Origin
Ocean Gate, NJ
Evening in Ocean Gate on Sunday
Local time
6:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ocean Gate, 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 47m
Distance
79 mi
127 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ocean Gate, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 79-mile drive from Ocean Gate, NJ, to Clifton, NJ, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 47 minutes. You'll spend most of your time on the Garden State Parkway, making it a straightforward, highway-focused journey through New Jersey. With an estimated fuel cost of $13, this trip is quite budget-friendly. Since there are no recommended stops and the drive is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility in your timing. It's a practical option for a quick transit between these two points within the Northeast region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.5 miles from Ocean Gate, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 69 mi | 1h 27m |
| West Chelsea Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Allwood Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Springfield Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Atlantic City Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Passaic Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 69 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ocean Gate, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on (24)
41 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Lakewood Avenue
2
Turn left onto Stone Harbor Avenue
249 ft
·
16 sec
·
Stone Harbor Avenue
3
Turn left onto CR 617
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
East Bayview Avenue
4
Turn right onto CR 617
500 ft
·
19 sec
·
Ocean Gate Avenue
5
Turn left onto CR 617
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Chelsea Avenue
6
Continue on CR 617
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Prospect Avenue
7
Turn left onto CR 617
320 ft
·
9 sec
·
Station Avenue
8
Turn right onto CR 617
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Springfield Avenue
9
Continue on CR 617
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Bayside Avenue
10
Continue on CR 617
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Club House Road
11
Continue on CR 617
501 ft
·
10 sec
·
Club House Drive
12
Continue on CR 617
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Compass Avenue
13
Turn left onto CR 617
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Starboard Street
14
At end of road, turn right onto NJ 166
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Atlantic City Boulevard
15
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 166
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Atlantic City Boulevard
16
Continue on NJ 166
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
17
Turn left onto NJ 37
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Route 37 West
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
Toward US 9 Toll North, GSP Toll North: Lakewood, New York, Woodbridge
19
Merge onto GSP; US 9
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
21
Continue on GSP
48 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
Use 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
Given the efficient 1 hour and 47-minute duration, this route is easily manageable in a single day, so consider leaving when traffic is lightest, perhaps mid-morning or early afternoon. The estimated fuel cost of $13 suggests you won't need frequent refueling stops, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. The longest stretch on the Garden State Parkway is 69 miles, so plan any brief breaks before or after this continuous section. Keep an eye on local traffic patterns as you get closer to Clifton, as urban congestion can sometimes impact travel times on the final local roads.
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 39.5 miles from Ocean Gate, NJ, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.5 miles or 53m 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 28m
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 Ocean Gate, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ocean Gate, NJ
This is one driving day of about 79 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Ocean Gate, 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 69 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.5 miles from Ocean Gate, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69 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 235 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 75.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Stone Harbor Avenue
Turn left onto Stone Harbor Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
3.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
CR 617 / Starboard Street
Turn left onto CR 617 / Starboard Street
Navigation decision point
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
NJ 166 / Atlantic City Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto NJ 166 / Atlantic City Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
5.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward US 9 Toll North, GSP Toll North: Lakewood, New York, Woodbridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 9 Toll North, GSP Toll North: Lakewoo...
8
75.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m 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
$13.10 one way
$26.19 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $14.34 | $28.69 |
| premium | $4.93 | $15.32 | $30.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.44 | $34.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.14
Garden State Parkway
(69 mi)
$4.14
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
$13
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.7 | 0 | $8.30 | $3.79 |
| Efficient EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.91 | $3.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.6 | 0 | $11.06 | $5.06 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Evening in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
6:06 PM
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
1h 47m 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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
$10
near mile 70.8
Park Closure: Glenmont Mansion and Grounds Closed
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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 79
View on nps.gov
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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 62.7
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 38.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 88% of the route utilizing major roadways. The Garden State Parkway will be your primary companion for a significant stretch, offering a longest uninterrupted drive of 69 miles on this parkway. While the profile is highway-focused, you will transition to local roads like West Chelsea Avenue and Allwood Road as you approach Clifton, offering a slight change of pace from the open highway. This blend means you'll experience steady progress for most of the trip, with a brief shift to more local driving conditions at the end.
88% 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: 69 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and West Chelsea Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Stone Harbor Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79 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: near the start (Stone Harbor Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (CR 617 / Starboard Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (NJ 166 / Atlantic City Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
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 Ocean Gate, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North: Lakewood, New York and Woodbridge.
Gsp Toll North: Lakewood
5.4 mi in
|
~11m
New York
5.4 mi in
|
~11m
Woodbridge
5.4 mi in
|
~11m
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 47m. Total distance: 79 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.14 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 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: near the start (Stone Harbor Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (CR 617 / Starboard Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (NJ 166 / Atlantic City Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
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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