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Trip from Paterson, NJ to Middlebush, NJ

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

Drive Time

1h 4m

Distance

45.2 mi

73 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
0h 59m ★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m

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 Middlebush, NJ, NJ

Middlebush, NJ

Jer Rey

Trip Overview

This 45.2-mile drive from Paterson, NJ, to Middlebush, NJ, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 4 minutes. Designed for a single day, you'll spend most of your time on major highways, with 85% of the journey on the Garden State Parkway and I-287. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $7, making it an economical option for a quick excursion within the Northeast region. Given its short duration and highway focus, it's ideal for a day trip with minimal planning needed.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Garden State Parkway 23.8 mi 33m
I 287 9.1 mi 10m
Cedar Grove Lane 3.1 mi 5m
US 1 2.2 mi 3m
NJ 19 2 mi 2m
Garden State Parkway Southbound 1.3 mi 1m
Easton Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
Amwell Road 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 23.8 mi, about 33m

Traffic on I-287

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

8 AM

~4,189 veh/hr typical

Quietest

2 AM

~323 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

13×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 26 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1.3 mi · 1 min · Garden State Parkway Southbound
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 130B-A Toward US 1: Newark, Trenton Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Exit 130B Toward US 1 South: Trenton Use the slight right lane.
13

Merge onto US 1

0.1 mi · 12 sec · US 1
14

Continue on US 1

2.1 mi · 3 min · US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 59 sec
Toward I 287 North: Morristown, Mahwah Use the slight right lane.
16

Merge onto I 287

9.1 mi · 10 min · I 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Exit 10 Toward CR 527: Easton Avenue, New Brunswick, South Bound Brook Use the slight right lane.
18

Keep slight left at fork

509 ft · 12 sec
Toward CR 527 South: Easton Avenue, New Brunswick Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19

Continue on CR 527

0.6 mi · 1 min · Easton Avenue
20

Turn right onto CR 619

3.1 mi · 5 min · Cedar Grove Lane
Use the right lane.
21

Turn left onto CR 514

0.6 mi · 1 min · Amwell Road
22

Turn right onto Olcott Street

40 ft · 1 sec · Olcott Street
23

Arrive at destination

Olcott Street

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Staten Island, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

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

New York City, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 22.6 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 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 28.4 and 40.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
28.4 mi into trip | ~40m in

Take the exit toward US 1: Newark, Trenton

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 130B-A Toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
9
28.7 mi into trip | ~40m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 South: Trenton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 130B Toward US 1 South: Trenton
7
31.2 mi into trip | ~44m in

Take the exit toward I 287 North: Morristown, Mahwah

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 287 North: Morristown, Mahwah
8
40.7 mi into trip | ~56m in

Take the exit toward CR 527: Easton Avenue, New Brunswick, South Bound Brook

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 10 Toward CR 527: Easton Avenue, New Brunswick, So...
9
40.8 mi into trip | ~56m in

Keep slight left at fork toward CR 527 South: Easton Avenue, New Brunswick

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

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward CR 527 South: Easton Avenue, New Brunswi...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.21 one way

$14.41 round trip

$4.05/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.48 $7.98 $15.95
premium $4.81 $8.56 $17.11
diesel $4.80 $8.53 $17.07

Estimated Tolls: $1.51

Garden State Parkway (25.1 mi) $1.51

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Tolls

$2

Total

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.6 0 $4.75 $2.17
Efficient EV 11.3 0 $3.96 $1.81
EV Truck/SUV 18.1 0 $6.33 $2.89

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.

Forecast as of Jul 1, 2026

Origin

Paterson, NJ

Morning in Paterson on Sunday

Local time

11:30 AM

EDT

Current temp

97°F

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 8 mph 24% chance Live forecast

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued July 1 at 4:09AM EDT until July 1 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued July 1 at 3:15AM EDT until July 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Destination

Middlebush, NJ

Morning in Middlebush on Sunday

Local time

11:30 AM

EDT

Current temp

97°F

Sunny then Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 10 mph 24% chance Live forecast

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued July 1 at 4:09AM EDT until July 1 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued July 1 at 3:15AM EDT until July 4 at 8:00PM 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 4m 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 for the majority of this 45.2-mile journey, with 85% of the route utilizing major interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 23.8 miles on the Garden State Parkway, offering a consistent pace. You'll primarily navigate the Garden State Parkway and I-287, with a brief segment on Cedar Grove Lane to complete the drive. This profile suggests a drive characterized by efficient travel rather than varied terrain or scenery.

85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.8 mi on Garden State Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and I 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 28.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.2 miles you will encounter 17 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 28.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

183 ft 54 ft

Total Climb

270 ft

Total Descent

243 ft

Highest Point

183 ft

~3.2 mi in

Elevation Range

129 ft

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 Middlebush, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp South, Trenton, Mahwah, New Brunswick and Bound Brook.

Gsp South

2.8 mi in | ~4m

Trenton

28.4 mi in | ~40m

Mahwah

31.2 mi in | ~44m

New Brunswick

40.7 mi in | ~56m

Bound Brook

40.7 mi in | ~56m

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 Middlebush, NJ

Full guide →

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 4m. Total distance: 45.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 23.8 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.51 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.

Yes — we found about 9 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 Middlebush, 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 28.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Middlebush, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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