Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
11.9 mi
19 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
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
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
This short 11.9-mile drive between Clifton and Union City, New Jersey, is easily manageable in just 18 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip with no need for an overnight stay. You'll primarily navigate along State Route 3 and John F. Kennedy Boulevard, with about 68% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is a modest $2, reflecting its brief distance. This drive is focused on efficient travel within the Northeast region, connecting two points in New Jersey without venturing into vastly different landscapes. It's a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Route 3 | 7.8 mi | 8m |
| Allwood Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| NJ 495 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Bloomfield Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 30th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Donna Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and Union City, 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
Merge onto NJ 495
Take the exit
Continue on 30th Street
Turn left onto CR 501
Continue on CR 501
Turn right onto 47th Street
At end of road, turn right onto Bergenline Avenue
Turn right onto 45th Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 10.5 — 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 left onto CR 602 / Allwood Road
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel, Kennedy Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Kennedy Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$1.97 one way
$3.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.16 | $4.32 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.31 | $4.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.63 | $5.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.25 | $0.57 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.04 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.67 | $0.76 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Union City on Sunday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°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.
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 11.9-mile trip, as indicated by its 68% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.8 miles on State Route 3, suggesting a period of consistent, faster-paced driving. You'll also utilize Allwood Road and John F. Kennedy Boulevard, which may offer slightly different driving conditions as you transition. This route is designed for getting you to your destination relatively quickly, with less emphasis on scenic detours and more on direct travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 3 and Allwood Road. 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 - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 11.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 18m.
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 2.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey.
Union City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey. Union City is a small city, roughly 1.283 square miles. It is bordered by Weehawken to the east, Jersey City to the south, North Bergen to the west and north, and West New York to the north.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 11.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). 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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