Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 15m
Distance
104.4 mi
168 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
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
Mantua, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Clifton, NJ to Mantua, NJ is 104.4 miles and takes about 2h 15m via New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within New Jersey, taking you from the Northeast region down towards the southern part of the state. Expect a mostly highway experience, making it a straightforward and efficient trip if you're looking to get from point A to point B quickly. With a duration under three hours and a minimal fuel cost, this is a very manageable same-day drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.2 miles from Clifton, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur | 60.9 mi | 1h 13m |
| New Jersey Turnpike | 25.3 mi | 29m |
| State Route 3 | 4.4 mi | 4m |
| Mantua Pike | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Broadway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| West Kings Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Black Horse Pike | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Broad Street | 1.3 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and Mantua, 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 left onto CR 602
Enter roundabout onto CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Take the ramp
Merge onto NJ 3
Take the exit
Continue on Sheraton Plaza Drive
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; NJTP
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto NJ 168
Turn left onto CR 551 Spur
At end of road, turn left onto US 130; CR 551 Spur
Enter roundabout onto NJ 47; CR 551
Continue on NJ 47; CR 551
Continue on NJ 47; CR 551
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 551
Continue on CR 551
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 551
Continue on Washington Avenue
Turn right onto Edith Avenue
Turn left onto NJ 45; CR 551
Continue on NJ 45
Turn slight right
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 15 minutes, this trip is best suited for a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential rush hour congestion, especially around the northern New Jersey Turnpike. You can complete this drive without needing to stop for fuel based on the $17 estimate, but it's always wise to check your tank before leaving Clifton. Since it's not a long drive, you have the flexibility to make a brief stop if needed, perhaps for a quick break about halfway through the 104.4-mile distance.
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.
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 23 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.2 miles or 1h 6m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mantua, NJ than in the middle of the route.
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 104.4 miles and 2h 15m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 52.2 miles from Clifton, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.9 miles.
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 0.9 and 94.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto CR 602 / Allwood Road
Lane positioning matters here
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
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
Take the exit toward NJ 168: Camden, Atlantic City Expressway
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 NJ 168 North: Camden, Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$17.44 one way
$34.89 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $19.20 | $38.40 |
| premium | $5.01 | $20.60 | $41.20 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $23.01 | $46.03 |
Estimated Tolls: $12.07
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
$17
Tolls
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.96 | $5.01 |
| Efficient EV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.14 | $4.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.8 | 0 | $14.62 | $6.68 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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
Late night in Clifton on Wednesday
Local time
1:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Mantua on Wednesday
Local time
1:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Partly Cloudy
81°F
Bristol, PA
52 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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This drive is predominantly highway, with 87% of the route on major roads. You'll encounter a long stretch of 60.9 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur, which is the longest continuous section without a major road change. After this, you'll transition to surface roads for the remaining portion of your trip, likely noticing more frequent exits and local traffic as you approach Mantua.
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 0.9 miles in near CR 602 / Allwood Road.
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 27 significant decision points across 104.4 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 0.9 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; at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
242 ft
Total Descent
391 ft
Highest Point
178 ft
Elevation Range
165 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clifton, NJ and Mantua, NJ, road signs point toward Rutherford, American Dream, Stadium, Racetrack, Training Facility and Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike - among others.
Rutherford
American Dream
Stadium
Racetrack
Training Facility
Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
Njtp South: Newark
Njtp South: Camden
Wilmington
Philadelphia
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey.
Top landmarks
Founded 1853
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 104.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). 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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