Clifton, NJ to Leisure Knoll, NJ is 74.4 miles and takes about 1h 39m via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within New Jersey. You'll be spending nearly all your time on the Garden State Parkway, making for a straightforward, predominantly highway commute. Given the short duration and minimal stops, this is an ideal same-day excursion for anyone looking for an efficient drive between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.2 miles from Clifton, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
57.8 mi
1h 12m
NJ 70
7.1 mi
11m
Garden State Parkway Southbound
6.2 mi
8m
Clifton Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Buckingham Drive North
0.3 mi
<1m
Colonial Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Allwood Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Donna Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 57.8 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and Leisure Knoll, 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 SouthUse 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
6.2 mi·8 min·Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi·49 sec·Garden State Parkway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
35 mi·40 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 89C-B-AToward NJ 70, CR 528: Lakehurst, BrickUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 89B-AToward NJ 70: Brick, Lakehurst
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 89BToward NJ 70 West: LakehurstUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto NJ 70
7.1 mi·11 min·NJ 70
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Colonial Drive
0.2 mi·28 sec·Colonial Drive
20
Turn right onto Buckingham Drive North
0.3 mi·52 sec·Buckingham Drive North
21
Arrive at destination
Buckingham Drive North
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 1h 39m drive, flexibility is your best friend. Leaving mid-morning, perhaps after the initial rush hour, can offer a smoother start. With only 74.4 miles, you likely won't need many stops, but if you do, the Garden State Parkway has service areas. Keep an eye on your fuel; at an estimated $13 cost, it's manageable, but it's always wise to top off before heading out, especially since the longest stretch without exits is nearly 58 miles. Pay close attention to the exit numbers for NJ 70 as you approach Leisure Knoll.
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 37.2 miles from Clifton, NJ, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.8 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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.2 miles or 51m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leisure Knoll, 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 74.4 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 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 57.8 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 66.3 — 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
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
65.6 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward NJ 70, CR 528: Lakehurst, Brick
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 89C-B-A
Toward NJ 70, CR 528: Lakehurst, Brick
7
65.9 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 70: Brick, Lakehurst
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 89B-A
Toward NJ 70: Brick, Lakehurst
8
66.3 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 70 West: Lakehurst
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 89B
Toward NJ 70 West: Lakehurst
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.86 one way
$23.73 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$13.13
$26.26
premium
$4.81
$14.08
$28.17
diesel
$4.80
$14.05
$28.10
Estimated Tolls: $3.83
Garden State Parkway
(64 mi)$3.83
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
$12
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.3
0
$7.81
$3.57
Efficient EV
18.6
0
$6.51
$2.98
EV Truck/SUV
29.8
0
$10.42
$4.76
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Clifton, NJ
Morning
in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
11:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
W 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Leisure Knoll, NJ
Morning
in Leisure Knoll on Sunday
Local time
11:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Sunny
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
1 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
1h 39m 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...
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...
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 15.4
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed, highway-focused experience for this drive, with 96% of the 74.4 miles on major roadways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 57.8 miles on the Garden State Parkway. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you near your destination, indicating a shift in the driving environment. The abundance of exits on the Parkway means you'll need to stay attentive when approaching your turn-off.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.8 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 70. 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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.4 miles you will encounter 18 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 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.6 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 ft23 ft
Total Climb
363 ft
Total Descent
470 ft
Highest Point
178 ft
Elevation Range
155 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 Leisure Knoll, NJ, road signs point toward Cr 528: Lakehurst, Brick and Lakehurst.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 74.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.8 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.83 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.
Yes — we found about 12 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 Leisure Knoll, 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 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Leisure Knoll, NJ before heading back.
