Traveling from Lacey to Paterson covers 86.9 miles, typically taking about 1 hour and 56 minutes. This straightforward journey stays within the Northeast region of New Jersey, making it a manageable day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You should expect to spend roughly $14 on fuel for the complete one-way trek. Because the route is highly efficient, you can easily complete the drive in a single session without needing scheduled stops. It is a practical choice if you are looking to move between these two areas quickly and reliably.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.4 miles from Lacey, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
74.3 mi
1h 34m
Dover Road
6.9 mi
10m
NJ 19
1.7 mi
1m
Lacey Road
1.3 mi
1m
Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
US 9
0.2 mi
<1m
Grand Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Market Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 74.3 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lacey, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on this road
0.6 mi·3 min·this road
2
Turn left onto CR 614
1.3 mi·1 min·Lacey Road
3
Turn right onto CR 618
6.8 mi·10 min·Dover Road
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on CR 530
0.1 mi·23 sec·Dover Road
5
Take the ramp onto US 9
0.2 mi·16 sec·US 9
Toward GSP Toll North, US 9 Toll North: Lakewood, New York
6
Merge onto GSP; US 9
23 mi·26 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
8
Continue on GSP
52 mi·1 hr 7 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 155AToward NJ 19: PatersonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Merge onto NJ 19
1.7 mi·1 min·NJ 19
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
313 ft·7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·23 sec
Toward Grand StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi·27 sec·Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi·29 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft·15 sec·Market Street
16
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft·3 sec·Colt Street
17
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Trip Plan
To ensure the smoothest experience, keep in mind that the 1 hour and 56 minute duration is highly dependent on traffic flow along the Garden State Parkway. Since this is a relatively short trip with no mandatory stops, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around peak congestion hours to avoid delays. Make sure your tank is prepped for the $14 fuel cost before you merge onto the highway to avoid unnecessary deviations. A helpful tip for this specific route is to monitor real-time traffic updates for the Parkway section, as it is the most critical link in your 86.9-mile journey.
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 43.4 miles from Lacey, NJ, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.3 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 19 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.4 miles or 59m 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 38m
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 Lacey, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lacey, NJ
This is one driving day of about 86.9 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Lacey, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 74.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 86.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.9 mi into trip|~5m in|CR 618 / Dover Road
Turn right onto CR 618 / Dover Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
8.8 mi into trip|~16m in|US 9
Take the ramp onto US 9 toward GSP Toll North, US 9 Toll North: Lakewood, New York
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward GSP Toll North, US 9 Toll North: Lakewoo...
7
83.8 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward NJ 19: Paterson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 155A
Toward NJ 19: Paterson
8
86.2 mi into trip|~1h 54m 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
7
86.3 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|CR 638 / Grand Street
Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.41 one way
$28.81 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.78
$31.56
premium
$4.93
$16.85
$33.71
diesel
$5.61
$19.19
$38.37
Estimated Tolls: $4.46
Garden State Parkway
(74.3 mi)$4.46
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
$14
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.1
0
$9.12
$4.17
Efficient EV
21.7
0
$7.60
$3.48
EV Truck/SUV
34.8
0
$12.17
$5.56
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lacey, NJ
Late night
in Lacey on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Paterson, NJ
Late night
in Paterson on Sunday
Local time
12:24 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
16 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 56m 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 86.9
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 68.9
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 41.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 88% of your time spent on high-speed thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your journey on the Garden State Parkway, which accounts for a significant 74.3-mile stretch of the trip. After navigating the Parkway, you will transition onto Dover Road and finally NJ 19 to reach your destination. Expect a consistent, fast-paced environment that prioritizes efficiency over local backroads. The transition from the more open stretches of the Parkway to the final local road segments defines the overall character of this transit.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 74.3 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Dover Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near CR 618 / Dover Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.9 miles (CR 618 / Dover Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (US 9): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Lacey, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North and New York.
Gsp Toll North
8.8 mi in|~16m|via US 9
New York
8.8 mi in|~16m|via US 9
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 86.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.3 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.46 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. 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.
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 1.9 miles (CR 618 / Dover Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (US 9): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
