Origin
Cranbury, NJ
Morning in Cranbury on Sunday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cranbury, NJ to Clifton, 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 8m
Distance
48 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cranbury, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Cranbury to Clifton is a straightforward 48-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 8 minutes. Since this trip is well within the range of a single day, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend roughly $8 on fuel for the entire trip, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares like the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway to navigate the Northeast corridor. Because it is a highway-focused drive, it is best suited for commuters or travelers looking for efficiency rather than a leisurely backroad tour.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 22.2 mi | 30m |
| New Jersey Turnpike | 16.6 mi | 19m |
| South River Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Allwood Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Cranbury-South River Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Passaic Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Passaic Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 22.2 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cranbury, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on CR 535
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Plainsboro Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto CR 535
236 ft
·
6 sec
·
Maplewood Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 535
287 ft
·
9 sec
·
Half Acre Road
4
Turn left onto US 130; CR 535
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 130; CR 535
5
Turn slight right onto CR 535
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South River Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on CR 535
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Cranbury-South River Road
7
Turn right onto NJ 32
158 ft
·
2 sec
·
Forsgate Drive
Use the right lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJTP Toll, I 95 Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 95, NJTP North: New York City
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
17 mi
·
19 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 11
Toward US 9, GSP: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto GSP
22 mi
·
30 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft
·
15 sec
·
Watchung Avenue
17
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Passaic Avenue
18
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Passaic Avenue
19
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft
·
7 sec
·
Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
261 ft
·
4 sec
·
Allwood Road
22
Continue on CR 602
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Allwood Road
23
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clifton Avenue
24
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft
·
9 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
25
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hutton Road
26
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft
·
25 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
27
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Donna Drive
28
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft
·
22 sec
·
Holly Street
29
Arrive at destination
Holly Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 24 miles from Cranbury, 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 3.5 and 44.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95, NJTP North: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95, NJTP North: New York City
6
3.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
21 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward US 9, GSP: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
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 11
Toward US 9, GSP: Garden State Parkway, Woodbri...
7
21.6 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
8
44.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward Montclair, Nutley
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 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.96 one way
$15.92 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.72 | $17.43 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.31 | $18.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.60 | $21.20 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.66
New Jersey Turnpike
(16.6 mi)
$2.33
Garden State Parkway
(22.2 mi)
$1.33
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$4
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.04 | $2.30 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.72 | $3.07 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Clifton, NJ
Morning in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
2 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 8m 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?
This drive is defined by its high-speed efficiency, with 81% of the route spent on major highways. You will experience a mix of heavy-duty transit, specifically when transitioning between the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Garden State Parkway, where you will cover 22.2 miles without needing to exit. While the trip includes segments of South River Road, the overall personality of the drive is that of a fast-paced interstate commute. Expect a consistent flow of traffic as you navigate these primary arteries through the region.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.2 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in.
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 48 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 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21 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.
Between Cranbury, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll, Njtp North: New York City, Woodbridge, Montclair and Nutley.
Njtp Toll
2.9 mi in
|
~5m
Njtp North: New York City
3.5 mi in
|
~6m
Woodbridge
21 mi in
|
~28m
Montclair
44.5 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Nutley
44.5 mi in
|
~1h 1m
About the Cities
Arriving in Clifton, NJ
Full guide →Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey.
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 8m. Total distance: 48 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.2 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.66 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. 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 Clifton, 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 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21 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 Clifton, 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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