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Trip from Paterson, NJ to Jersey City, NJ

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

Drive Time

25m

Distance

19.1 mi

31 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 23m ★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 24m

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

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick transit between Paterson and Jersey City, this 19.1-mile drive is a straightforward, efficient option. You can comfortably complete the trip in about 25 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $3, it is an economical way to navigate the Northeast corridor. Because the distance is so short, there is no need for an overnight stay, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule. The route is entirely contained within New Jersey, providing a practical link between these two urban centers. Relying on major thoroughfares ensures you reach your destination without the hassle of a long-haul journey.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Route 3 9.6 mi 10m
NJ 19 4.2 mi 5m
Tonnelle Avenue 3.2 mi 4m
John F. Kennedy Boulevard 0.6 mi 1m
Ward Street 0.3 mi <1m
Duncan Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Oliver Street 0.2 mi <1m
Ellison Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: State Route 3 — 9.6 mi, about 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Colt Street

216 ft · 17 sec · Colt Street
2

Turn right onto Ellison Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Ellison Street
3

Turn right onto Memorial Drive

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Memorial Drive
Use the right lane.
4

Turn right

267 ft · 9 sec
5

Turn straight onto Ward Street

0.3 mi · 34 sec · Ward Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Continue on NJ 19

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Oliver Street
7

Turn slight left onto NJ 19

4.2 mi · 5 min · NJ 19
Use the slight left lane.
8

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward NJTP Use the right lane.
9

Merge onto NJ 3

9.6 mi · 10 min · State Route 3
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Continue on US 1; US 9

2.5 mi · 3 min · Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9

0.7 mi · 1 min · Tonnelle Avenue
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway Use the straight lane.
12

Turn right onto CR 501

0.6 mi · 1 min · John F. Kennedy Boulevard
13

Turn right onto Duncan Avenue

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Duncan Avenue
14

Turn right onto Olean Avenue

316 ft · 13 sec · Olean Avenue
15

Arrive at destination

Olean Avenue

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 17.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Ellison Street

Turn right onto Ellison Street

Navigation decision point

6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Memorial Drive

Turn right onto Memorial Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
5.1 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the ramp toward NJTP

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward NJTP
5
5.4 mi into trip | ~7m in | NJ 3 / State Route 3

Merge onto NJ 3 / State Route 3

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
8
17.5 mi into trip | ~21m in | US 1; US 9 / Tonnelle Avenue

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9 / Tonnelle Avenue toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hob...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.17 one way

$6.33 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $3.47 $6.94
premium $4.93 $3.70 $7.41
diesel $5.61 $4.22 $8.43

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.7 0 $2.01 $0.92
Efficient EV 4.8 0 $1.67 $0.76
EV Truck/SUV 7.6 0 $2.67 $1.22

Gas CO2

7 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (71% 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 19, 2026

Origin

Paterson, NJ

Afternoon in Paterson on Sunday

Local time

12:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Rain Showers Likely

SE 3 mph 70% chance Live forecast

Freeze Watch

Freeze Watch issued April 19 at 2:19AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY

Freeze Watch

Freeze Watch issued April 19 at 1:11AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Destination

Jersey City, NJ

Afternoon in Jersey City on Sunday

Local time

12:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Rain Showers Likely

SE 6 mph 58% chance Live forecast

Freeze Watch

Freeze Watch issued April 19 at 2:19AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY

Freeze Watch

Freeze Watch issued April 19 at 1:11AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM 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

1 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

25m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 72% of this route is dedicated to fast-moving transit. You will spend a significant portion of your time on State Route 3, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 9.6 miles. The journey begins with a transition from NJ 19 before merging onto these primary arteries. As you approach Jersey City, the road transitions into Tonnelle Avenue, shifting the feel from high-speed highway travel to a more localized urban traffic flow. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive designed for speed and directness rather than scenic wandering.

72% 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: 9.6 mi on State Route 3.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 3 and NJ 19. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Ellison Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 19.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 25m.

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 5.1 miles: 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.

Between Paterson, NJ and Jersey City, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp and Pulaski Skyway.

Njtp

5.1 mi in | ~7m

Pulaski Skyway

17.5 mi in | ~21m | via US 1; US 9

About the Cities

Arriving in Jersey City, NJ

Full guide →

Jersey City is New Jersey's second-largest city. Jersey City sits in Hudson County in the northeastern section of the state, across the Hudson from its older and bigger cousin, New York City, and south of Hoboken. It is frequently referred to as New York’s “sixth borough”. Until the early 1600s, the area was inhabited by Lenape Indians. The Dutch then settled here as a part of the colony of New Amsterdam. It evolved into an industrial powerhouse, with railroads winding up and down the city (some of these lines are still used today). Although Jersey City declined in the 1960s, an upswing began in the 1980s, and the city was transformed into what it is today.

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 25m. Total distance: 19.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

25m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 9.6 miles on State Route 3. 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 Jersey City, 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: near the start (Ellison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Memorial Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison 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 Jersey City, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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