Origin
Clifton, NJ
Morning in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
7:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clifton, NJ to West Windsor, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
51.3 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
West Windsor, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 51.3-mile drive from Clifton, NJ to West Windsor, NJ is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 18 minutes, making it ideal for a single day. You'll primarily be on US 1 and the Garden State Parkway Southbound, with a 90% highway share. The estimated fuel cost is around $9, reflecting its relatively short distance and efficient route. This journey stays within the Northeast region, offering a practical travel option for those looking to move between these New Jersey locations without a significant time commitment or overnight stay. Consider this a smooth, highway-focused transition.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 23 mi | 33m |
| Garden State Parkway | 22.1 mi | 30m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Washington Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Princeton-Hightstown Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Penn Lyle Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Clarksville Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 23 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and West Windsor, 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 South
Use 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
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Garden State Parkway Southbound
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 130B-A
Toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 130B
Toward US 1 South: Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
US 1
16
Continue on US 1
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 1
7.4 mi
·
11 min
·
US 1
Use the slight right lane.
18
Continue on US 1
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
276 ft
·
4 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
387 ft
·
6 sec
·
US 1
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 1
22
Continue on US 1
9.5 mi
·
13 min
·
US 1
23
Enter roundabout onto CR 526; CR 571
342 ft
·
8 sec
·
Washington Road
24
Continue on CR 526; CR 571
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington Road
25
Continue on CR 526; CR 571
81 ft
·
2 sec
·
Washington Road
26
Turn right onto NJ 64; CR 526; CR 571
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Princeton-Hightstown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Clarksville Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Turn left onto Penn Lyle Road
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Penn Lyle Road
29
Turn left onto Canoe Brook Drive
406 ft
·
19 sec
·
Canoe Brook Drive
30
Turn right onto Princeton Place
378 ft
·
21 sec
·
Princeton Place
31
Turn left onto Ziff Lane
475 ft
·
20 sec
·
Ziff Lane
32
Arrive at destination
Ziff Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.7 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 35.3 — 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
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
8
25 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
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 130B-A
Toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
9
25.2 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 130B
Toward US 1 South: Trenton
7
35.3 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.50 one way
$17.01 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.31 | $18.63 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.95 | $19.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.33 | $22.65 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.40
Garden State Parkway
(23.3 mi)
$1.40
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.39 | $2.46 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.49 | $2.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.18 | $3.28 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
West Windsor, NJ
Morning in West Windsor on Sunday
Local time
7:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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
1h 18m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route. With a 90% highway share, you'll encounter fast-paced driving for most of the 51.3 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 23 miles on US 1, so be prepared for sustained highway travel. While the profile is highway-focused, transitions between the main roads like US 1 and the Garden State Parkway Southbound are part of the journey. This isn't a winding, scenic byway, but rather a functional route designed for efficient travel between points.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23 mi on US 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and Garden State Parkway. 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 Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.3 miles you will encounter 23 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 25 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 West Windsor, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Trenton along the way.
Trenton
25 mi in
|
~37m
About the Cities
Starting in Clifton, NJ
Full guide →Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey.
Arriving in West Windsor, NJ
Full guide →West Windsor is a township of 28,000 people (2019) in New Jersey. It is among the highest-income municipalities in New Jersey. It is largely made up of expensive houses in carefully groomed developments.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 51.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23 miles on US 1. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.40 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 West Windsor, 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 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 West Windsor, NJ before heading back.
How this page is built
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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