If you are planning a trip from Clifton to Crestwood Village, expect a straightforward journey covering 84.1 miles. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes, making it a manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Garden State Parkway, which keeps navigation simple and predictable. Budgeting around $14 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way trek. Since both locations are situated within the Northeast region of New Jersey, the transition between them is seamless and familiar. It is an efficient route designed for those looking to reach their destination without unnecessary detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.1 miles from Clifton, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
67.2 mi
1h 23m
Garden State Parkway Southbound
6.2 mi
8m
CR 530
5.9 mi
9m
Dover Road
2.8 mi
4m
Clifton Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Allwood Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Donna Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Olga B Terrace
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 67.2 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and Crestwood Village, 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
44 mi·52 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto US 9
363 ft·4 sec·US 9
Exit 80Toward CR 619 South, CR 530, US 9 South: South Toms River, BeachwoodUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
461 ft·10 sec
Toward CR 619, GSP South, GSP North: Jakes Branch County Park, WhitingUse the left / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto CR 619
270 ft·15 sec·Double Trouble Road
18
Turn left onto CR 530
2.8 mi·4 min·Dover Road
19
Turn slight right onto CR 530
5.9 mi·9 min·CR 530
Toward CR 530: ManchesterUse the straight lane.
20
Turn right onto Aster Place
409 ft·23 sec·Aster Place
21
Turn left onto Columbine Avenue
222 ft·9 sec·Columbine Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Columbine Avenue
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short 1-hour and 50-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. However, keeping an eye on traffic patterns along the Garden State Parkway is wise, as volume can fluctuate significantly depending on the time of day. You likely will not need to plan for formal stops given the manageable distance, but having $14 set aside for fuel keeps your planning simple. Since you will spend nearly the entire drive on major highways, ensure your vehicle is prepared for sustained speeds. A smart move is to check real-time traffic reports before you leave Clifton to avoid potential congestion on the Parkway’s busiest segments.
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 42.1 miles from Clifton, NJ, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.2 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 19 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.1 miles or 57m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Crestwood Village, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clifton, NJ
This is one driving day of about 84.1 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Clifton, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 67.2 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 75.1 — 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
8
75.1 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|US 9
Take the exit onto US 9 toward CR 619 South, CR 530, US 9 South: South Toms River, Beachwood
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 80
Toward CR 619 South, CR 530, US 9 South: South...
9
75.1 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CR 619, GSP South, GSP North: Jakes Branch County Park, Whiting
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward CR 619, GSP South, GSP North: Jakes Bran...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.94 one way
$27.89 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.27
$30.54
premium
$4.93
$16.31
$32.62
diesel
$5.61
$18.57
$37.14
Estimated Tolls: $4.40
Garden State Parkway
(73.4 mi)$4.40
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
$14
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.2
0
$8.83
$4.04
Efficient EV
21
0
$7.36
$3.36
EV Truck/SUV
33.6
0
$11.77
$5.38
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Clifton, NJ
Morning
in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Crestwood Village, NJ
Morning
in Crestwood Village on Sunday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
23 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
1h 50m 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...
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 14.5
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 43.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm on the Garden State Parkway, which accounts for a significant 67.2-mile stretch of the journey. Expect a consistent interstate experience rather than a winding backroad adventure, as the route is engineered for speed and efficiency. Toward the end of the trip, you will transition off the Parkway onto CR 530 to reach your final destination. Because the road personality remains largely uniform throughout, you can anticipate a predictable and focused driving experience from start to finish.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.2 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.1 miles you will encounter 19 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 0.9 miles (CR 602 / Allwood Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: 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 Clifton, NJ and Crestwood Village, NJ, road signs point toward Cr 619 South, Cr 530, Beachwood, Cr 619, Gsp South and Gsp North: Jakes Branch County Park - among others.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 84.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.2 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.40 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.
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 Crestwood Village, 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 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 Crestwood Village, NJ before heading back.
