Origin
Paterson, NJ
Late night in Paterson on Sunday
Local time
4:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Paterson, NJ to Lebanon, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
46.6 mi
75 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Lebanon, NJ
Nemika F
Trip Overview
Paterson, NJ to Lebanon, NJ is 46.6 miles and takes about 59m via I 287 and US 46, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip ideal for a quick transit or a component of a larger journey. You'll find this route efficient for getting from point A to point B without significant detours or complicated navigation.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 287 | 19.2 mi | 23m |
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| US 46 | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Interstate 80 West | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Union Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Union Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West Broadway | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Cokesbury Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 287
— 19.2 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paterson, NJ and Lebanon, NJ.
1
Start on Colt Street
216 ft
·
17 sec
·
Colt Street
2
Turn right onto Ellison Street
290 ft
·
13 sec
·
Ellison Street
3
Turn left onto Church Street
339 ft
·
20 sec
·
Church Street
4
Turn left onto Van Houten Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Van Houten Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Turn right onto CR 509
287 ft
·
8 sec
·
Main Street
Use the right lane.
6
Turn slight left onto CR 509
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway
7
Turn left onto CR 646
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Union Avenue
8
Continue on CR 646
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Union Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 46
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
US 46
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap
12
Continue on I 80W
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate 80 West
Toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
1.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 43A
Toward I 287 South: Morristown
14
Merge onto I 287
19 mi
·
23 min
·
I 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 21B
Toward I 78 West: Easton, Pennsylvania
Use the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 78
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 20A
Toward Lebanon, Round Valley, Recreation Area
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto CR 639
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Cokesbury Road
19
Turn right onto Main Street
163 ft
·
4 sec
·
Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.3 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 45.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Van Houten Street
Turn left onto Van Houten Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 509 / Main Street
Turn right onto CR 509 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
14.7 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 287 South: Morristown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 43A
Toward I 287 South: Morristown
8
35.8 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward I 78 West: Easton, Pennsylvania
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 21B
Toward I 78 West: Easton, Pennsylvania
8
45.9 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward Lebanon, Round Valley, Recreation Area
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 20A
Toward Lebanon, Round Valley, Recreation Area
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.73 one way
$15.45 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.46 | $16.92 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.04 | $18.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.29 | $20.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14 | 0 | $4.89 | $2.24 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.08 | $1.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.52 | $2.98 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Lebanon, NJ
Late night in Lebanon on Sunday
Local time
4:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Bloomingdale, NJ
23 mi in
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
17 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
59m 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?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 84% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on I 287, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 19.2 miles. The Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and US 46 also contribute to the highway nature of this trip. Expect a relatively fast pace for much of the journey, characterized by smooth transitions between these main arteries. The drive is designed for efficiency rather than leisurely sightseeing.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.2 mi on I 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 287 and Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. 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 Van Houten Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 46.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Van Houten Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (CR 509 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Lebanon, NJ, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah and Pennsylvania.
Del Water Gap
12.3 mi in
|
~16m
Mahwah
12.6 mi in
|
~17m
|
via I 80W
Pennsylvania
35.8 mi in
|
~45m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 46.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.2 miles on I 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Lebanon, 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 (Van Houten Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (CR 509 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Thomas Edison 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 Lebanon, 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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