Origin
Clifton, NJ
Late night in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clifton, NJ to East Franklin, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
34.8 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
East Franklin, NJ
Matt Weissinger
Trip Overview
This 34.8-mile drive from Clifton, NJ, to East Franklin, NJ, is a quick 56-minute trip, making it perfect for a single day. You'll spend about 83% of your time on highways, primarily utilizing the Garden State Parkway and US 1. With a projected fuel cost of around $6, this is an economical option for getting between these two Northeast New Jersey locations. The route is straightforward and focused on efficient travel, so it doesn't require an overnight stop. Consider this an easy transit rather than an extensive exploration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 22.1 mi | 30m |
| US 1 | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Hamilton Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Woodbridge Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Raritan Avenue | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Albany Street Bridge | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 22.1 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and East Franklin, 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 South
Use 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
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Garden State Parkway Southbound
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 130B-A
Toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 130B
Toward US 1 South: Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
US 1
16
Continue on US 1
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 1
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
US 1
18
Take the exit onto Woodbridge Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Woodbridge Avenue
Toward CR 514 West: Highland Park
19
Turn left onto NJ 27; CR 514
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Raritan Avenue
20
Continue on NJ 27; CR 514
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Albany Street Bridge
21
Turn right onto CR 514; CR 527
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Easton Avenue
22
Turn left onto CR 514
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Hamilton Street
23
Turn right onto North Lawrence Avenue
388 ft
·
17 sec
·
North Lawrence Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
North Lawrence Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.4 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 25.2 — 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
25 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
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 130B-A
Toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
9
25.2 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 130B
Toward US 1 South: Trenton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.77 one way
$11.54 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.32 | $12.64 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.75 | $13.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.68 | $15.37 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.40
Garden State Parkway
(23.3 mi)
$1.40
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
East Franklin, NJ
Late night in East Franklin on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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
56m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this journey, with 83% of the drive taking place on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.1 miles on the Garden State Parkway. While primarily highway, you will transition to US 1, offering a slightly different road feel before rejoining the parkway. The character of the drive is geared towards efficient travel, meaning fewer stops and a consistent pace for the majority of the trip.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.1 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 US 1. 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 Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 18 decision points packed into just 34.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
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.
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 East Franklin, NJ, road signs point toward Trenton and Cr 514 West: Highland Park.
Trenton
25 mi in
|
~37m
Cr 514 West: Highland Park
31.1 mi in
|
~46m
|
via Woodbridge Avenue
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 34.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.1 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.40 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 East Franklin, 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at East Franklin, NJ before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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