Origin
Metuchen, NJ
Late night in Metuchen on Sunday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Metuchen, NJ to Paterson, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
44m
Distance
29.8 mi
48 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Metuchen, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Metuchen to Paterson is 29.8 miles and takes about 44 minutes via Garden State Parkway and NJ 19, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within the Northeast region and the state of New Jersey, offering a straightforward journey. Given its short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare. It's a practical drive for those looking to cover ground efficiently between these two New Jersey locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 23.6 mi | 32m |
| NJ 19 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Lincoln Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Middlesex Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Grand Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Colt Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 23.6 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metuchen, NJ and Paterson, 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
24 mi
·
32 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 155A
Toward NJ 19: Paterson
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Merge onto NJ 19
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 19
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
313 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Grand Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
13
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft
·
3 sec
·
Colt Street
14
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 29.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
7
26.7 mi into trip
|
~39m 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
29.1 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
29.2 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
CR 638 / Grand Street
Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
29.4 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
CR 509 / Main Street
Turn left onto CR 509 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.94 one way
$9.88 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.41 | $10.82 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.78 | $11.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.58 | $13.16 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.42
Garden State Parkway
(23.6 mi)
$1.42
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.13 | $1.43 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.61 | $1.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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 Sunday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 2 mph
0% chance
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
10 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
44m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 85% of the journey taking place on faster roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 23.6 miles on the Garden State Parkway, which sets the tone for the majority of your travel. The route transitions to NJ 19 and Lincoln Highway as you approach your destination, offering a slight change in scenery from the high-speed parkway. Expect a consistent driving pace for most of the trip, with minimal time spent on slower, local roads.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.6 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 NJ 19. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near GSP / Garden State Parkway.
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 29.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 44m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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 Metuchen, NJ to Paterson, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll North along the way.
Gsp Toll North
2.7 mi in
|
~5m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 44m. Total distance: 29.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.6 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.42 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 3.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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.
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