Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
55.2 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Passaic, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Vista Center, NJ
Dajana Blakcori
This 55.2-mile drive from Passaic, NJ, to Vista Center, NJ, is an easy one-day trip, typically taking about 1 hour and 23 minutes. The route primarily utilizes the Garden State Parkway and US Highway 9, making it a highway-focused experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, this drive is budget-friendly for a single day's excursion. Since both the origin and destination are within the Northeast region of New Jersey, you won't encounter significant regional shifts. This makes it a straightforward and efficient journey for anyone looking to cover this specific stretch within the state.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 21.2 mi | 29m |
| US Highway 9 | 17.6 mi | 26m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Jackson Mills Road | 5 mi | 8m |
| Bloomfield Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Broadway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Eltone Road | 0.8 mi | 3m |
| West Passaic Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Passaic, NJ and Vista Center, NJ.
Start on Passaic Avenue
Turn right onto CR 618
Turn left onto CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Enter roundabout onto CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Turn right onto CR 622
Continue on CR 652
Turn right onto CR 655
Take the ramp
Merge onto GSP
Continue on Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
Take the exit
Merge onto US 9
Turn right onto Jackson Mills Road
Turn right onto Eltone Road
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.6 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 31.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto CR 618 / Paulison Avenue
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward GSP Toll South
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$9.76 one way
$19.52 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $10.69 | $21.38 |
| premium | $5.24 | $11.40 | $22.79 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $11.63 | $23.25 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.64
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
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.80 | $2.65 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.73 | $3.53 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Passaic on Wednesday
Local time
6:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Evening in Vista Center on Wednesday
Local time
6:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear then Patchy Fog
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a highway-dominated drive, with 82% of your journey on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.2 miles along the Garden State Parkway. This profile suggests a route that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently, rather than offering winding scenic detours. While primarily on major arteries, the inclusion of US Highway 9 might introduce some brief periods of local traffic or slightly slower speeds before rejoining the parkway. Overall, the character is that of a practical, high-speed transit corridor.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US Highway 9. 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 618 / Paulison Avenue.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.2 miles you will encounter 16 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: near the start (CR 618 / Paulison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 4 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
285 ft
Total Descent
268 ft
Highest Point
176 ft
~47.3 mi in
Elevation Range
139 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Passaic, NJ to Vista Center, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll South along the way.
Gsp Toll South
Founded 1679
Passaic is a city in New Jersey.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 55.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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