Traveling from Northfield to Paterson is a straightforward 125.2-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 36 minutes. Because this trip is comfortably manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Budgeting around $21 for fuel will cover your gas needs for the drive. You will primarily utilize the Garden State Parkway to navigate through the Northeast region of New Jersey. Whether you are traveling for business or a personal visit, this highway-focused route is designed for efficiency rather than leisure. It serves as a reliable link between the southern and northern parts of the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.6 miles from Northfield, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
119 mi
2h 25m
Tilton Road
1.7 mi
3m
NJ 19
1.7 mi
1m
Fire Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Black Horse Pike
0.2 mi
<1m
Grand Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Zion Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 119 mi, about 2h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Northfield, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on CR 615
0.1 mi·25 sec·Zion Road
2
Turn right onto CR 563
1.7 mi·3 min·Tilton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto CR 651
0.4 mi·54 sec·Fire Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto US 40; US 322
0.2 mi·19 sec·Black Horse Pike
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
6
Merge onto GSP
17 mi·19 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
50 mi·58 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
9
Continue on GSP
52 mi·1 hr 7 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 155AToward NJ 19: PatersonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Merge onto NJ 19
1.7 mi·1 min·NJ 19
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
313 ft·7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·23 sec
Toward Grand StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi·27 sec·Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi·29 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft·15 sec·Market Street
17
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft·3 sec·Colt Street
18
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though you should factor in potential traffic density during peak commuting hours. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs, as the 2-hour and 36-minute duration can feel taxing during heavy congestion. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the Garden State Parkway to ensure you don't have to navigate off-route for gas. A smart strategy is to check real-time traffic reports for the Parkway before you leave Northfield, as this long corridor is prone to sudden slowdowns. By staying alert to these highway conditions, you can make the most of your efficient, one-day transit.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.6 miles from Northfield, NJ, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 28 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.6 miles or 1h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paterson, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Northfield, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Northfield, NJ
This is one driving day of about 125.2 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Northfield, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 119 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 124.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 563 / Tilton Road
Turn right onto CR 563 / Tilton Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
19.7 mi into trip|~24m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
122.1 mi into trip|~2h 31m 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
124.5 mi into trip|~2h 34m 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
124.6 mi into trip|~2h 35m in|CR 638 / Grand Street
Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.76 one way
$41.51 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$22.73
$45.47
premium
$4.93
$24.28
$48.56
diesel
$5.61
$27.64
$55.29
Estimated Tolls: $7.14
Garden State Parkway
(119 mi)$7.14
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.6
0
$13.15
$6.01
Efficient EV
31.3
0
$10.96
$5.01
EV Truck/SUV
50.1
0
$17.53
$8.01
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Northfield, NJ
Night
in Northfield on Saturday
Local time
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Paterson, NJ
Night
in Paterson on Saturday
Local time
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
2h 36m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
0 mi from route
~1 min detour
Free
near mile 125.2
Caution: Limited Amphitheater Accessibility
Caution: Overlook Park Parking Lot - Vehicles Must Be Parked in a Designated Spot
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 107.9
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 77.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient transit, as 96% of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend the vast majority of your time—roughly 119 miles—on the Garden State Parkway, which keeps the experience consistent and fast-paced. While the journey begins on local roads like Tilton Road, you will quickly transition into a long, uninterrupted stretch of interstate travel. Upon nearing your destination, you will exit the Parkway and navigate via NJ 19 to reach Paterson. The personality of this drive is strictly utilitarian, prioritizing speed and direct access over varied terrain or technical driving conditions.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 119 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Tilton Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR 563 / Tilton Road.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 125.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR 563 / Tilton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.7 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 122.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 36m. Total distance: 125.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 119 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.14 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR 563 / Tilton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.7 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 122.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
