Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
60.3 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mercerville, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Passaic, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Mercerville, NJ to Passaic, NJ is 60.3 miles and takes about 1h 22m via New Jersey Turnpike and NJ 21, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within New Jersey, making it a straightforward connection between two points. The route is predominantly highway, so expect efficient travel time. With only a single recommended day, this drive is perfect for a quick transit or a short day trip. It's a practical route for getting from point A to point B without much fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 33.4 mi | 39m |
| NJ 21 | 11.4 mi | 16m |
| US 130 | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| New Jersey Highway 33 | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| US 1 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Mercer Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Franklin Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| NJ 81 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Mercerville, NJ and Passaic, NJ.
Start on CR 535
Turn left onto CR 533
Turn left onto NJ 33
Turn left onto US 130; NJ 33
Continue on NJ 33
Turn right onto CR 539; CR 571
Turn left onto CR 539; CR 571
Turn slight right
Turn right onto NJ 33
Turn left onto I 95; NJTP
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ 81
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on US 1; US 9
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21
Take the exit
Continue on CR 624
Turn left onto CR 618
Turn right onto Passaic Avenue
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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.
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 30.2 miles from Mercerville, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 59.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto NJ 33 / New Jersey Highway 33
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21 toward NJ 21, US 22: Newark, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward River Drive, Passaic
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$10.08 one way
$20.15 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $11.09 | $22.18 |
| premium | $5.01 | $11.90 | $23.80 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $13.29 | $26.58 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.67
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$5
Total
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.33 | $2.89 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.44 | $3.86 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Mercerville on Wednesday
Local time
4:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Destination
Late night in Passaic on Wednesday
Local time
4:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is mostly highway, with 92% of the route on high-speed roads. You'll spend a significant portion cruising on the New Jersey Turnpike for about 33.4 miles. The transition to surface roads like NJ 21 and US 130 will happen later in the drive, offering a change of pace with more local traffic and potential for frequent exits.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and NJ 21. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near NJ 33 / New Jersey Highway 33.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.3 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 0.3 miles (NJ 33 / New Jersey Highway 33): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
179 ft
Total Descent
157 ft
Highest Point
138 ft
~18.3 mi in
Elevation Range
129 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Mercerville, NJ and Passaic, NJ, road signs point toward Newark Airport, Elizabeth Seaport and Downtown.
Newark Airport
Elizabeth Seaport
Downtown
Founded 1679
Passaic is a city in New Jersey.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 60.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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