Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
46.4 mi
75 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Weston, NJ
MINEIA MARTINS
This 46.4-mile drive from Paterson to Weston, NJ, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about an hour. With a projected fuel cost of around $8, it's an economical option for a day trip within the Northeast region. The route is primarily highway-focused, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B. Given its short distance and duration, there's no need to split this into an overnight stay; you can pack it with other activities. It's a practical choice for anyone looking to travel between these two New Jersey locations without a significant time commitment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 287 | 22.5 mi | 27m |
| US 46 | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| US 22 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Interstate 80 West | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Union Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Finderne Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Union Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 25 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,880 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~319 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 46 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Paterson, NJ and Weston, NJ.
Start on Colt Street
Turn right onto Ellison Street
Turn left onto Church Street
Turn left onto Van Houten Street
Turn right onto CR 509
Turn slight left onto CR 509
Turn left onto CR 646
Continue on CR 646
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 46
Take the exit
Continue on I 80W
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 287
Keep slight left at fork onto I 287
Take the exit
Merge onto US 202; US 206
Take the exit
Merge onto US 22
Turn slight right onto CR 633
Continue on CR 533
Turn right onto Kennedy Boulevard
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.2 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 39.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Ellison Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Van Houten Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto CR 509 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 287 South: Morristown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward US 202 South, US 206 South: Somerville, Flemington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$8.21 one way
$16.41 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $8.99 | $17.98 |
| premium | $5.24 | $9.58 | $19.16 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $9.77 | $19.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.06 | $1.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.50 | $2.97 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Paterson on Wednesday
Local time
5:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Evening in Weston on Wednesday
Local time
5:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Isolated Rain Showers
57°F
Montville, NJ
23 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a highway-focused experience on this trip, with 78% of the drive taking place on major roads like I-287, US 46, and US 22. You'll encounter one significant uninterrupted stretch of 22.5 miles on I-287, allowing for consistent speed. While the bulk of the journey is on these main arteries, be prepared for potential traffic as you navigate these busy corridors. The road character remains largely consistent, emphasizing efficient travel over scenic detours.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 287 and US 46. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Ellison Street.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.4 miles you will encounter 18 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: near the start (Ellison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Van Houten Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (CR 509 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
267 ft
Total Descent
313 ft
Highest Point
314 ft
~33.1 mi in
Elevation Range
276 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Paterson, NJ and Weston, NJ, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah and Flemington.
Del Water Gap
Mahwah
Flemington
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 46.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Paterson, NJ or browse trips ending in Weston, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.
