Origin
Paterson, NJ
Morning in Paterson on Sunday
Local time
6:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Paterson, NJ to Port Reading, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
30.3 mi
49 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Port Reading, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward commute across New Jersey, this 30.3-mile trip from Paterson to Port Reading is an efficient option. You can comfortably complete the drive in about 48 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting about $5 for fuel should cover your needs for the journey. Since the route stays entirely within the Northeast region, you will experience a familiar, urban-centric transit between the two points. It is a no-nonsense route designed for getting from point A to point B without unnecessary complexity.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 21 | 14.3 mi | 20m |
| New Jersey Turnpike | 5 mi | 6m |
| US 1 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Blair Road | 1.4 mi | 4m |
| Market Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| NJ 81 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Federal Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| McLean Boulevard | 0.8 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 21
— 14.3 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paterson, NJ and Port Reading, 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
·
13 sec
·
Memorial Drive
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto CR 648
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Market Street
5
Turn slight left onto 21st Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
21st Avenue
6
Turn slight right onto NJ 20
0.8 mi
·
51 sec
·
McLean Boulevard
7
Merge onto US 46
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 46
8
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 21
14 mi
·
20 min
·
NJ 21
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 1; US 9
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
US 1; US 9
10
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on NJ 81
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
315 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
15
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
this road
16
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
17
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 12
Toward Carteret, Rahway
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
237 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Carteret, West Carteret, Rahway
Use the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward West Carteret, Rahway
20
Turn straight onto CR 602
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Roosevelt Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto Minue Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Minue Street
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on Federal Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Federal Boulevard
23
Turn left onto Blair Road
1.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Blair Road
24
Turn right onto Langford Avenue
487 ft
·
21 sec
·
Langford Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Langford Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.1 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 20.8 and 27 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
20.8 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
7
20.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
8
26.2 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward Carteret, Rahway
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 12
Toward Carteret, Rahway
8
27 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Carteret, West Carteret, Rahway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Carteret, West Carteret, Rahway
7
27 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward West Carteret, Rahway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward West Carteret, Rahway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.02 one way
$10.05 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.50 | $11.00 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.88 | $11.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.69 | $13.38 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.70
New Jersey Turnpike
(5 mi)
$0.70
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.45 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.65 | $1.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Port Reading, NJ
Morning in Port Reading on Sunday
Local time
6:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Concord, NY
15 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
9 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
48m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 75% of your travel time will be spent on major corridors. You will navigate a mix of NJ 21, the New Jersey Turnpike, and US 1 to complete the trek. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 14.3 miles along NJ 21. Because the route relies heavily on high-speed infrastructure, it feels more like a standard interstate transit than a leisurely backroad cruise. You should be prepared for the consistent pace that comes with these high-traffic arteries.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.3 mi on NJ 21.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 21 and New Jersey Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 17 decision points packed into just 30.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 20.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.2 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
84 ft
5 ft
Total Climb
60 ft
Total Descent
113 ft
Highest Point
84 ft
Elevation Range
79 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.
Between Paterson, NJ and Port Reading, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp South: Trenton, Carteret and Rahway.
Njtp South: Trenton
20.8 mi in
|
~31m
Carteret
26.2 mi in
|
~38m
Rahway
26.2 mi in
|
~38m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 30.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.3 miles on NJ 21. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.70 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. 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 Port Reading, 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 20.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.2 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 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 Port Reading, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Port Reading, NJ
More trips to Port Reading, NJ
Explore more options from Paterson, NJ or browse trips ending in Port Reading, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.