Traveling from Deerfield to Clifton covers 123.3 miles of New Jersey scenery, a journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 11 minutes. Because this is a compact trip within the Northeast, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $20 for fuel, making this an affordable transit between the two points. You will navigate via local roads like Pole Tavern Circle, Bridgeton Pike, and Ellis Mill Road rather than relying on major interstates. It is a straightforward drive that works well for those looking to reach their destination efficiently while avoiding the stress of heavy highway traffic.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
60.1 miles from Deerfield, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
64.5 mi
1h 14m
Garden State Parkway
22.2 mi
30m
Veterans Memorial Highway
9.6 mi
11m
NJ 77
6.6 mi
9m
Ellis Mill Road
4 mi
7m
Bridgeton Pike
3.8 mi
5m
Allwood Road
1 mi
1m
Black Horse Pike
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 64.5 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Deerfield, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on CR 540
36 ft·7 sec·West Deerfield Road
2
Turn left onto NJ 77
6.6 mi·9 min·NJ 77
3
Enter roundabout onto NJ 77
86 ft·1 sec·Bridgeton Pike
4
Continue on NJ 77
3.7 mi·5 min·Bridgeton Pike
5
Turn right onto CR 641
4.0 mi·7 min·Ellis Mill Road
6
Continue on CR 641
0.1 mi·18 sec·Ellis Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward NJ 55 North: Bellmawr
8
Merge onto NJ 55
9.6 mi·11 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
9
Take the exit onto Exit 58
0.3 mi·29 sec·Exit 58
Exit 58Toward Deptford, AlmonessonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on Deptford Center Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Deptford Center Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto NJ 41
0.7 mi·1 min·Hurffville Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on NJ 41; CR 544
0.3 mi·45 sec·Clements Bridge Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 41
0.8 mi·1 min·West Clements Bridge Road
14
Turn left onto NJ 168
0.8 mi·1 min·Black Horse Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward NJTP North: New YorkUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto NJTP
23 mi·26 min·New Jersey Turnpike
18
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
41 mi·47 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 11Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, WoodbridgeUse the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward GSP North: Garden State ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
21
Merge onto GSP
22 mi·30 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 151Toward Montclair, NutleyUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft·15 sec·Watchung Avenue
24
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi·45 sec·East Passaic Avenue
25
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi·52 sec·West Passaic Avenue
26
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft·7 sec·Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
27
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi·37 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
261 ft·4 sec·Allwood Road
29
Continue on CR 602
1.0 mi·1 min·Allwood Road
30
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.5 mi·1 min·Clifton Avenue
31
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft·9 sec·Olga B Terrace
32
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft·6 sec·Hutton Road
33
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft·25 sec·Olga B Terrace
34
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi·33 sec·Donna Drive
35
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft·22 sec·Holly Street
36
Arrive at destination
Holly Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 2-hour and 11-minute drive with no scheduled stops, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal schedule. While the route is manageable in one go, remember that local roads can be unpredictable, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you leave to ensure you don't need to hunt for a station mid-trip. If you want to avoid the heaviest local traffic, try to time your departure to skip typical morning or evening rush hours. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, double-check your GPS directions for Pole Tavern Circle, Bridgeton Pike, and Ellis Mill Road before setting off to stay on track.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 60.1 miles from Deerfield, NJ, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.5 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 26 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.1 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clifton, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Deerfield, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Deerfield, NJ
This is one driving day of about 120.1 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Deerfield, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 64.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 24.4 and 116.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
24.4 mi into trip|~35m in|Exit 58
Take the exit onto Exit 58 toward Deptford, Almonesson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 58
Toward Deptford, Almonesson
7
28.1 mi into trip|~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJTP North: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NJTP North: New York
8
93.2 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward GSP, US 9: 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 GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbri...
7
93.7 mi into trip|~2h 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
116.6 mi into trip|~2h 32m 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
$19.91 one way
$39.82 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$21.81
$43.61
premium
$4.93
$23.29
$46.58
diesel
$5.61
$26.52
$53.03
Estimated Tolls: $10.36
New Jersey Turnpike
(64.5 mi)$9.03
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36
0
$12.61
$5.76
Efficient EV
30
0
$10.51
$4.80
EV Truck/SUV
48
0
$16.81
$7.69
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Deerfield, NJ
Late night
in Deerfield on Sunday
Local time
2:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clifton, NJ
Late night
in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
2:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
23 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
2h 40m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 120.1
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 103.6
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 107.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. With a 0% highway share, you will be navigating surface streets and local arteries for the entirety of the 123.3-mile trip. This route lacks the monotonous grind of wide-open interstates, favoring a more technical experience through the regional landscape. Because there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches, the pace remains steady but requires frequent adjustments. You will find that the personality of the road shifts as you transition from the rural feel of Deerfield toward the more densely populated area of Clifton.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.5 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.4 miles in near Exit 58.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 120.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 24.4 miles (Exit 58): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.2 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.
Between Deerfield, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Deptford, Almonesson, Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike, Njtp North: New York, Gsp and Woodbridge.
Deptford
24.4 mi in|~35m|via Exit 58
Almonesson
24.4 mi in|~35m|via Exit 58
Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
27.9 mi in|~42m
Njtp North: New York
28.1 mi in|~43m
Gsp
93.2 mi in|~1h 59m
Woodbridge
93.2 mi in|~1h 59m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 40m. Total distance: 120.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.5 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $10.36 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.4 miles (Exit 58): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.2 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.
