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Trip from Paterson, NJ to Lakehurst, NJ

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 43m

Distance

69.3 mi

112 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 36m ★
6 AM
1h 43m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 47m
3 PM
1h 49m
5 PM
1h 58m
8 PM
1h 39m

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

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

Paterson, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Lakehurst, NJ, NJ

Lakehurst, NJ

Malcolm Garret

Trip Overview

The drive from Paterson, NJ to Lakehurst, NJ covers 69.3 miles and takes about 1h 43m 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 Highway 9, North Hope Chapel Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.58 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.

Midpoint

34.7 miles from Paterson, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Garden State Parkway 25 mi 34m
US Highway 9 24.1 mi 35m
North Hope Chapel Road 7.9 mi 13m
Garden State Parkway Southbound 6.2 mi 8m
Kent Road 2 mi 4m
NJ 19 2 mi 2m
Ward Street 0.3 mi <1m
Oliver Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 25 mi, about 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Paterson, NJ and Lakehurst, 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

2.0 mi · 2 min · NJ 19
Use the slight left lane.
8

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward GSP South Use the slight left lane.
9

Merge onto GSP

24 mi · 33 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10

Continue on Garden State Parkway

6.2 mi · 8 min · Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Garden State Parkway
12

Keep slight right at fork onto GSP

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 46 sec
Exit 123 Toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge Use the slight right lane.
14

Merge onto US 9

24 mi · 35 min · US Highway 9
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Turn slight right onto Kent Road

2.0 mi · 4 min · Kent Road
16

Turn right onto CR 526

0.2 mi · 25 sec · County Line Road
17

Turn left onto CR 639

7.9 mi · 13 min · North Hope Chapel Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Continue on CR 547

0.1 mi · 9 sec · Lakehurst Whitesville Road
19

Continue on CR 547

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Ridgeway Road
20

Turn left onto NJ 70

186 ft · 12 sec · NJ 70
21

Arrive at destination

NJ 70

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 34.7 miles from Paterson, NJ, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25 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 15 miles or 21m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 34.7 miles or 48m 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 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakehurst, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Paterson, NJ

This is one driving day of about 69.3 miles and 1h 43m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Paterson, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 25 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

most populous city in the United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

New York City, NY

35 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

New York City, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New York City, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 34.7 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · early in the drive

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Union, New Jersey

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch · 29min in 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+19083966401

Visit website

Oasis Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cranford, New Jersey

1.5 mi

Piramida Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Manalapan Township, New Jersey

1.3 mi

Best coffee break · first break window

Eagle Rock Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Montclair, New Jersey

Near the start, short detour

First break · 7min in 2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7:30 am–5:30 pm

+19733586543

Visit website

Juany's Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fair Lawn, New Jersey

2.3 mi

Bite Food & Coffee Co

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Fair Lawn, New Jersey

2.9 mi

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately

Union, New Jersey

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+19083966401

Visit website

Oasis Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $30 to $50

Cranford, New Jersey

Hours: 12–9:30 pm

+19089676161

Visit website

Piramida Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $100 or ab

Manalapan Township, New Jersey

Hours: 1–10 pm

+17328515000

Visit website

Vincent’s Italian Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $30 to $50

Freehold, New Jersey

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+17324146078

Visit website

Giorgio's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately

South Orange Village, New Jersey

Hours: 12–3 pm

+19737624440

Visit website

Restaurant Lorena's

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $50 to $10

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

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

First break 2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

Montclair, New Jersey

Hours: 7:30 am–5:30 pm

+19733586543

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

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

Honey Day Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour $20 to $30

Glen Rock, New Jersey

Hours: 8:30 am–3 pm

+12013893535

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Howell Township, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Freehold, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Freehold, New Jersey

+18668167584

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Belleville, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Freehold, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Loop Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Freehold, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18883856671

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Bloomfield, NJ

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Clark, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Fords Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Woodbridge, New Jersey

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+17327453900

Visit website

Nomahegan Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Cranford, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+19085274900

Visit website

Cornucopia Cruise Lines

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Perth Amboy, New Jersey

+17326979500

Visit website

Conference House Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Staten Island, New York

+17189846046

Visit website

Echo Lake Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Mountainside, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

Military Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Newark, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+19739005800

Visit website

West Hudson Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

First break 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Harrison, NJ

Hours: Open 24 hours

+12012175482

Visit website

Mindowaskin Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

Early stretch 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Westfield, New Jersey

Hours: 5 am–9 pm

+19082330028

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 61.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

Turn right onto Memorial Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
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
6
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.
8
34.5 mi into trip | ~47m in

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 123 Toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge
6
61.2 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in | CR 639 / North Hope Chapel Road

Turn left onto CR 639 / North Hope Chapel Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.58 one way

$23.16 round trip

$4.24/gal 25.4 MPG avg 24 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.67 $12.74 $25.49
premium $5.01 $13.67 $27.35
diesel $5.60 $15.28 $30.55

Estimated Tolls: $1.87

Garden State Parkway (31.2 mi) $1.87

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

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 20.8 0 $7.28 $3.33
Efficient EV 17.3 0 $6.06 $2.77
EV Truck/SUV 27.7 0 $9.70 $4.44

Gas CO2

24 kg

EV CO2

8 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 Aug 28, 2026

Origin

Paterson, NJ

Late night in Paterson on Saturday

Local time

3:18 AM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

NW 3 mph 26% chance Live forecast

Destination

Lakehurst, NJ

Late night in Lakehurst on Saturday

Local time

3:18 AM

EDT

Current temp

83°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

0 mph 55% chance 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

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

1h 43m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

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...

0 mi from route ~1 min detour Free
Caution: Overlook Park Parking Lot - Vehicles Must Be Parked in a Designated Spot
View on nps.gov
Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

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...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 near mile 12
View on nps.gov
Morristown National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park

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...

15 mi from route ~37 min detour Free near mile 19.1
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area

Gateway National Recreation Area

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...

20 mi from route ~49 min detour Free near mile 14.3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

69.3 mi in 1h 43m, mostly highway — 25 mi of that is on Garden State Parkway.

83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25 mi on Garden State Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

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 around 0.2 miles in near Memorial Drive.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 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; at 34.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

175 ft 65 ft

Total Climb

228 ft

Total Descent

247 ft

Highest Point

175 ft

~5 mi in

Elevation Range

110 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Paterson, NJ

Full guide →

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

  • • Great Falls — waterfalls on the Passaic River
  • • Passaic County Court House — courthouse in Paterson, New Jersey
  • • Lambert Castle — historic building in Paterson, New Jersey

Arriving in Lakehurst, NJ

Full guide →

Founded 1921

Lakehurst, completely surrounded by Manchester Township, is in Ocean County, New Jersey.

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 43m. Total distance: 69.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 25 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.87 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 Lakehurst, 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 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; at 34.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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

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