Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
56.6 mi
91 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
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.
Sea Bright, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Paterson, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
This 56.6-mile drive from Sea Bright to Paterson, New Jersey, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 18 minutes. With 83% of the route on highways, it's designed for efficient travel, making it an ideal day trip. You can expect a fuel cost of approximately $9 for this relatively short distance. The drive primarily utilizes the Garden State Parkway, offering a consistent pace for most of the trip. Given its duration and highway nature, it's a practical option for a quick transit between these two New Jersey locations.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 45.1 mi | 59m |
| Rumson Road | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| Newman Springs Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| NJ 19 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Pinckney Road | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Branch Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Ocean Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Sea Bright, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
Start on East Church Street
Turn right onto NJ 36
Turn left onto CR 520
At end of road, turn right onto CR 520; CR 11
Turn left onto CR 520
At end of road, turn left onto CR 520
Turn right onto CR 520
Take the ramp
Merge onto GSP
Take the exit
Merge onto GSP
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ 19
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto CR 638
Turn left onto CR 509
Turn right onto CR 648
Turn left onto Colt Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 28.3 miles from Sea Bright, 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 14.6 and 56.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward Crossover to Express Roadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NJ 19: Paterson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward Grand Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto CR 509 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$9.38 one way
$18.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.28 | $20.55 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.98 | $21.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.50 | $24.99 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.71
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$3
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17 | 0 | $5.94 | $2.72 |
| Efficient EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.95 | $2.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.92 | $3.62 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Late night in Sea Bright on Sunday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Paterson on Sunday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
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-dominant experience on this 56.6-mile trip, with 83% of the drive taking place on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch will be 45.1 miles along the Garden State Parkway, so much of your time will be spent on this well-maintained parkway. While primarily highway, you will encounter local roads like Rumson Road and Newman Springs Road, offering brief transitions before merging back onto faster routes. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding scenic byways.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Rumson Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.6 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.6 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: at 14.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sea Bright, NJ and Paterson, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North and Crossover To Express Roadway.
Gsp Toll North
Crossover To Express Roadway
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 56.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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