Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
50.4 mi
81 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
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.
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Cranbury, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Clifton, NJ to Cranbury, NJ is 50.4 miles and takes about 1h 8m via New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a relatively short drive, mostly on major roadways, making it a convenient option for a quick transit. Expect a straightforward experience with minimal complexity, ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive planning.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur | 38.2 mi | 46m |
| State Route 3 | 4.4 mi | 4m |
| South River Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Allwood Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Cranbury-South River Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Exit 8A | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Bloomfield Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and Cranbury, 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 left onto CR 602
Enter roundabout onto CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Take the ramp
Merge onto NJ 3
Take the exit
Continue on Sheraton Plaza Drive
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; NJTP
Take the exit onto Exit 8A
Keep slight right at fork
Turn left onto CR 535
Continue on CR 535
Turn slight right onto CR 535
Turn left onto US 130; CR 535
Turn slight right onto CR 535
Turn right onto CR 535
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.2 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 0.9 and 46.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto CR 602 / Allwood Road
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward East Rutherford, American Dream, Stadium, Racetrack, Training Facility
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 I 95 South, NJTP South: Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto Exit 8A toward NJ 32: Jamesburg, Cranbury
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 CR 535: Cranbury, South Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$8.46 one way
$16.93 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.86 | $9.64 | $19.28 |
| premium | $5.16 | $10.23 | $20.47 |
| diesel | $6.34 | $12.58 | $25.16 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.36
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$5
Total
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.41 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.06 | $3.23 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Clifton on Saturday
Local time
1:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Cranbury on Saturday
Local time
1:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Partly Sunny
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.
This drive is predominantly highway, with 85% of the 50.4 miles on high-speed roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 38.2 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur. The transition to surface streets will likely occur in the final miles as you approach your destination. Be prepared for the density of exits and entrances typical of major New Jersey thoroughfares.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur and State Route 3. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near CR 602 / Allwood Road.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.4 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 0.9 miles (CR 602 / Allwood Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
165 ft
Total Descent
241 ft
Highest Point
178 ft
Elevation Range
175 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clifton, NJ and Cranbury, NJ, road signs point toward Rutherford, American Dream, Stadium, Racetrack, Training Facility and Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike - among others.
Rutherford
American Dream
Stadium
Racetrack
Training Facility
Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
Njtp South: Newark
Cr 535: Cranbury
Brunswick
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 50.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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