Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge
Early in the drive, right off the route
Union, New Jersey
Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm
+19083966401
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
66.9 mi
108 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
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.
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Groveville, NJ
Alexa V. Mato
This 66.9-mile drive from Paterson, NJ to Groveville, NJ is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 32 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 89% of the journey on major roads like the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway Southbound. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, this is an economical option for a quick journey within the Northeast region. The straightforward nature of this drive makes it ideal for those looking for efficiency and a direct path between these two New Jersey locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.5 miles from Paterson, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 29.4 mi | 33m |
| Garden State Parkway | 23.8 mi | 33m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| NJ 19 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Robbinsville Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Central Jersey Expressway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| NJ 156 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Church Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,255 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~153 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Paterson, NJ and Groveville, NJ.
Start on Colt Street
Turn right onto Ellison Street
Turn right onto Memorial Drive
Turn right
Turn straight onto Ward Street
Continue on NJ 19
Turn slight left onto NJ 19
Take the exit
Merge onto GSP
Continue on Garden State Parkway
Take the exit onto Exit 129
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 195
Take the exit
Merge onto US 130
Take the exit
Continue on NJ 156
Turn left onto CR 609
At end of road, turn left onto Main Street
Arrive at destination
Given its short duration of just over 1.5 hours, this route offers significant flexibility for departure times. Consider an early start to avoid potential traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike, a section where you'll spend your longest uninterrupted stretch. With no designated stops mentioned, you'll have the freedom to pull over as needed for breaks, though planning for fuel is always wise as the estimated cost is $11. Keep an eye on your GPS for the transition between the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway Southbound to ensure you're on the most efficient path.
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.
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 15 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.5 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Groveville, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Paterson, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Paterson, NJ
This is one driving day of about 66.9 miles and 1h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 33.5 miles from Paterson, 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.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop · early in the drive
Union, New Jersey
Early in the drive, right off the route
Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm
+19083966401
Oasis Restaurant
Cranford, New Jersey
The Park Indian Restaurant and Catering
Dayton, New Jersey
Best coffee break
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Near the start, short detour
Hours: 9 am–3 pm
+15512248030
Eagle Rock Cafe
Montclair, New Jersey
Bite Food & Coffee Co
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Early in the drive, right off the route
Union, New Jersey
Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm
+19083966401
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Cranford, New Jersey
Hours: 12–9:30 pm
+19089676161
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Dayton, New Jersey
Hours: 12–3 pm
+17323331199
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
South Orange Village, New Jersey
Hours: 12–3 pm
+19737624440
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Totowa, New Jersey
Hours: 11:30 am–3 pm
+19735955595
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Maplewood, New Jersey
Hours: 11 am–11 pm
+19737634460
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Hours: 4–9 pm
+12017970500
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Linden, New Jersey
Hours: 12 pm–12 am
+19089254166
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Hours: 9 am–3 pm
+15512248030
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Montclair, New Jersey
Hours: 7:30 am–5:30 pm
+19733586543
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Hours: 9 am–8 pm
+15512248072
Visit websiteNear the start, ~10 min detour
Glen Rock, New Jersey
Hours: 8:30 am–3 pm
+12013893535
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Cranbury, NJ
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Robbinsville Twp, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Belleville, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Clark, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18774943833
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Hamilton Township, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Union, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Edison, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Bloomfield, NJ
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Woodbridge, New Jersey
Hours: 6 am–6 pm
+17327453900
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Cranford, New Jersey
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+19085274900
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Newark, New Jersey
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+19739005800
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Westfield, New Jersey
Hours: 5 am–9 pm
+19082330028
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Newark, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+19732683500
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, ~9 min detour
Mountainside, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
Near the start, ~9 min detour
Harrison, NJ
Hours: Open 24 hours
+12012175482
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Perth Amboy, New Jersey
+17326979500
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 29.4 and 63.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit onto Exit 129 toward I 95, NJTP, US 9, NJ 440, I 287: New York City, Philadelphia, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left 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
Take the exit toward I 195: Trenton, Shore Points
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 130 South: Bordentown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$11.83 one way
$23.66 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $12.96 | $25.92 |
| premium | $5.24 | $13.81 | $27.62 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $14.09 | $28.18 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.68
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
$12
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.02 | $3.21 |
| Efficient EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.85 | $2.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.8 | 0 | $9.37 | $4.28 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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 Paterson on Wednesday
Local time
6:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Evening in Groveville on Wednesday
Local time
6:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Historical Park
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
National Historical Park
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
National Historical Park
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
National Recreation Area
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 66.9-mile route. You'll spend the majority of your time on major arteries, with an 89% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 29.4 miles along the New Jersey Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. This drive is characterized by its focus on efficient travel rather than scenic detours, allowing you to cover ground quickly on well-maintained roadways.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29.4 miles in near Exit 129.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.9 miles you will encounter 21 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 29.4 miles (Exit 129): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
264 ft
Total Descent
288 ft
Highest Point
166 ft
~4.8 mi in
Elevation Range
138 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Paterson, NJ and Groveville, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp, Philadelphia, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy, Njtp: New York City and Njtp South: Trenton - among others.
Njtp
Philadelphia
Woodbridge
Perth Amboy
Njtp: New York City
Njtp South: Trenton
Shore Points
Trenton
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Around the midpoint, short detour
New Brunswick, NJ
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteFast_food
Around the midpoint, short detour
Edison, NJ
Cuisine: donut;coffee_shop
Hours: 05:00-21:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Around the midpoint, short detour
Edison, NJ
Visit websiteFast_food
Around the midpoint, short detour
Edison, NJ
Cuisine: donut;coffee_shop
Hours: 05:00-22:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Around the midpoint, short detour
Edison, NJ
Fast_food
Early in the drive, short detour
Union, NJ
Cuisine: donut;coffee_shop
Hours: 05:00-20:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Staten Island
Cuisine: italian
Visit websitePark
Early in the drive, right off the route
Park
Early in the drive, right off the route
Park
Early in the drive, right off the route
Park
Near the start, right off the route
Park
Near the start, right off the route
Park
Near the start, right off the route
Place_of_worship
Near the start, short detour
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Founded 1792
For the township in the Hunter region of New South Wales, see Paterson (New South Wales). Paterson is New Jersey's third largest city (about 155,000 inhabitants as of 2022), and hosts a great attraction: the Great Falls, which are very extensive and second only to Niagara Falls in terms of volume of water in waterfalls east of the Mississippi. Paterson is 12 miles away from Manhattan. It is an ethnically diverse city that houses large Hispanic, Arab, Italian-American, African American and Bengali communities. South Paterson is home to one of the nation's largest Arab communities.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 66.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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