Clifton, NJ to Brigantine, NJ is 129.6 miles and takes about 2h 49m via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within New Jersey. Most of the drive is on the Garden State Parkway, making it a straightforward option for reaching the shore. Given its relatively short duration, it's a perfect candidate for a same-day excursion, allowing for a full day at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.8 miles from Clifton, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
108 mi
2h 10m
Absecon Boulevard
7 mi
11m
Garden State Parkway Southbound
6.2 mi
8m
Brigantine Boulevard
2.6 mi
4m
West Brigantine Avenue
1.4 mi
3m
White Horse Pike
1.3 mi
2m
Huron Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Clifton Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 108 mi, about 2h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and Brigantine, NJ.
1
Start on Holly Street
516 ft·26 sec·Holly Street
2
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi·34 sec·Donna Drive
3
At end of road, turn right onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft·21 sec·Olga B Terrace
4
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft·7 sec·Hutton Road
5
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft·13 sec·Olga B Terrace
6
Turn left onto NJ 161
0.5 mi·1 min·Clifton Avenue
7
At end of road, turn right onto CR 602
0.2 mi·31 sec·Allwood Road
Use the right lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward NJ 3 West, GSP South
9
Merge onto NJ 3
304 ft·4 sec·State Route 3
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward GSP SouthUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto GSP
22 mi·30 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Continue on Garden State Parkway
6.2 mi·8 min·Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi·49 sec·Garden State Parkway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
85 mi·1 hr 39 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·1 min
Exit 40Toward US 30 East: Absecon, Atlantic CityUse the right lane.
16
Merge onto US 30
1.3 mi·2 min·White Horse Pike
17
Continue on US 30
6.9 mi·11 min·Absecon Boulevard
18
Take the exit
187 ft·6 sec
Toward Acua Wind Farm
19
Continue on Absecon Boulevard
522 ft·15 sec·Absecon Boulevard
20
Turn left onto North Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
151 ft·7 sec·North Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
21
Continue on NJ 87
0.6 mi·1 min·Huron Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto NJ 87
2.6 mi·4 min·Brigantine Boulevard
Use the left lane.
23
Enter roundabout onto CR 638
122 ft·4 sec·Atlantic Brigantine Boulevard
24
Continue on CR 638
0.3 mi·41 sec·Atlantic Brigantine Boulevard
25
Continue on CR 638
1.4 mi·3 min·West Brigantine Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Turn left onto South Roosevelt Boulevard
0.1 mi·26 sec·South Roosevelt Boulevard
27
Enter roundabout
190 ft·6 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 2h 49m drive, consider leaving Clifton, NJ, in the morning to maximize your time in Brigantine. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $22, and ensure you're topped off before embarking on the 108-mile stretch on the Garden State Parkway. This route is flexible enough to allow for spontaneous stops if needed.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.8 miles from Clifton, NJ, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108 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 29 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.8 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brigantine, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clifton, 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 Clifton, NJ
This is one driving day of about 129.6 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Clifton, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 108 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 115.8 — 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|~1m in|Olga B Terrace
At end of road, turn right onto Olga B Terrace
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|CR 602 / Allwood Road
At end of road, turn right onto CR 602 / Allwood Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward NJ 3 West, GSP South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 3 West, GSP South
6
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward GSP South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward GSP South
8
115.8 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Take the exit toward US 30 East: Absecon, Atlantic City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 40
Toward US 30 East: Absecon, Atlantic City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.63 one way
$45.27 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$24.78
$49.56
premium
$5.20
$26.51
$53.02
diesel
$6.28
$32.02
$64.04
Estimated Tolls: $6.84
Garden State Parkway
(114.2 mi)$6.84
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
$23
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.9
0
$13.61
$6.22
Efficient EV
32.4
0
$11.34
$5.18
EV Truck/SUV
51.8
0
$18.14
$8.29
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Clifton, NJ
Morning
in Clifton on Friday
Local time
7:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Sunny
N 3 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Brigantine, NJ
Morning
in Brigantine on Friday
Local time
7:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 15 to 20 mph0% chanceLive 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
3 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
2h 49m 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.
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...
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
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 17.9
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...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 44.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 88% of your time on the highway, with the longest continuous stretch being 108 miles on the Garden State Parkway. This means you'll experience extended periods of highway cruising before transitioning to surface streets for the final leg. Expect a high number of exits and interchanges as you navigate the Parkway.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 108 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 Absecon Boulevard. 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.
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 21 significant decision points across 129.6 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 0.2 miles (Olga B Terrace): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.9 miles (CR 602 / Allwood Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
178 ft5 ft
Total Climb
173 ft
Total Descent
345 ft
Highest Point
178 ft
Elevation Range
174 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Clifton, NJ to Brigantine, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Atlantic City along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 49m. Total distance: 129.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 108 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.84 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.
Yes — we found about 14 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Brigantine, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Olga B Terrace): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.9 miles (CR 602 / Allwood Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: 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 Brigantine, NJ before heading back.
