Origin
Lake Hopatcong, NJ
Morning in Lake Hopatcong on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Hopatcong, NJ to Passaic, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
42m
Distance
33.1 mi
53 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Hopatcong, NJ
Mathias Reding
Passaic, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 33.1-mile drive from Lake Hopatcong to Passaic, New Jersey, is a quick 42-minute trip that's perfect for a single day. You'll navigate primarily using the Christopher Columbus Highway, US 46, and Rt 15 South, with about 27% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is a modest $5, making it an economical option. Given its short duration and lack of designated stops, this drive offers a lot of flexibility. It's a straightforward journey within the Northeast region, connecting two points in NJ.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 18.6 mi | 20m |
| US 46 | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Rt 15 South | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Paulison Avenue | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Edison Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Espanong Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Passaic Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Christopher Columbus Highway
— 18.6 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Hopatcong, NJ and Passaic, NJ.
1
Start on CR 615
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Espanong Road
2
Turn right onto CR 615
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Edison Road
3
Keep slight right at fork onto Edison Road
379 ft
·
7 sec
·
Edison Road
4
Take the ramp
257 ft
·
7 sec
5
Merge onto NJ 15
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Rt 15 South
Use the right lane.
6
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 East: New York
7
Merge onto I 80
19 mi
·
20 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 53
Toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto US 46
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 46
10
Continue on US 46
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
US 46
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
401 ft
·
14 sec
12
At end of road, turn left onto CR 618
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Paulison Avenue
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto Passaic Avenue
95 ft
·
2 sec
·
Passaic Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Passaic Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 30.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 615 / Edison Road
Turn right onto CR 615 / Edison Road
Navigation decision point
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
NJ 15 / Rt 15 South
Merge onto NJ 15 / Rt 15 South
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
6.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway
Merge onto I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
24.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
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 53
Toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunn...
6
30.9 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
CR 618 / Paulison Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto CR 618 / Paulison Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.49 one way
$10.98 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.01 | $12.02 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.42 | $12.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.31 | $14.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.48 | $1.59 |
| Efficient EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.90 | $1.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.63 | $2.12 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Passaic, NJ
Morning in Passaic on Sunday
Local time
6:31 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
4 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
42m 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' for most of this 33.1-mile route. While 27% of the journey is on highways, the character leans towards navigating local roads and intersections. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 18.6 miles on the Christopher Columbus Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before returning to a more stop-and-go feel. This route is less about long, sweeping vistas and more about efficient travel through populated areas.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.6 mi on Christopher Columbus Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near CR 615 / Edison Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 33.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 42m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (CR 615 / Edison Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (NJ 15 / Rt 15 South): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,022 ft
111 ft
Total Climb
224 ft
Total Descent
1,135 ft
Highest Point
1,022 ft
Elevation Range
911 ft
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.
On the drive from Lake Hopatcong, NJ to Passaic, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Clifton along the way.
Clifton
24.9 mi in
|
~31m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 42m. Total distance: 33.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.6 miles on Christopher Columbus Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Passaic, 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 0.8 miles (CR 615 / Edison Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (NJ 15 / Rt 15 South): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Morristown National Historical Park (5 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 Passaic, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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