Clifton, NJ to Pomona, NJ is 115.6 miles and takes about 2h 26m via Garden State Parkway Southbound, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, making it a convenient drive for those in the Northeast region. Expect a straightforward journey primarily on a major parkway, with minimal deviations. It's a practical option for reaching your destination efficiently, with the entire trip feasible within a single day. The fuel cost is estimated at $19, making it an economical choice for a weekend getaway or a quick trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.8 miles from Clifton, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
103.7 mi
2h 5m
Garden State Parkway Southbound
6.2 mi
8m
Pomona Road
3.4 mi
6m
Clifton Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Allwood Road
0.2 mi
<1m
White Horse Pike
0.2 mi
<1m
Donna Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Olga B Terrace
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 103.7 mi, about 2h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and Pomona, 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
81 mi·1 hr 34 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 44Toward CR 575, CR 561 ALT: PomonaUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto CR 561 Alternate; CR 575
3.4 mi·6 min·Pomona Road
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn left onto US 30
506 ft·43 sec·White Horse Pike
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 30
443 ft·5 sec·White Horse Pike
19
Arrive at destination
US 30
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 26m drive time and 115.6 miles, leaving anytime in the morning should allow you to arrive with ample daylight. Since this is a single-day trip and only 95% highway, you won't need to plan for overnight stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch on the Garden State Parkway, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost is around $19, so ensure you start with a full tank. A practical tip for this route: be aware that the Garden State Parkway has tolls, so have your payment method ready.
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 57.8 miles from Clifton, NJ, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.7 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 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.8 miles or 1h 15m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pomona, 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 115.6 miles and 2h 26m.
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 Garden State Parkway for about 103.7 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 111.5 — 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
6
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|CR 602 / Allwood Road
At end of road, turn right onto CR 602 / Allwood Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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
6
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward GSP South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward GSP South
8
111.5 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward CR 575, CR 561 ALT: Pomona
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 44
Toward CR 575, CR 561 ALT: Pomona
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.44 one way
$40.89 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$22.39
$44.78
premium
$5.24
$23.87
$47.73
diesel
$5.35
$24.35
$48.70
Estimated Tolls: $6.58
Garden State Parkway
(109.9 mi)$6.58
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
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.7
0
$12.14
$5.55
Efficient EV
28.9
0
$10.12
$4.62
EV Truck/SUV
46.2
0
$16.18
$7.40
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
14 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 3, 2026
Origin
Clifton, NJ
Afternoon
in Clifton on Wednesday
Local time
3:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
N 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pomona, NJ
Afternoon
in Pomona on Wednesday
Local time
3:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
E 5 to 10 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
4 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 26m 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 15.9
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 43.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the journey on high-speed roads. You'll spend the majority of your time on the Garden State Parkway Southbound, including a significant uninterrupted stretch of 103.7 miles. This means you can expect a consistent pace and minimal traffic interruptions, characteristic of a parkway experience. The drive is largely predictable, allowing for a relaxed cruising speed for most of the 2h 26m duration. Prepare for a smooth, direct path with limited engagement with local roads.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.7 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Garden State Parkway Southbound. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 115.6 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 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 115.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.7 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.58 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 14 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 Pomona, 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 14 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 1.1 miles: 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 Pomona, NJ before heading back.
