Origin
Passaic, NJ
Night in Passaic on Tuesday
Local time
11:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Passaic, NJ to Pennington, NJ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 9, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
62.1 mi
100 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Passaic, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Pennington, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Passaic, NJ to Pennington, NJ covers 62.1 miles and takes about 1h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 1, New Jersey Turnpike, NJ 21 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.6 miles on US 1. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.38 one way before food or hotel costs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 21.6 mi | 30m |
| New Jersey Turnpike | 17.3 mi | 20m |
| NJ 21 | 11.2 mi | 16m |
| I 295 | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Pennington Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| NJ 81 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| State Route 18 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 21.6 mi, about 30m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,603 veh/hr typical · worst 4,207
Quietest
2 AM
~77 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
46.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 98 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 Pennington, 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
11 mi
·
16 min
·
NJ 21
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto US 1; US 9
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
US 1; US 9
7
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on NJ 81
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
315 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
12
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
17 mi
·
20 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 9
Toward NJ 18 East, US 1 East: New Brunswick
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
323 ft
·
7 sec
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University
16
Merge onto NJ 18; CR 527
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
State Route 18
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 1 South: Princeton, Trenton
18
Merge onto US 1
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on US 1
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
276 ft
·
4 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
387 ft
·
6 sec
·
US 1
22
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 1
23
Continue on US 1
14 mi
·
19 min
·
US 1
Use the straight lane.
24
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 295 North: Philadelphia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto I 295
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 72
Toward NJ 31: Ewing, Pennington
Use the slight right lane.
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward NJ 31 North: Pennington
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Merge onto NJ 31
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennington Road
Use the right lane.
29
Enter roundabout onto CR 640
470 ft
·
8 sec
·
Pennington Road
30
Continue on CR 640
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennington Road
31
Continue on CR 640
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
32
Turn right onto East Delaware Avenue
165 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Delaware Avenue
33
Turn left
124 ft
·
9 sec
34
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31 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 265 decision points cluster between mile 14.9 and 59.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
14.9 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
8
32.7 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward NJ 18 East, US 1 East: New Brunswick
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 9
Toward NJ 18 East, US 1 East: New Brunswick
8
33.4 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers Univ...
8
59.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward NJ 31: Ewing, Pennington
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 72
Toward NJ 31: Ewing, Pennington
8
59.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 31 North: Pennington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward NJ 31 North: Pennington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.38 one way
$20.75 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $11.42 | $22.84 |
| premium | $5.01 | $12.25 | $24.51 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $13.69 | $27.38 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.42
New Jersey Turnpike
(17.3 mi)
$2.42
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$2
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.52 | $2.98 |
| Efficient EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.69 | $3.97 |
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.
Destination
Pennington, NJ
Night in Pennington on Tuesday
Local time
11:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°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
1 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
1h 29m 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?
62.1 mi in 1h 29m, mostly highway — 21.6 mi of that is on US 1.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.6 mi on US 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and New Jersey Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.1 miles you will encounter 26 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 14.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
209 ft
9 ft
Total Climb
395 ft
Total Descent
297 ft
Highest Point
209 ft
~62.1 mi in
Elevation Range
200 ft
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.
Between Passaic, NJ and Pennington, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp South: Trenton, Rutgers University and Trenton.
Njtp South: Trenton
14.9 mi in
|
~23m
Rutgers University
33.4 mi in
|
~45m
Trenton
34.1 mi in
|
~47m
About the Cities
Starting in Passaic, NJ
Full guide →Founded 1679
Passaic is a city in New Jersey.
Top landmarks
- • People's Bank and Trust Company Building — historic building in Passaic City, New Jersey
Arriving in Pennington, NJ
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 62.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.6 miles on US 1. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.42 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. 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 Pennington, 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 14.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area (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 Pennington, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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