This 98.9-mile drive from National Park, NJ to Clifton, NJ is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day, with an estimated driving time of 2 hours and 8 minutes. You'll primarily be on the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway, making it a predominantly highway experience. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, this route is budget-friendly for a day trip. The drive stays within the Northeast region, offering a consistent travel experience without significant regional shifts. This makes it a practical option for a quick trip 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
49.5 miles from National Park, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
55.9 mi
1h 4m
Garden State Parkway
22.2 mi
30m
I 295
12.2 mi
15m
Hessian Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Allwood Road
1 mi
1m
Clifton Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
West Passaic Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
East Passaic Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 55.9 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between National Park, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on CR 642
1.3 mi·2 min·Hessian Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 631
0.2 mi·29 sec·Crown Point Road
3
Take the ramp onto CR 631
0.1 mi·16 sec·CR 631
4
Keep slight left at fork onto US 130
0.1 mi·18 sec·US 130
Toward I 295Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 295 NorthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 295
12 mi·15 min·I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 36AToward NJ 73 South: BerlinUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto NJ 73
0.2 mi·18 sec·NJ 73
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJTP: New Jersey Turnpike
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJTP North: New YorkUse the straight / right lanes.
11
Merge onto NJTP
15 mi·16 min·New Jersey Turnpike
12
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
41 mi·47 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 11Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, WoodbridgeUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward GSP North: Garden State ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto GSP
22 mi·30 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 151Toward Montclair, NutleyUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft·15 sec·Watchung Avenue
18
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi·45 sec·East Passaic Avenue
19
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi·52 sec·West Passaic Avenue
20
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft·7 sec·Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi·37 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
261 ft·4 sec·Allwood Road
23
Continue on CR 602
1.0 mi·1 min·Allwood Road
24
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.5 mi·1 min·Clifton Avenue
25
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft·9 sec·Olga B Terrace
26
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft·6 sec·Hutton Road
27
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft·25 sec·Olga B Terrace
28
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi·33 sec·Donna Drive
29
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft·22 sec·Holly Street
30
Arrive at destination
Holly Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 8 minute duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving early to avoid potential traffic, especially on major roadways like the New Jersey Turnpike. You won't need to worry about extensive stopovers, but it's always wise to factor in brief breaks. With a fuel cost of around $16, budgeting for gas is simple. A practical tip for this route is to keep an eye on your GPS for any real-time traffic updates on the Garden State Parkway, as it can be prone to congestion during peak hours.
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 49.5 miles from National Park, NJ, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.9 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 22 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.5 miles or 1h 1m 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 41m
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 National Park, 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 National Park, NJ
This is one driving day of about 98.9 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from National Park, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 55.9 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 95.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|US 130
Keep slight left at fork onto US 130 toward I 295
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 295
7
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 295 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 295 North
7
14.4 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the exit toward NJ 73 South: Berlin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 36A
Toward NJ 73 South: Berlin
8
71.9 mi into trip|~1h 27m 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...
8
95.3 mi into trip|~2h 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
$16.40 one way
$32.79 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$17.96
$35.92
premium
$4.93
$19.18
$38.36
diesel
$5.61
$21.84
$43.67
Estimated Tolls: $9.16
New Jersey Turnpike
(55.9 mi)$7.83
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
$16
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.7
0
$10.38
$4.75
Efficient EV
24.7
0
$8.65
$3.96
EV Truck/SUV
39.6
0
$13.85
$6.33
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
National Park, NJ
Morning
in National Park on Sunday
Local time
10:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clifton, NJ
Morning
in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
10:46 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
21 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 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.
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 98.9
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 81.9
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
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 88.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for 92% of this 98.9-mile trip. The majority of your time will be spent on major arteries like the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 55.9 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, so be prepared for sustained highway driving. While the profile is predominantly highway, the specific changes in road character are minimal, maintaining a consistent pace throughout.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.9 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 1.6 miles in near US 130.
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 25 significant decision points across 98.9 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 1.6 miles (US 130): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between National Park, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: New Jersey Turnpike, Njtp North: New York, Gsp and Woodbridge.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 98.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.9 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.16 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (US 130): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
