Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
26.2 mi
42 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Lake Telemark, NJ
Tom Fisk
If you are looking for a quick escape from Clifton, NJ, to Lake Telemark, this 26.2-mile journey is an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. You can expect to spend about 34 minutes behind the wheel, making it a very manageable drive for a spontaneous outing. With a modest fuel cost of approximately $4, it is an economical way to transition from the bustle of the Northeast region to a quieter destination. Since the entire trip is less than an hour, you do not need to worry about overnight accommodations. It is a straightforward route that offers plenty of flexibility, allowing you to head out whenever your schedule permits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 46 | 10.8 mi | 12m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| Green Pond Road | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Interstate 80 West | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| State Route 3 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Allwood Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Donna Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and Lake Telemark, 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
Merge onto US 46
Take the exit
Continue on I 80W
Take the exit
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto CR 513
Turn right onto Telemark Road
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 22.2 — 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 CR 513: Hibernia, Rockaway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward CR 513 North: Green Pond Road, Hibernia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$4.34 one way
$8.69 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.76 | $9.51 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.08 | $10.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.78 | $11.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.29 | $1.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.67 | $1.68 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
8:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Morning in Lake Telemark on Sunday
Local time
8:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°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.
This drive features a mixed profile that transitions from major thoroughfares to local roads. You will spend about 52% of your time on highways, providing a balanced experience behind the wheel. The longest uninterrupted section spans 10.8 miles along US 46, where you can settle into a steady pace before navigating the transition onto the Christopher Columbus Highway and Green Pond Road. As you progress, the road environment shifts, requiring you to adapt from faster highway speeds to the more localized feel of the later segments. It is a practical mix that keeps the drive engaging without being overly taxing.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 - 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 17 decision points packed into just 26.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
676 ft
Total Descent
153 ft
Highest Point
701 ft
~26.2 mi in
Elevation Range
533 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clifton, NJ and Lake Telemark, NJ, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah, Cr 513: Hibernia, Rockaway and Hibernia.
Del Water Gap
Mahwah
Cr 513: Hibernia
Rockaway
Hibernia
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 26.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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