Blackwood, NJ to Clifton, NJ is 96.5 miles and takes about 2 hours 5 minutes via New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip entirely within the Northeast region, specifically New Jersey. Given its highway-focused profile and relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a quick transit or a day trip when you need to get from South Jersey to North Jersey efficiently. You'll be spending most of your time on major toll roads, so be prepared for that aspect of the journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.3 miles from Blackwood, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
64.5 mi
1h 14m
Garden State Parkway
22.2 mi
30m
Black Horse Pike
4.1 mi
7m
Allwood Road
1 mi
1m
Clifton Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
West Passaic Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
East Passaic Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Bloomfield Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 64.5 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blackwood, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on North Pennsylvania Avenue
57 ft·4 sec·North Pennsylvania Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 534
0.2 mi·16 sec·East Church Street
3
Turn right onto NJ 168
4.1 mi·7 min·Black Horse Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward NJTP North: New YorkUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto NJTP
23 mi·26 min·New Jersey Turnpike
7
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
41 mi·47 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 11Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, WoodbridgeUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward GSP North: Garden State ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto GSP
22 mi·30 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 151Toward Montclair, NutleyUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft·15 sec·Watchung Avenue
13
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi·45 sec·East Passaic Avenue
14
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi·52 sec·West Passaic Avenue
15
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft·7 sec·Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi·37 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
261 ft·4 sec·Allwood Road
18
Continue on CR 602
1.0 mi·1 min·Allwood Road
19
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.5 mi·1 min·Clifton Avenue
20
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft·9 sec·Olga B Terrace
21
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft·6 sec·Hutton Road
22
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft·25 sec·Olga B Terrace
23
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi·33 sec·Donna Drive
24
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft·22 sec·Holly Street
25
Arrive at destination
Holly Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day drive of just over 2 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Leaving in the morning or late afternoon can help you avoid peak traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. Be sure to budget for tolls in addition to the estimated $16 fuel cost. With only 96.5 miles, you won't need extensive stops, but there are plenty of service areas along the turnpike if you need to refuel or stretch your legs. Keep an eye out for toll plazas, as they are a defining feature of this route.
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 48.3 miles from Blackwood, NJ, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.5 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.3 miles or 59m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clifton, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Blackwood, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Blackwood, NJ
This is one driving day of about 96.5 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Blackwood, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 64.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 93 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.5 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJTP North: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NJTP North: New York
6
28.2 mi into trip|~36m in|NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
69.5 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
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 11
Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbri...
7
70 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
8
93 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward Montclair, Nutley
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 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.00 one way
$32.00 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$17.52
$35.04
premium
$4.93
$18.71
$37.43
diesel
$5.61
$21.31
$42.61
Estimated Tolls: $10.36
New Jersey Turnpike
(64.5 mi)$9.03
Garden State Parkway
(22.2 mi)$1.33
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
$16
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.13
$4.63
Efficient EV
24.1
0
$8.44
$3.86
EV Truck/SUV
38.6
0
$13.51
$6.18
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Blackwood, NJ
Morning
in Blackwood on Sunday
Local time
10:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clifton, NJ
Morning
in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
10:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
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
21 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
2h 5m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 96.5
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 79.9
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 83.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 90% of the route utilizing major arteries like the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience for the majority of the 96.5 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 64.5 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, offering a continuous drive without frequent exits. While primarily highway, the initial segment on Black Horse Pike provides a brief transition before merging onto the main toll roads.
90% 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: 64.5 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 96.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Blackwood, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp and Woodbridge.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 96.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.5 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $10.36 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 Clifton, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls 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 Clifton, NJ before heading back.
