Clifton, NJ to Waretown, NJ is 86.9 miles and takes about 1h 53m via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within New Jersey, making it a straightforward point-to-point drive. Given its relatively short duration and mostly highway profile, it’s a practical choice for a same-day excursion or a quick transit. You’ll primarily be on a major parkway, so expect a consistent cruising experience. The low fuel cost also makes it an economical option for getting between these two New Jersey locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.5 miles from Clifton, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
72.7 mi
1h 30m
Garden State Parkway Southbound
6.2 mi
8m
South Main Street
3.3 mi
4m
Lacey Road
2.4 mi
4m
Clifton Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
US 9
0.3 mi
<1m
Allwood Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Donna Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 72.7 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and Waretown, 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
50 mi·58 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·59 sec
Exit 74Toward Forked RiverUse the right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
160 ft·3 sec
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto CR 614
2.4 mi·4 min·Lacey Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto US 9
3.3 mi·4 min·South Main Street
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on US 9
0.3 mi·23 sec·US 9
20
Turn left onto CR 612
92 ft·2 sec·Bryant Road
21
Arrive at destination
CR 612
Trip Plan
For this 1h 53m drive, departing Clifton, NJ, aim to leave after the morning rush hour, perhaps around 9:30 AM, to avoid heavier traffic. The 86.9-mile trip is short enough that you won't need to plan for overnight stops. You can easily complete this drive in one go, but if you prefer a break, consider a quick stop about halfway through the 72.7-mile stretch on the Garden State Parkway. Keep an eye on your fuel level, as the estimated cost is around $15, and plan your final approach into Waretown via South Main Street accordingly.
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 43.5 miles from Clifton, NJ, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.7 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 19 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.5 miles or 59m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waretown, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clifton, NJ
This is one driving day of about 86.9 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 72.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 43.5 miles from Clifton, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 80.6 — 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
7
80.6 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward Forked River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 74
Toward Forked River
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.93 one way
$29.87 round trip
$4.37/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.79
$16.39
$32.78
premium
$5.13
$17.54
$35.08
diesel
$5.97
$20.41
$40.83
Estimated Tolls: $4.73
Garden State Parkway
(78.9 mi)$4.73
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
$15
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.1
0
$9.12
$4.17
Efficient EV
21.7
0
$7.60
$3.48
EV Truck/SUV
34.8
0
$12.17
$5.56
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Sep 1, 2026
Origin
Clifton, NJ
Morning
in Clifton on Saturday
Local time
7:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
NE 2 to 6 mph88% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 1 at 7:21PM EDT until September 1 at 7:45PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 1 at 7:19PM EDT until September 1 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Waretown, NJ
Morning
in Waretown on Saturday
Local time
7:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
NE 0 to 5 mph58% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 1 at 7:21PM EDT until September 1 at 7:45PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 1 at 7:19PM EDT until September 1 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 53m 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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 91% of the 86.9 miles on paved roads designed for higher speeds. You'll experience a long stretch of 72.7 miles on the Garden State Parkway Southbound before encountering surface streets like South Main Street. Expect a significant number of exits and potential traffic merging as you navigate this portion. The transition from highway to local roads will likely be noticeable as you get closer to Waretown.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.7 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.9 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.9 miles (CR 602 / Allwood Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
178 ft12 ft
Total Climb
225 ft
Total Descent
391 ft
Highest Point
178 ft
Elevation Range
167 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Clifton, NJ to Waretown, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Forked River along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 86.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.7 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.73 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.
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 Waretown, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 Waretown, NJ before heading back.
