Origin
Metuchen, NJ
Afternoon in Metuchen on Sunday
Local time
4:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Metuchen, 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
41m
Distance
26.9 mi
43 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Metuchen, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Passaic, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Metuchen, NJ to Passaic, NJ is 26.9 miles and takes about 41m via Garden State Parkway and Bloomfield Avenue, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically connecting two points in New Jersey. It's a relatively short drive, making it ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed. You'll primarily be on major roadways, so expect consistent traffic flow, especially during peak commuting hours. Consider this route if you need a straightforward, efficient journey between these two New Jersey locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 20 mi | 27m |
| Lincoln Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Bloomfield Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Middlesex Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Broadway | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Passaic Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Passaic Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Paulison Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 20 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metuchen, NJ and Passaic, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 27
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Middlesex Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on NJ 27
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Lincoln Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
467 ft
·
11 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
4
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
this road
5
Merge onto GSP
20 mi
·
27 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft
·
15 sec
·
Watchung Avenue
8
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Passaic Avenue
9
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Passaic Avenue
10
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft
·
7 sec
·
Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Enter roundabout onto CR 622
173 ft
·
3 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
13
Continue on CR 622
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
14
Continue on CR 622
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
15
Continue on CR 622
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
16
Continue on CR 622
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
17
Turn right onto CR 618
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Paulison Avenue
18
Turn left onto Passaic Avenue
95 ft
·
2 sec
·
Passaic Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Passaic Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 26.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward GSP Toll North
Navigation decision point
Toward GSP Toll North
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
23 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward Montclair, Nutley
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 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
5
24.2 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Turn left onto CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
26.8 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
Passaic Avenue
Turn left onto Passaic Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.46 one way
$8.92 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.88 | $9.77 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.22 | $10.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.94 | $11.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.20
Garden State Parkway
(20 mi)
$1.20
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.4 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 | 8.1 | 0 | $2.82 | $1.29 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Afternoon in Passaic on Sunday
Local time
4:21 PM
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
15 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
41m 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?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 74% of the drive utilizing major roads. You'll experience a solid 20-mile stretch on the Garden State Parkway, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. As you transition to local roads like Lincoln Highway and Bloomfield Avenue, the character will shift towards more urban driving. Expect more traffic signals and varied speed limits during these latter stages. The overall feel is one of efficient transit between two points, rather than a leisurely scenic tour.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Lincoln Highway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23 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 Metuchen, NJ and Passaic, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North, Montclair and Nutley.
Gsp Toll North
2.7 mi in
|
~5m
Montclair
23 mi in
|
~34m
Nutley
23 mi in
|
~34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 41m. Total distance: 26.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.20 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 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 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls 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 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Passaic, NJ
More trips to Passaic, NJ
Explore more options from Metuchen, NJ or browse trips ending in Passaic, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.