Origin
Parsippany, NJ
Afternoon in Parsippany on Sunday
Local time
2:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Parsippany, 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
21m
Distance
16.9 mi
27 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Parsippany, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Parsippany, NJ to Paterson, NJ is 16.9 miles and takes about 21 minutes via Christopher Columbus Highway and Interstate 80 East, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. With a short duration and minimal highway share, it's ideal for a quick transit or an easy addition to a larger itinerary. Expect a local feel for much of the journey, making it a very manageable drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 12.1 mi | 13m |
| Interstate 80 East | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Parsippany Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Littleton Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Smith Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Grand Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| NJ 19 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Christopher Columbus Highway
— 12.1 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Parsippany, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on this road
204 ft
·
15 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto CR 511
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Parsippany Road
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn right onto CR 630
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Littleton Road
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto Smith Road
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Smith Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 80 East
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on I 80E
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate 80 East
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 80 East: Paterson, New York City
8
Merge onto I 80
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 57B
Toward NJ 19: Downtown, Paterson
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto NJ 19
474 ft
·
5 sec
·
NJ 19
11
Take the exit
313 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Grand Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
16
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft
·
3 sec
·
Colt Street
17
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 16.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 511 / Parsippany Road
At end of road, turn right onto CR 511 / Parsippany Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 East
8
15.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward NJ 19: Downtown, Paterson
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 57B
Toward NJ 19: Downtown, Paterson
8
16.2 mi into trip
|
~19m 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
16.4 mi into trip
|
~19m 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
$2.80 one way
$5.60 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.07 | $6.14 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.28 | $6.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.73 | $7.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.77 | $0.81 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.48 | $0.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.37 | $1.08 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Paterson, NJ
Afternoon in Paterson on Sunday
Local time
2:06 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
18 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
21m 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 characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 12% of the journey on highways. While there's a 12.1-mile stretch on the Christopher Columbus Highway, much of your time will be spent navigating local roads. The profile suggests a driving experience that requires frequent attention to turns and traffic signals rather than sustained high-speed cruising. You'll likely experience a mix of urban and suburban driving conditions throughout the 16.9-mile trip.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.1 mi on Christopher Columbus Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 511 / Parsippany Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 16.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 511 / Parsippany Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.8 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.
On the drive from Parsippany, NJ to Paterson, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward New York City along the way.
New York City
3.5 mi in
|
~5m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 16.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m 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 12.1 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 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: near the start (CR 511 / Parsippany Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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