Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
55.7 mi
90 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
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
Lawrenceville, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Clifton, NJ to Lawrenceville, NJ is 55.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 22 minutes via US 1 and Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, traversing the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major roadways, making it a convenient option for a quick hop. Given its short duration and minimal stops, it's well-suited for a same-day excursion.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 27.2 mi | 39m |
| Garden State Parkway | 22.1 mi | 30m |
| I 295 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.6 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 Lawrenceville, 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
Continue on Garden State Parkway
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Take the exit
Merge onto I 295
Take the exit
Merge onto US 206
Continue on US 206
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.9 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 54.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward NJ 3 West, GSP South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 206 North: Lawrenceville, Princeton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$9.31 one way
$18.61 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $10.24 | $20.49 |
| premium | $5.01 | $10.99 | $21.98 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $12.28 | $24.56 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.40
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.85 | $2.67 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.80 | $3.56 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (63% 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
Night in Clifton on Thursday
Local time
10:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Night in Lawrenceville on Thursday
Local time
10:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Chance Rain Showers
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 route is predominantly highway driving, with 93% of the trip on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 27.2 miles on US 1, which will likely feature numerous exits and entrances typical of a heavily traveled artery. The majority of the drive will feel like cruising on expressways, but be prepared for the transition to surface roads as you approach your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.7 miles you will encounter 20 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 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
196 ft
Total Descent
250 ft
Highest Point
181 ft
~4 mi in
Elevation Range
172 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Clifton, NJ to Lawrenceville, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Trenton along the way.
Trenton
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey.
Top landmarks
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 55.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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