Origin
Byram, NJ
Morning in Byram on Sunday
Local time
10:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Byram, NJ to Clifton, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 38m
Distance
70.3 mi
113 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 31m
★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 44m
12 PM
1h 42m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Byram, NJ
Malcolm Garret
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 70.3-mile drive from Byram, NJ, to Clifton, NJ, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 38 minutes to complete. Primarily following major arteries like I 287 and US 202, with a segment on Sergeantsville Road, this route keeps you moving. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, it's an economical option for a quick excursion. The majority of this journey is on highways, making it a straightforward path through New Jersey's Northeast region. You won't need to break this drive into multiple days; it's designed for a single, efficient journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.1 miles from Byram, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 287 | 23.6 mi | 28m |
| US 202 | 14.5 mi | 20m |
| Sergeantsville Road | 8.6 mi | 14m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 7.3 mi | 7m |
| Daniel Bray Highway | 4.6 mi | 8m |
| US 46 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| Interstate 80 East | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Van Houten Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 287
— 23.6 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Byram, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 29
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
River Drive
2
Continue on NJ 29
4.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Daniel Bray Highway
3
Turn left onto CR 523
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Stockton-Flemington Road
4
Continue on CR 523
8.6 mi
·
14 min
·
Sergeantsville Road
5
Continue on CR 523
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Sergeantsville-Flemington Road
6
Enter roundabout onto NJ 12
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
Frenchtown-Flemington Road
7
Continue on NJ 12
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Frenchtown-Flemington Road
8
Continue on NJ 12
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Parker Avenue
9
Enter roundabout onto NJ 12
303 ft
·
5 sec
·
Packer Avenue
10
Continue on NJ 12
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Packer Avenue
11
Enter roundabout
384 ft
·
7 sec
12
Continue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
13
Merge onto US 202
14 mi
·
20 min
·
US 202
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 287 North: Netcong, Morristown
15
Merge onto I 287
24 mi
·
28 min
·
I 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 41A
Toward I 80 East: Smith Road, New York City
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 41A
Toward I 80 East: New York City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 80E
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate 80 East
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 80 East: Paterson, New York City
20
Merge onto I 80
7.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 53
Toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
Use the slight right lane.
22
Merge onto US 46
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 46
23
Continue on US 46
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
US 46
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Take the exit
452 ft
·
16 sec
Toward Grove Street, Van Houten Avenue, Clifton, Passaic
Use the slight right lane.
25
At end of road, turn right onto CR 623
179 ft
·
9 sec
·
Grove Street
26
Turn left onto CR 614
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Houten Avenue
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Clifton Avenue
28
Turn left onto St James Place
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
St James Place
29
Turn right onto Donna Drive
522 ft
·
28 sec
·
Donna Drive
30
Turn left onto Holly Street
516 ft
·
22 sec
·
Holly Street
31
Arrive at destination
Holly Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 38 minutes, this route offers a good deal of flexibility for departure times. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, so there's no need to plan for overnight stays. With a fuel cost of around $12, budgeting is straightforward. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially as you approach the Clifton area, as congestion can build. A practical tip is to be mindful of the transition from I 287 to US 202, as this is where you'll start to see a change in the road's character.
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 35.1 miles from Byram, NJ, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.6 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 15 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.1 miles or 53m 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 23m
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 Byram, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Byram, NJ
This is one driving day of about 70.3 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Byram, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 287 for about 23.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.1 miles from Byram, 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 205 decision points cluster between mile 15.1 and 68.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
15.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
53.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Smith Road, New York City
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 41A
Toward I 80 East: Smith Road, New York City
8
54 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 41A
Toward I 80 East: New York City
8
63.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
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 53
Toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunn...
7
68.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward Grove Street, Van Houten Avenue, Clifton, Passaic
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Grove Street, Van Houten Avenue, Clifton...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.65 one way
$23.31 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $12.76 | $25.53 |
| premium | $4.93 | $13.63 | $27.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.52 | $31.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.38 | $3.37 |
| Efficient EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.15 | $2.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.84 | $4.50 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Clifton, NJ
Morning in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
10:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 3 to 12 mph
4% chance
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
18 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
1h 38m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 63% of the route utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 23.6 miles on I 287, offering a period of consistent speed. While much of the drive is on faster roads, there are also sections that incorporate local routes like Sergeantsville Road, providing some variation. This blend means you'll experience both the efficiency of interstate travel and the slightly different pace of more direct, albeit still significant, roadways.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.6 mi on I 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 287 and US 202. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.3 miles you will encounter 20 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 15.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 53.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Byram, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Morristown and New York City.
Morristown
29.8 mi in
|
~47m
New York City
53.8 mi in
|
~1h 16m
About the Cities
Arriving in Clifton, NJ
Full guide →Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 70.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.6 miles on I 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 15.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 53.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clifton, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. 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 Clifton, NJ
More trips to Clifton, NJ
Explore more options from Byram, NJ or browse trips ending in Clifton, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.