Passaic, NJ to Frenchtown, NJ is 63.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 24 minutes via Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New Jersey, moving you from the Northeast region to another part of the same region. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. Plan for a relatively quick journey with minimal complexity, suitable for a day trip or an easy leg of a larger adventure.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
39.1 mi
45m
NJ 21
7.8 mi
8m
Everittstown Road
6.5 mi
11m
Pittstown Road
4.2 mi
7m
Irvine Turner Boulevard
1.4 mi
3m
University Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Everittstown Hill Road
0.8 mi
1m
Springfield Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
— 39.1 mi, about 45m
Traffic on I-78
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 58 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,557 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,123
Quietest
2 AM
~404 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Passaic, NJ and Frenchtown, NJ.
1
Start on Passaic Avenue
95 ft·9 sec·Passaic Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 618
0.4 mi·41 sec·Paulison Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 601
508 ft·8 sec·Main Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward NJ 21 South
5
Merge onto NJ 21
7.8 mi·8 min·NJ 21
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn right onto CR 506 Spur
0.1 mi·20 sec·Clay Street
7
Turn left onto Broad Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Broad Street
Use the left lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto University Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·University Avenue
9
Turn right onto Market Street
135 ft·3 sec·Market Street
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto CR 510; CR 603
0.6 mi·1 min·Springfield Avenue
11
Turn left onto Irvine Turner Boulevard
1.4 mi·3 min·Irvine Turner Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the ramp
474 ft·11 sec
Toward I 78
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 78
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·25 sec
Toward I 78 West: ClintonUse the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 78
0.7 mi·46 sec·Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·24 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 78
5.5 mi·6 min·Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
0.2 mi·11 sec·I 78
Toward I 78 West: ClintonUse the slight left lane.
19
Merge onto I 78
33 mi·38 min·Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 15Toward NJ 173 East: Clinton, PittstownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
150 ft·6 sec
Toward PittstownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn left onto NJ 173; CR 513
4.2 mi·7 min·Pittstown Road
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto CR 513
6.5 mi·11 min·Everittstown Road
24
Continue on CR 513
0.8 mi·1 min·Everittstown Hill Road
25
Continue on CR 513
0.2 mi·25 sec·Race Street
26
Turn left onto South Harrison Street
71 ft·3 sec·South Harrison Street
27
Arrive at destination
South Harrison Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 31.9 miles from Passaic, 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.6 and 52 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
8.6 mi into trip|~10m in|Broad Street
Turn left onto Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
12 mi into trip|~17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 78 West: Clinton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 78 West: Clinton
7
18.8 mi into trip|~25m in|I 78
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78 toward I 78 West: Clinton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 78 West: Clinton
8
51.9 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward NJ 173 East: Clinton, Pittstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 15
Toward NJ 173 East: Clinton, Pittstown
8
52 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Pittstown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Pittstown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.16 one way
$20.31 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$11.24
$22.48
premium
$4.81
$12.06
$24.12
diesel
$4.80
$12.03
$24.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.1
0
$6.69
$3.06
Efficient EV
15.9
0
$5.57
$2.55
EV Truck/SUV
25.5
0
$8.92
$4.08
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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 Jul 3, 2026
Origin
Passaic, NJ
Morning
in Passaic on Sunday
Local time
11:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Clear
W 5 to 8 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 2 at 3:40PM EDT until July 4 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 2 at 1:30PM EDT until July 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Frenchtown, NJ
Morning
in Frenchtown on Sunday
Local time
11:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Clear
W 0 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 2 at 3:40PM EDT until July 4 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 2 at 1:30PM EDT until July 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 24m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is decidedly highway-focused, with 74% of it on high-speed roads. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of 39.1 miles on the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. While the main roads include NJ 21 and Everittstown Road, the overall character leans heavily towards efficient highway travel rather than winding country lanes. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes getting you from point A to point B smoothly and directly.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.1 mi on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and NJ 21. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.6 miles in near Broad Street.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.7 miles you will encounter 22 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 8.6 miles (Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.8 miles (I 78): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
426 ft9 ft
Total Climb
850 ft
Total Descent
831 ft
Highest Point
426 ft
~22.8 mi in
Elevation Range
417 ft
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 Passaic, NJ to Frenchtown, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Pittstown along the way.
Frenchtown is a Borough in Hunterdon County. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,373. Various names have been applied to this settlement after the many ferry operators residing on both sides of the river. The community had variously been known as Alexandriaville, Sunbeam and Frenchtown over the years.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 63.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m 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 39.1 miles on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Frenchtown, 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 8.6 miles (Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.8 miles (I 78): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Frenchtown, NJ before heading back.
