Trip from Clifton, NJ to Island Heights, NJ

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 41m

Distance

77.7 mi

125 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

1h 34m ★

6 AM

1h 42m

8 AM

1h 57m

10 AM

1h 47m

12 PM

1h 46m

3 PM

1h 48m

5 PM

1h 56m

8 PM

1h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

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city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States

Clifton, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Island Heights, NJ

Aisling Kerr

Trip Overview

The drive from Clifton, NJ to Island Heights, NJ covers 77.7 miles and takes about 1h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Garden State Parkway, Garden State Parkway Southbound, Route 37 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.7 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.35 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

38.9 miles from Clifton, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Garden State Parkway	65.7 mi	1h 21m
Garden State Parkway Southbound	6.2 mi	8m
Route 37 East	3 mi	4m
Central Avenue	0.7 mi	1m
Clifton Avenue	0.5 mi	1m
Route 37 West	0.3 mi	<1m
Allwood Road	0.2 mi	<1m
Donna Drive	0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 65.7 mi, about 1h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and Island Heights, NJ.

Start on Holly Street

516 ft · 26 sec · Holly Street

Turn left onto Donna Drive

0.1 mi · 34 sec · Donna Drive

At end of road, turn right onto Olga B Terrace

441 ft · 21 sec · Olga B Terrace

Turn right onto Hutton Road

39 ft · 7 sec · Hutton Road

Turn left onto Olga B Terrace

174 ft · 13 sec · Olga B Terrace

Turn left onto NJ 161

0.5 mi · 1 min · Clifton Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto CR 602

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Allwood Road

Use the right lane.

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Toward NJ 3 West, GSP South

Merge onto NJ 3

304 ft · 4 sec · State Route 3

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec

Toward GSP South Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto GSP

22 mi · 30 min · Garden State Parkway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Continue on Garden State Parkway

6.2 mi · 8 min · Garden State Parkway Southbound

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Garden State Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto GSP

43 mi · 50 min · Garden State Parkway

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 48 sec

Exit 82 Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park Use the right lane.

Merge onto NJ 37

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Route 37 West

Continue on NJ 37

3.0 mi · 4 min · Route 37 East

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto (627)

0.7 mi · 1 min · Central Avenue

Arrive at destination

(627)

Trip Plan

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 38.9 miles from Clifton, NJ, or about 53m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.7 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 17 miles or 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 38.9 miles or 53m 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 25m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Island Heights, 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 77.7 miles and 1h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 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 65.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

New York City, NY

39 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

New York City, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brooklyn, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38.9 miles from Clifton, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.7 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · early in the drive

Oasis Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cranford, New Jersey

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch · 22min in 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $30 to $50

Hours: 12–9:30 pm

+19089676161

Visit website

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Union, New Jersey

1.8 mi

Giorgio's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

South Orange Village, New Jersey

2.2 mi

Best coffee break · around the midpoint

Filoncino Bakery Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Red Bank, New Jersey

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset · 58min in / 44min to go 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+17323770404

Visit website

Eagle Rock Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Montclair, New Jersey

2.6 mi

Oasis Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $30 to $50

Cranford, New Jersey

Hours: 12–9:30 pm

+19089676161

Visit website

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately

Union, New Jersey

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+19083966401

Visit website

Giorgio's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately

South Orange Village, New Jersey

Hours: 12–3 pm

+19737624440

Visit website

Restaurant Lorena's

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $50 to $10

Maplewood, New Jersey

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19737634460

Visit website

Amsterdam Alley Bar & Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

Linden, New Jersey

Hours: 12 pm–12 am

+19089254166

Visit website

Deluca's Italian Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour Moderately

Staten Island, New York

Hours: 12–9 pm

+17182277200

Visit website

Fiore Rosso Restaurant & Catering

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $30 to $50

Toms River, New Jersey

Hours: 5–9 pm

+17322553323

Visit website

Princess Maria's 2 Pizza & Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Brick Township, New Jersey

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+17327146471

Visit website

Filoncino Bakery Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Red Bank, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+17323770404

Visit website

Eagle Rock Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Montclair, New Jersey

Hours: 7:30 am–5:30 pm

+19733586543

Visit website

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Union, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

3.1 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Tinton Falls, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Fords Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Woodbridge, New Jersey

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+17327453900

Visit website

Nomahegan Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Westfield, New Jersey

Hours: 5 am–9 pm

+19082330028

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 73.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

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.

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

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

73.6 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in

Take the exit toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Exit 82 Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beac...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.35 one way

$26.71 round trip

$4.37/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.79	$14.65	$29.31
premium	$5.13	$15.68	$31.37
diesel	$5.97	$18.25	$36.51

Estimated Tolls: $4.31

Garden State Parkway (71.9 mi) $4.31

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

$13

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	23.3	$8.16	$3.73
Efficient EV	19.4	$6.80	$3.11
EV Truck/SUV	31.1	$10.88	$4.97

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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 Sep 1, 2026

Origin

Clifton, NJ

Morning in Clifton on Saturday

Local time

6:55 AM

EDT

Current temp

85°F

Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

W 5 mph 90% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 2:30AM EDT until September 1 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Destination

Island Heights, NJ

Morning in Island Heights on Saturday

Local time

6:55 AM

EDT

Current temp

87°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 5 mph 43% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 2:30AM EDT until September 1 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

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

2 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 41m 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...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 near mile 8

Caution: Glenmont Heat Advisory

View on nps.gov

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free

View on nps.gov

Morristown National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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 16.1

View on nps.gov

Gateway National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

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 42.9

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

77.7 mi in 1h 41m, mostly highway — 65.7 mi of that is on Garden State Parkway.

97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 65.7 mi on Garden State Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

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 Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.7 miles you will encounter 15 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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

178 ft 9 ft

Total Climb

214 ft

Total Descent

360 ft

Highest Point

178 ft

Elevation Range

169 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 Island Heights, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Island Beach State Park along the way.

Island Beach State Park

73.6 mi in | ~1h 34m

About the Cities

Starting in Clifton, NJ

Full guide →

Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey.

Top landmarks

• United States Animal Quarantine Station — historic building complex in Clifton, New Jersey
• Garritse-Doremus-Westervelt House — historic farmhouse in Clifton, New Jersey

Arriving in Island Heights, NJ

Full guide →

Founded 1887

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 77.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 65.7 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $4.31 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 Island Heights, 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.

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 Island Heights, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Clifton, NJ to Island Heights, NJ

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Oasis Restaurant

Filoncino Bakery Cafe

Oasis Restaurant

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge

Giorgio's Restaurant

Restaurant Lorena's

Amsterdam Alley Bar & Restaurant

Deluca's Italian Restaurant

Fiore Rosso Restaurant & Catering

Princess Maria's 2 Pizza & Restaurant

Filoncino Bakery Cafe

Eagle Rock Cafe

C Squared Cafe

Electrify America Charging Station

EVgo Charging Station

Rivian Adventure Network

Electrify America Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

EVgo Charging Station

Fords Park

Nomahegan Park

Cornucopia Cruise Lines

Conference House Park

Military Park

Echo Lake Park

Kids 'N Shape - Staten Island

Mindowaskin Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Clifton, NJ

Island Heights, NJ

Same local time

2 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 41m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park

Gateway National Recreation Area

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Clifton, NJ

Arriving in Island Heights, NJ

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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