If you are planning a trip from Clifton to Jefferson, New Jersey, expect a journey covering 111.7 miles. You should budget approximately 2 hours and 18 minutes of travel time, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. Given the direct nature of the trip, an overnight stay is unnecessary, allowing you to complete the route in one go. You can anticipate fuel costs to hover around $18 for the transit. Because this entire route remains within the Northeast region of New Jersey, you will experience a consistent local atmosphere from start to finish.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.8 miles from Clifton, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur
60.9 mi
1h 13m
New Jersey Turnpike
38.6 mi
44m
State Route 3
4.4 mi
4m
Swedesboro Road
3 mi
5m
Allwood Road
1 mi
1m
Bridgeton Pike
1 mi
1m
Clifton Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Bloomfield Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur
— 60.9 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and Jefferson, 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 left onto CR 602
1.0 mi·1 min·Allwood Road
Use the left lane.
8
Enter roundabout onto CR 622
65 ft·1 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
9
Continue on CR 622
0.2 mi·27 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Use the left lane.
11
Merge onto NJ 3
4.4 mi·4 min·State Route 3
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward East Rutherford, American Dream, Stadium, Racetrack, Training FacilityUse the slight right lane.
13
Continue on Sheraton Plaza Drive
0.2 mi·22 sec·Sheraton Plaza Drive
14
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: NewarkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
6.3 mi·8 min·New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; NJTP
55 mi·1 hr 4 min·New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
39 mi·44 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Toward NJTP South: Camden, Wilmington
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 2Toward US 322: Swedesboro, GlassboroUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn slight right
173 ft·7 sec
Toward US 322 East: Glassboro
21
Merge onto US 322; CR 536
3.0 mi·5 min·Swedesboro Road
Use the right lane.
22
Turn left onto NJ 45
347 ft·5 sec·North Main Street
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on NJ 45
1.0 mi·1 min·Bridgeton Pike
24
Arrive at destination
NJ 45
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 2-hour and 18-minute drive without scheduled stops, the primary advantage is your ability to remain flexible with your departure time. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential local traffic congestion, as the turn-heavy nature of the route can feel more taxing during rush hour. Keep your $18 fuel budget in mind and ensure your tank is ready before you depart Clifton, as you will not be hitting any major highway service centers. Because the route relies on local roads like Hutton Road, stay alert for frequent turns and intersection changes that require steady navigation.
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 55.8 miles from Clifton, NJ, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.9 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 25 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.8 miles or 1h 11m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jefferson, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clifton, NJ
This is one driving day of about 111.7 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Clifton, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur for about 60.9 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 107.4 — 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
7
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|CR 602 / Allwood Road
At end of road, turn left onto CR 602 / Allwood Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
6.6 mi into trip|~10m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Toward East Rutherford, American Dream, Stadium...
8
7.5 mi into trip|~12m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Newark
8
107.4 mi into trip|~2h 11m in
Take the exit toward US 322: Swedesboro, Glassboro
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 2
Toward US 322: Swedesboro, Glassboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.75 one way
$39.51 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$21.64
$43.27
premium
$5.24
$23.06
$46.12
diesel
$5.35
$23.53
$47.05
Estimated Tolls: $13.94
New Jersey Turnpike
(99.5 mi)$13.94
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
$20
Tolls
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.5
0
$11.73
$5.36
Efficient EV
27.9
0
$9.77
$4.47
EV Truck/SUV
44.7
0
$15.64
$7.15
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Clifton, NJ
Afternoon
in Clifton on Wednesday
Local time
3:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 5 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Jefferson, NJ
Afternoon
in Jefferson on Wednesday
Local time
3:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
73°F
Lawrence, NJ
56 mi in
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
3 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
2h 18m 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.
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
Caution: Limited Amphitheater Accessibility
Caution: Overlook Park Parking Lot - Vehicles Must Be Parked in a Designated Spot
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...
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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 19.3
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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 30.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. You will navigate primarily via Donna Drive, Olga B Terrace, and Hutton Road, avoiding highways entirely. With a 0% highway share, the experience is defined by constant maneuvering on local streets rather than a monotonous interstate grind. There are no long, uninterrupted stretches on this path, so expect a technical drive that keeps you engaged. The road's personality is strictly local, prioritizing surface streets over high-speed transit.
93% 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: 60.9 mi on New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur and New Jersey Turnpike. 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 Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 111.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
178 ft-1 ft
Total Climb
298 ft
Total Descent
331 ft
Highest Point
178 ft
Elevation Range
179 ft
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 Jefferson, NJ, road signs point toward Rutherford, American Dream, Stadium, Racetrack, Training Facility and Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike - among others.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 111.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.9 miles on New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $13.94 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. 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.
Yes — we found about 19 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Jefferson, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area (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 Jefferson, NJ before heading back.
