Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
22.4 mi
36 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good 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
Scotch Plains, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
This short, 22.4-mile drive from Clifton, NJ to Scotch Plains, NJ is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 37 minutes. With 86% of the route on highways, expect a focused driving experience. The estimated fuel cost is around $4, making it an economical choice for a quick journey within the Northeast region. This trip is ideal for those looking for a straightforward commute or a brief excursion without the need for an overnight stay. It's a practical option for getting from one point in New Jersey to another with minimal fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 12.3 mi | 17m |
| US 22 | 6.8 mi | 11m |
| Mountain Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Evergreen Boulevard | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Allwood Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Donna Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Westfield Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and Scotch Plains, 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
Take the exit
Merge onto US 22
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn slight right onto CR 634
Turn left onto Evergreen Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto Coles Avenue
Turn right onto Evergreen Boulevard
Turn right onto Westfield Avenue
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 14 — 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 GSP South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 22, NJ 82 East: Elizabeth, Somerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$3.71 one way
$7.43 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.07 | $8.13 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.34 | $8.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.95 | $9.89 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.74
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
| Efficient EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.96 | $0.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9 | 0 | $3.14 | $1.43 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Morning in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
6:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Scotch Plains on Sunday
Local time
6:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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.
The majority of this 37-minute drive, about 86%, is highway-focused, suggesting a predominantly high-speed experience. You'll encounter stretches on the Garden State Parkway, US 22, and Mountain Avenue. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 12.3 miles on the Garden State Parkway, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. While the profile indicates a highway-focused drive, the inclusion of US 22 and Mountain Avenue suggests a potential shift towards more local road conditions as you approach your destination. Expect a mix of efficient travel and potentially more varied traffic patterns later in the journey.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US 22. 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 18 decision points packed into just 22.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clifton, NJ and Scotch Plains, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp South and Somerville.
Gsp South
Somerville
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 37m. Total distance: 22.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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