Trip from Paterson, NJ to Absecon, NJ

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 32m

Distance

120.4 mi

194 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

20 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min

4 AM

2h 22m ★

6 AM

2h 33m

8 AM

2h 53m

10 AM

2h 40m

12 PM

2h 38m

3 PM

2h 41m

5 PM

2h 52m

8 PM

2h 26m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city in and the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States

Paterson, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Absecon, NJ

Garrison Gao

Trip Overview

The drive from Paterson, NJ to Absecon, NJ covers 120.4 miles and takes about 2h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Garden State Parkway, US 9, Garden State Parkway Southbound for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 101.2 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.96 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

60.2 miles from Paterson, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Garden State Parkway	101.2 mi	2h 3m
US 9	9.6 mi	15m
Garden State Parkway Southbound	6.2 mi	8m
NJ 19	2 mi	2m
Ward Street	0.3 mi	<1m
Oliver Street	0.2 mi	<1m
Ellison Street	0.2 mi	<1m
Memorial Drive	0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 101.2 mi, about 2h 3m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Paterson, NJ and Absecon, NJ.

Start on Colt Street

216 ft · 17 sec · Colt Street

Turn right onto Ellison Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Ellison Street

Turn right onto Memorial Drive

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Memorial Drive

Use the right lane.

Turn right

267 ft · 9 sec

Turn straight onto Ward Street

0.3 mi · 34 sec · Ward Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on NJ 19

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Oliver Street

Turn slight left onto NJ 19

2.0 mi · 2 min · NJ 19

Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward GSP South Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto GSP

24 mi · 33 min · Garden State Parkway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Continue on Garden State Parkway

6.2 mi · 8 min · Garden State Parkway Southbound

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Garden State Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto GSP

77 mi · 1 hr 29 min · Garden State Parkway

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 9

9.6 mi · 15 min · US 9

Exit 48 Toward US 9 South: Port Republic, Smithville Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto East Faunce Landing Road

71 ft · 3 sec · East Faunce Landing Road

Arrive at destination

East Faunce Landing Road

Trip Plan

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 60.2 miles from Paterson, NJ, or about 1h 17m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.2 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 26 miles or 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 60.2 miles or 1h 17m 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 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Absecon, NJ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Paterson, 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 Paterson, NJ

This is one driving day of about 120.4 miles and 2h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Paterson, NJ.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fair Lawn, New Jersey

2.3 mi

Princess Maria's 2 Pizza & Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Brick Township, New Jersey

2.2 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Eagle Rock Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Montclair, New Jersey

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 8.6

Hours: 7:30 am–5:30 pm

+19733586543

Visit website

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately mile 17.2

Union, New Jersey

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+19083966401

Visit website

Juany's Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Fair Lawn, New Jersey

Hours: 9 am–3 pm

+15512248030

Visit website

Princess Maria's 2 Pizza & Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 68.8

Brick Township, New Jersey

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+17327146471

Visit website

Restaurant Lorena's

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $50 to $10 mile 17.2

Maplewood, New Jersey

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19737634460

Visit website

Fusion 27 restaurant and catering services

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour Moderately

Totowa, New Jersey

Hours: 11:30 am–3 pm

+19735955595

Visit website

Bite Food & Coffee Co

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour Moderately

Fair Lawn, New Jersey

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+15512248072

Visit website

Valenca Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $20 to $30 mile 17.2

Elizabeth, New Jersey

Hours: 10:30 am–12 pm

+19083544024

Visit website

Sage Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour Moderately

Fair Lawn, New Jersey

Hours: 4–9 pm

+12017970500

Visit website

Eagle Rock Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 8.6

Montclair, New Jersey

Hours: 7:30 am–5:30 pm

+19733586543

Visit website

agnello's cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 94.6

Manahawkin, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+16095495775

Visit website

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 120.4

Galloway, NJ

Cornucopia Cruise Lines

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 34.4

Perth Amboy, New Jersey

+17326979500

Visit website

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 34.4

Staten Island, New York

+17182278300

Visit website

West Hudson Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 8.6

Harrison, NJ

Hours: Open 24 hours

+12012175482

Visit website

Mindowaskin Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 25.8

Westfield, New Jersey

Hours: 5 am–9 pm

+19082330028

Visit website

Briant Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 17.2

Springfield, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19085274900

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 110.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Ellison Street

