This 76.7-mile journey from Pine Beach, NJ, to Clifton, NJ, is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 42 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route primarily utilizes the Garden State Parkway, making up 90% of the drive and offering a consistent highway experience. Given its relatively short duration and focus on major roadways, this trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stop. It's a practical choice for getting between these two points within the Northeast region of New Jersey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.3 miles from Pine Beach, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
69 mi
1h 27m
Allwood Road
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
Springfield Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
East Passaic Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 69 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pine Beach, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on CR 617
0.4 mi·47 sec·Springfield Avenue
2
Continue on CR 617
0.4 mi·37 sec·Bayside Avenue
3
Continue on CR 617
0.1 mi·13 sec·Club House Road
4
Continue on CR 617
501 ft·10 sec·Club House Drive
5
Continue on CR 617
0.3 mi·44 sec·Compass Avenue
6
Turn left onto CR 617
0.2 mi·29 sec·Starboard Street
7
At end of road, turn right onto NJ 166
0.5 mi·1 min·Atlantic City Boulevard
8
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 166
0.2 mi·19 sec·Atlantic City Boulevard
9
Continue on NJ 166
0.8 mi·1 min·North Main Street
10
Turn left onto NJ 37
0.1 mi·21 sec·Route 37 West
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·47 sec
Toward US 9 Toll North, GSP Toll North: Lakewood, New York, Woodbridge
12
Merge onto GSP; US 9
21 mi·24 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
14
Continue on GSP
48 mi·1 hr 2 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 151Toward Montclair, NutleyUse 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
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 42-minute duration, this drive is best tackled in one day, and you'll have plenty of flexibility on timing. Consider departing during off-peak hours to minimize potential traffic on the Garden State Parkway. With no designated stops in the data, plan for any necessary breaks before or after the main 69-mile stretch on the Parkway. The fuel cost is estimated at a manageable $13, so ensure your tank is adequately full before you begin. A good tip for this route is to familiarize yourself with the Parkway's toll system beforehand to ensure a smooth passage.
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 38.3 miles from Pine Beach, NJ, or about 49m 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 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.3 miles or 49m 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 24m
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 Pine Beach, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pine Beach, NJ
This is one driving day of about 76.7 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Pine Beach, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 73.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in|CR 617 / Starboard Street
Turn left onto CR 617 / Starboard Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in|NJ 166 / Atlantic City Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto NJ 166 / Atlantic City Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
3.1 mi into trip|~6m 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...
5
3.6 mi into trip|~6m in|GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
73.1 mi into trip|~1h 34m 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
$12.72 one way
$25.43 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$13.93
$27.85
premium
$4.93
$14.87
$29.75
diesel
$5.61
$16.93
$33.87
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: 26.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23
0
$8.05
$3.68
Efficient EV
19.2
0
$6.71
$3.07
EV Truck/SUV
30.7
0
$10.74
$4.91
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 17, 2026
Origin
Pine Beach, NJ
Morning
in Pine Beach on Sunday
Local time
10:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clifton, NJ
Morning
in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
10:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Chance Rain Showers
NW 6 mph26% chanceLive 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
22 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 42m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 76.7
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 60.8
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 34.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 90% of the drive taking place on major roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Garden State Parkway, including one uninterrupted stretch of 69 miles. This means you'll likely encounter consistent speeds and limited opportunities for spontaneous scenic detours. The transition from the Parkway to local roads like Allwood Road and North Main Street will mark the final approach to your destination, signaling the end of the high-speed travel. The overall feel is one of efficient transit rather than leisurely exploration.
90% 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: 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 Allwood Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near CR 617 / Starboard Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.7 miles you will encounter 17 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 1.3 miles (CR 617 / Starboard Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (NJ 166 / Atlantic City Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 76.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). 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: at 1.3 miles (CR 617 / Starboard Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (NJ 166 / Atlantic City Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
