Whitney Houston Service Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Paterson, NJ to Ocean Gate, NJ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 49m
Distance
82.8 mi
133 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 56m
5 PM
2h 5m
8 PM
1h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Ocean Gate, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Paterson to Ocean Gate is 83 miles and takes about 1 hour 49 minutes via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a predominantly highway route, making it a straightforward drive. Given the short duration, it’s an easy day trip, perfect for a quick escape to the shore.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.4 miles from Paterson, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 67.9 mi | 1h 24m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| NJ 19 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Chelsea Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Springfield Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Atlantic City Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Bayview Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Bayside Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 67.9 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paterson, NJ and Ocean Gate, 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
43 mi
·
50 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 81
Toward Lakehurst Road, Toms River
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn right
235 ft
·
6 sec
15
Turn right onto CR 527
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Lakehurst Road
16
Continue on CR 527
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Water Street
17
Turn right onto NJ 166
386 ft
·
11 sec
·
Irons Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto NJ 166
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Herflicker Boulevard
19
Turn straight onto NJ 166
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Atlantic City Boulevard
20
Turn left onto CR 617
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Starboard Street
21
Turn right onto CR 617
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Compass Avenue
22
Continue on CR 617
501 ft
·
10 sec
·
Club House Drive
23
Continue on CR 617
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Club House Road
24
Continue on CR 617
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Bayside Avenue
25
Continue on CR 617
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Springfield Avenue
26
At end of road, turn left onto CR 617
320 ft
·
9 sec
·
Station Avenue
27
Turn right onto CR 617
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Prospect Avenue
28
Continue on CR 617
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Chelsea Avenue
29
Turn right onto CR 617
500 ft
·
21 sec
·
Ocean Gate Avenue
30
Turn left onto CR 617
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
East Bayview Avenue
31
Turn right onto Stone Harbor Avenue
249 ft
·
12 sec
·
Stone Harbor Avenue
32
Turn right onto (24)
41 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Lakewood Avenue
33
Arrive at destination
(24)
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 1 hour 49 minute drive, consider leaving Paterson mid-morning to avoid the worst of rush hour traffic. Since it's a relatively short trip, you don't need to plan for many stops, but there are plenty of service areas along the Garden State Parkway if you need a break. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the $14 estimate is based on current prices and driving conditions. The longest stretch on the Parkway is nearly 68 miles, so you might want to fill up before you get on the highway if you're starting with a low tank.
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 41.4 miles from Paterson, NJ, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.9 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.4 miles or 55m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ocean Gate, 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 82.8 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 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 67.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.4 miles from Paterson, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.9 miles.
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.
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Judy Blume Service Area
0.1 mi from route
Connie Chung Service Area
0.1 mi from route
Jon Bon Jovi Service Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Larry Doby Service Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
1.6 mi from route
Valley Settlement House
2 mi from route
Rest Area
2.3 mi from route
Rest Area
2.4 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 78.1 — 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
77.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward Lakehurst Road, Toms River
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 81
Toward Lakehurst Road, Toms River
7
78.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
NJ 166 / Irons Street
Turn right onto NJ 166 / Irons Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.23 one way
$28.46 round trip
$4.37/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $15.61 | $31.23 |
| premium | $5.13 | $16.71 | $33.43 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $19.45 | $38.90 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.44
Garden State Parkway
(74.1 mi)
$4.44
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
$14
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.69 | $3.97 |
| Efficient EV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.25 | $3.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.1 | 0 | $11.59 | $5.30 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Paterson, NJ
Morning in Paterson on Saturday
Local time
6:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Clear
NW 3 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Ocean Gate, NJ
Morning in Ocean Gate on Saturday
Local time
6:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 mph
0% 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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 49m 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?
This drive is mostly highway, with 92% of the route on paved roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 67.9 miles on the Garden State Parkway Southbound. The highway portion will likely feel consistent, with exits spaced out. Expect to transition to surface roads for the final miles as you approach Ocean Gate.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.9 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Garden State Parkway Southbound. 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
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.8 miles you will encounter 22 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
183 ft
4 ft
Total Climb
288 ft
Total Descent
368 ft
Highest Point
183 ft
~5.9 mi in
Elevation Range
179 ft
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.
On the drive from Paterson, NJ to Ocean Gate, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Toms River along the way.
Toms River
77.5 mi in
|
~1h 38m
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 Ocean Gate, NJ
Full guide →Founded 1918
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 49m. Total distance: 82.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.9 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.44 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 11 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 Ocean Gate, 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ocean Gate, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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