Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
29.2 mi
47 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
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
Dunellen, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
This 29.2-mile drive from Clifton to Dunellen, New Jersey, is a quick trip that can easily be completed in under an hour, with an estimated duration of 48 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey designed for a single day, so no overnight stays are necessary. You'll primarily be on US 22 and the Garden State Parkway, with a small portion on Washington Avenue. The estimated fuel cost is around $5, making it an economical choice for a short excursion. Given its brevity and highway nature, this route is best suited for efficient travel between these two Northeast New Jersey locations.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 22 | 13.4 mi | 21m |
| Garden State Parkway | 12.3 mi | 17m |
| Washington Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Dunellen Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Allwood Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Donna Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Olga B Terrace | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and Dunellen, 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
Take the exit
Merge onto US 22
Take the exit
Turn left
Turn left onto CR 529
Turn right onto Dunellen Avenue
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 14 — 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
At end of road, turn right onto CR 602 / Allwood Road
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward NJ 3 West, GSP South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward GSP South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 22, NJ 82 East: Elizabeth, Somerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$4.84 one way
$9.68 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.30 | $10.60 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.66 | $11.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.45 | $12.89 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.74
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
| Efficient EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.55 | $1.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.09 | $1.87 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Late night in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Dunellen on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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.
Expect an 88% highway-focused experience on this route. The drive will be dominated by the efficiency of major roadways, offering a consistent pace for most of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 13.4 miles on US 22, providing a solid segment of continuous highway driving. While primarily highway, the inclusion of Washington Avenue suggests a brief transition, but the overall character remains geared towards quick transit rather than scenic exploration.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 22 and Garden State Parkway. 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.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 29.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Clifton, NJ to Dunellen, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Somerville along the way.
Somerville
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 29.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). 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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