Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
57.1 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Asbury Park, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Clifton, NJ to Asbury Park, NJ is 57.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 17 minutes via Garden State Parkway Southbound, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused trip stays within New Jersey, heading from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. You'll primarily be on the Garden State Parkway, making it a straightforward drive. With a recommended duration of one day, this route is ideal for a quick getaway or a day trip, offering a convenient way to reach the Jersey Shore.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 41 mi | 52m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| NJ 18 | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| CR 16 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Asbury Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Wayside Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Allwood Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and Asbury Park, NJ.
Start on Holly Street
Turn left onto Donna Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Olga B Terrace
Turn right onto Hutton Road
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
Turn left onto NJ 161
At end of road, turn right onto CR 602
Take the ramp
Merge onto NJ 3
Take the exit
Merge onto GSP
Continue on Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn left onto CR 38
Take the ramp
Merge onto NJ 18
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ 66; CR 16
Turn straight onto NJ 35
Continue on CR 16
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 16
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 28.5 miles from Clifton, 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 0.2 and 54.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto Olga B Terrace
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Take the ramp toward NJ 3 West, GSP South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NJ 36 North, NJ 18: Eatontown, Long Branch, Tinton Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 18 JCT: Tinton Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NJ 66 East: Asbury Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$9.47 one way
$18.93 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.37 | $20.74 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.07 | $22.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.61 | $25.21 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.82
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: 20 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 | 17.1 | 0 | $6.00 | $2.74 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.99 | $3.65 |
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
Afternoon in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Asbury Park on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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.
This route is overwhelmingly a highway drive, with 93% of the journey on major roads. You'll spend most of your time on the Garden State Parkway, including a significant stretch of 41 miles without major interruptions. Expect a consistent driving experience focused on covering distance efficiently. The character of the drive is predominantly high-speed, with the main roads being well-maintained parkways designed for smooth travel. This makes for a predictable and generally uncomplicated driving experience.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Garden State Parkway Southbound. 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 Olga B Terrace.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.1 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 0.2 miles (Olga B Terrace): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clifton, NJ and Asbury Park, NJ, road signs point toward Long Branch, Tinton Falls and Gsp South.
Long Branch
Tinton Falls
Gsp South
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 57.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m 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.
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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