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $17, making it an economical option for many travelers. The route predominantly utilizes major roadways, including the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway, with a significant 94% of the drive being on highways, suggesting a fast-paced transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.2 miles from Jackson, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 55.9 mi | 1h 4m |
| Garden State Parkway | 25.8 mi | 35m |
| NJ 73 | 11 mi | 15m |
| Jackson Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| NJ 19 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Grand Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 55.9 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on CR 534
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Jackson Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn right onto NJ 73
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 73
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on NJ 73
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
NJ 73
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on NJ 73
198 ft
·
3 sec
·
NJ 73
Use the right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward NJTP
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJTP North: New York
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Merge onto NJTP
15 mi
·
16 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
8
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
41 mi
·
47 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 11
Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto GSP
26 mi
·
35 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 155A
Toward NJ 19: Paterson
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Merge onto NJ 19
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 19
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
313 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Grand Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
19
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft
·
3 sec
·
Colt Street
20
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour, 9-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, especially if traveling on a weekday. With no designated stops, you have the flexibility to take breaks as needed, though planning for a fuel stop before you start or at a service plaza on the Turnpike is wise given the $17 estimated fuel cost. The longest stretch without a turn is 55.9 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, so ensure you're comfortable with sustained highway driving or plan a brief pause before hitting that segment.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.2 miles from Jackson, NJ, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.9 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 22 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.2 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 44m
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 Jackson, 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 Jackson, NJ
This is one driving day of about 100.4 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Jackson, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 55.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 50.2 miles from Jackson, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 13.5 and 99.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
13.5 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward NJTP
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJTP
7
13.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJTP North: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward NJTP North: New York
8
70.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m 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
70.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m 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
99.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m 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
$16.65 one way
$33.29 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $18.23 | $36.46 |
| premium | $4.93 | $19.47 | $38.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.17 | $44.33 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.38
New Jersey Turnpike
(55.9 mi)
$7.83
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
$17
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.1 | 0 | $10.54 | $4.82 |
| Efficient EV | 25.1 | 0 | $8.79 | $4.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.2 | 0 | $14.06 | $6.43 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Paterson, NJ
Late night in Paterson on Tuesday
Local time
4:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph
18% chance
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
42 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 9m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-centric experience for most of this 100.4-mile trip, with 94% of the drive taking place on major roadways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the New Jersey Turnpike, where the longest uninterrupted stretch measures 55.9 miles. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes efficient travel over scenic byways, characterized by consistent speed limits and multiple lanes. While NJ 73 is also part of the main roads, the overall feel remains that of a rapid connection between your origin and destination.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.9 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 13.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 17 significant decision points across 100.4 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 13.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.3 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jackson, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp, Njtp North: New York, Gsp and Woodbridge.
Njtp
13.5 mi in
|
~20m
Njtp North: New York
13.8 mi in
|
~20m
Gsp
70.3 mi in
|
~1h 26m
Woodbridge
70.3 mi in
|
~1h 26m
About the Cities
Starting in Jackson, NJ
Full guide →Jackson Township is a town of 60,000 people (2022) in Ocean County (New Jersey). Jackson is the site of Six Flags Great Adventure and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor theme parks. This article also covers Plumsted Township, a community of about 8,000 people to the west of Jackson.
Arriving in Paterson, NJ
Full guide →For the township in the Hunter region of New South Wales, see Paterson (New South Wales). Paterson is New Jersey's third largest city (about 155,000 inhabitants as of 2022), and hosts a great attraction: the Great Falls, which are very extensive and second only to Niagara Falls in terms of volume of water in waterfalls east of the Mississippi. Paterson is 12 miles away from Manhattan. It is an ethnically diverse city that houses large Hispanic, Arab, Italian-American, African American and Bengali communities. South Paterson is home to one of the nation's largest Arab communities.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 100.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.9 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.38 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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