Turn right onto Ellison Street

Navigation decision point

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Memorial Drive

Turn right onto Memorial Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

2.8 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the exit toward GSP South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward GSP South

34.1 mi into trip | ~47m in | GSP / Garden State Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

110.8 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in | US 9

Take the exit onto US 9 toward US 9 South: Port Republic, Smithville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / right lanes. Exit 48 Toward US 9 South: Port Republic, Smithville

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.96 one way

$39.92 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$21.86	$43.72
premium	$4.93	$23.35	$46.70
diesel	$5.61	$26.58	$53.17

Estimated Tolls: $6.44

Garden State Parkway (107.4 mi) $6.44

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

$20

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

20 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Dunkin' Donuts - Tesla Supercharger

Paramus, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Starbucks - Tesla Supercharger

Saddle Brook, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Lodi, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Audi - Jack Daniels Motors

Paramus, NJ

Blink Network

6 DCFC

Westfield Garden State Plaza (Paramus, NJ)

Paramus, NJ

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Target T1822 (Clifton, NJ)

Clifton, NJ

Electrify America

6 DCFC

UBP Valley Ridge (Wayne, NJ)

Wayne, NJ

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Wayne Ford

Wayne, NJ

FORD_CHARGE

4 DCFC

Electrify America: 4 Tesla: 3 ChargePoint Network: 3 CHARGESMART_EV: 2 APPLEGREEN: 2 Blink Network: 1 FORD_CHARGE: 1 EV Connect: 1 BP_PULSE: 1 EVIUM: 1 eVgo Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	36.1	$12.64	$5.78
Efficient EV	30.1	$10.54	$4.82
EV Truck/SUV	48.2	$16.86	$7.71

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Paterson, NJ

Morning in Paterson on Sunday

Local time

6:11 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Absecon, NJ

Morning in Absecon on Sunday

Local time

6:11 AM

EDT

Current temp

46°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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 32m 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?

120.4 mi in 2h 32m, mostly highway — 101.2 mi of that is on Garden State Parkway.

99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 101.2 mi on Garden State Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US 9. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Ellison Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 120.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 (Ellison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Memorial Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Paterson, NJ to Absecon, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Smithville along the way.

Smithville

110.8 mi in | ~2h 16m | via US 9

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 120.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 101.2 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $6.44 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 Absecon, 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Absecon, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

Absecon, NJ to Paterson, NJ

Plan the drive back the other way.

122 mi 2h 31m

Explore more options from Paterson, NJ or browse trips ending in Absecon, NJ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.

Trip from Paterson, NJ to Absecon, NJ

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge

Eagle Rock Cafe

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge

Juany's Cafe

Princess Maria's 2 Pizza & Restaurant

Restaurant Lorena's

Fusion 27 restaurant and catering services

Bite Food & Coffee Co

Valenca Restaurant

Sage Restaurant

Eagle Rock Cafe

agnello's cafe

Tesla Supercharger

Applegreen Electric Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

EVgo Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Whitney Houston Service Area

Rest Area

Judy Blume Service Area

Celia Cruz Service Area

Connie Chung Service Area

Jon Bon Jovi Service Area

Rest Area

Larry Doby Service Area

Rest Area

Valley Settlement House

Rest Area

Rest Area

American star inn and suites hotel galloway

Cornucopia Cruise Lines

Conference House Park

Nomahegan Park

Fords Park

Kids 'N Shape - Staten Island

West Hudson Park

Mindowaskin Park

Briant Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Paterson, NJ

Absecon, NJ

Same local time

15 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 32m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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