Origin
Mount Arlington, NJ
Afternoon in Mount Arlington on Sunday
Local time
4:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mount Arlington, 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
46m
Distance
35.1 mi
56 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mount Arlington, NJ
Tom Fisk
Passaic, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 35.1-mile drive from Mount Arlington to Passaic, New Jersey, is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take about 46 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via Christopher Columbus Highway and US 46, with a portion on Rt 15 South. With a fuel cost estimated at $6, this route is an economical choice for a quick local excursion. The journey offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, so don't expect long stretches of highway cruising. Since it's a short drive within the Northeast region, it's perfect for a spontaneous outing or an easy add-on to another New Jersey adventure.
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 |
| Howard Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Espanong Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Edison Road | 0.9 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 Mount Arlington, NJ and Passaic, NJ.
1
Start on Mountainview Avenue
36 ft
·
4 sec
·
Mountainview Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 615
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Howard Boulevard
3
Continue on CR 615
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Espanong Road
4
Turn right onto CR 615
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Edison Road
5
Keep slight right at fork onto Edison Road
379 ft
·
7 sec
·
Edison Road
6
Take the ramp
257 ft
·
7 sec
7
Merge onto NJ 15
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Rt 15 South
Use the right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 East: New York
9
Merge onto I 80
19 mi
·
20 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 53
Toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto US 46
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 46
12
Continue on US 46
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
US 46
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
401 ft
·
14 sec
14
At end of road, turn left onto CR 618
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Paulison Avenue
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto Passaic Avenue
95 ft
·
2 sec
·
Passaic Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Passaic Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.5 miles from Mount Arlington, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 32.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 615 / Howard Boulevard
Turn right onto CR 615 / Howard Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m 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
8.3 mi into trip
|
~14m 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
26.9 mi into trip
|
~35m 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
32.9 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
$5.82 one way
$11.64 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.37 | $12.75 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.81 | $13.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.75 | $15.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
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
Afternoon in Passaic on Sunday
Local time
4:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Madison, NJ
18 mi in
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
21 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
46m 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 dynamic driving experience on this route, characterized by frequent turns rather than a steady highway pace. With only 26% of the drive on highways, you'll spend most of your time on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 18.6 miles on the Christopher Columbus Highway, offering a brief period of consistent travel before the route becomes more intricate. This means you'll be actively engaged with the road, making frequent adjustments as you navigate through various local landscapes.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 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 early in the drive near CR 615 / Howard Boulevard.
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 12 decision points packed into just 35.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 615 / Howard Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (NJ 15 / Rt 15 South): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles (I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Mount Arlington, NJ to Passaic, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Clifton along the way.
Clifton
26.9 mi in
|
~35m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 35.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m 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: near the start (CR 615 / Howard Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (NJ 15 / Rt 15 South): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 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, 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 from Mount Arlington, NJ
More trips to Passaic, NJ
Explore more options from Mount Arlington, NJ or browse trips ending in Passaic, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.