Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
60 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
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
South Belmar, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Clifton, NJ to South Belmar, NJ is 60 miles and takes about 1 hour 22 minutes via the Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, taking you from the Northeast region down to the coast. Given its predominantly highway nature and manageable distance, it's a straightforward drive, ideal for a quick getaway or a simple transit. You'll find the route efficient, especially if you're aiming to reach the Jersey Shore without much fuss. Consider this an easy hop down the parkway to your destination.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 41 mi | 52m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| NJ 18 | 6.2 mi | 6m |
| West Sylvania Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| NJ 35 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Wayside Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and South Belmar, 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
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn left onto CR 38
Take the ramp
Merge onto NJ 18
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ 33
Take the exit
Continue on CR 17
Turn straight onto NJ 35
Turn left onto NJ 71
Turn right onto CR 30
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 30 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 0.2 and 56.2 — 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
Take the ramp toward NJ 3 West, GSP South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NJ 36 North, NJ 18: Eatontown, Long Branch, Tinton Falls
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 18 JCT: Tinton Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NJ 33 East: Neptune
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$10.03 one way
$20.05 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $11.03 | $22.07 |
| premium | $5.01 | $11.84 | $23.68 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $13.23 | $26.45 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.82
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$3
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 21 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
| Efficient EV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24 | 0 | $8.40 | $3.84 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% 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
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in South Belmar on Wednesday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
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.
You'll spend about 91% of this 60-mile trip on highways. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 41 miles, all on the Garden State Parkway. Expect a mostly highway experience until you approach your destination, where you'll transition to NJ 18. The density of exits on the Garden State Parkway is notable, so stay alert for your upcoming turns. This drive is primarily about efficient movement rather than leisurely cruising.
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.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60 miles you will encounter 21 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 48.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
130 ft
Total Descent
290 ft
Highest Point
178 ft
Elevation Range
160 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clifton, NJ and South Belmar, NJ, road signs point toward Long Branch, Tinton Falls and Gsp South.
Long Branch
Tinton Falls
Gsp South
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey.
Top landmarks
Founded 1924
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: 60 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 (91%). 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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