Origin
Piscataway, NJ
Morning in Piscataway on Sunday
Local time
7:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Piscataway, NJ to Paterson, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
34.6 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Piscataway, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Piscataway to Paterson, you are looking at a straightforward 34.6-mile journey through the Northeast. Expect to spend about 50 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via US 1, the Garden State Parkway, and NJ 19 to complete the connection. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, this is a very cost-effective route for commuters or weekend travelers. Because the entire trip stays within New Jersey, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 25.1 mi | 34m |
| US 1 | 5.5 mi | 8m |
| NJ 19 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Plainfield Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Grand Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| School House Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 25.1 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Piscataway, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on Germantown Avenue
193 ft
·
10 sec
·
Germantown Avenue
2
Turn right onto School House Lane
497 ft
·
24 sec
·
School House Lane
3
Turn right onto CR 514
424 ft
·
15 sec
·
Woodbridge Avenue
4
Turn left onto CR 529
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Plainfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto US 1
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
7
Merge onto GSP
25 mi
·
34 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 155A
Toward NJ 19: Paterson
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Merge onto NJ 19
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 19
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
313 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Grand Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
15
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft
·
3 sec
·
Colt Street
16
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.3 miles from Piscataway, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 34.3 — 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
|
CR 529 / Plainfield Avenue
Turn left onto CR 529 / Plainfield Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
31.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward NJ 19: Paterson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 155A
Toward NJ 19: Paterson
8
33.9 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Grand Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Grand Street
7
34.1 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
CR 638 / Grand Street
Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
34.3 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
CR 509 / Main Street
Turn left onto CR 509 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.74 one way
$11.47 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.28 | $12.56 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.71 | $13.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.64 | $15.28 |
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
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.03 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Paterson, NJ
Morning in Paterson on Sunday
Local time
7:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
10 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
50m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of your travel occurring on major roads. You should prepare for an interstate-heavy experience rather than a winding scenic byway. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs on the Garden State Parkway, where you will cover 25.1 miles of the trip. While the route starts on local connections like US 1, it quickly transitions into higher-speed highway driving as you merge onto the Parkway. Expect a steady, functional pace that prioritizes speed and directness over leisurely backroads, keeping you moving steadily toward your destination in Paterson.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.1 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US 1. 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 CR 529 / Plainfield Avenue.
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 14 decision points packed into just 34.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (CR 529 / Plainfield Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
182 ft
38 ft
Total Climb
196 ft
Total Descent
209 ft
Highest Point
182 ft
~29.7 mi in
Elevation Range
145 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 34.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.1 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.
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 Paterson, 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 (CR 529 / Plainfield Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Paterson, 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.
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