Origin
Plainsboro Center, NJ
Late night in Plainsboro Center on Sunday
Local time
12:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plainsboro Center, 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 13m
Distance
48.3 mi
78 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 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plainsboro Center, NJ
Andrew Patrick Photo
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Plainsboro Center, NJ to Clifton, NJ is 48.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 13 minutes via Garden State Parkway and US 1, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically navigating through New Jersey. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, it's a practical choice for a quick, direct connection between these two points. You'll find it efficient if your priority is simply getting from point A to point B without significant detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 21.5 mi | 29m |
| US 1 | 20 mi | 29m |
| Schalks Crossing Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| 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 |
| Bloomfield Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 21.5 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plainsboro Center, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on Edgemere Avenue
320 ft
·
17 sec
·
Edgemere Avenue
2
Turn sharp right onto Parkway Avenue
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
·
Parkway Avenue
3
Continue on CR 683
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Schalks Crossing Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Turn left onto Ridge Road
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Ridge Road
5
Turn right onto US 1
9.7 mi
·
13 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
504 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 1
Toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
366 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1
10
Continue on US 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1
11
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 1
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on US 1
5.9 mi
·
9 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
15
Merge onto GSP
21 mi
·
29 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
Use 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
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 24.2 miles from Plainsboro Center, 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 215 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 44.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Parkway Avenue
Turn sharp right onto Parkway Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 1
Turn right onto US 1
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
12.6 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|New...
7
12.7 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
44.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m 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
$8.01 one way
$16.02 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.77 | $17.54 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.37 | $18.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.66 | $21.33 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.29
Garden State Parkway
(21.5 mi)
$1.29
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 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 | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
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
Late night in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
12:44 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
24 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 13m 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 is largely a highway-focused drive, with 86% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll experience stretches like the 21.5 miles on the Garden State Parkway, offering a consistent, faster pace. The route incorporates main roads like US 1 and Schalks Crossing Road, which can provide a slight change of scenery and pace compared to pure interstate driving. Expect a mostly efficient commute with limited slowdowns, making it feel like a straightforward transit rather than a winding exploration.
86% 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: 21.5 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US 1. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Parkway Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.3 miles you will encounter 21 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 0.1 miles (Parkway Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.8 miles (US 1): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Plainsboro Center, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, New Brunswick, Montclair and Nutley.
Newark|Newark
12.6 mi in
|
~20m
|
via US 1
Camden
12.6 mi in
|
~20m
|
via US 1
New Brunswick|Newark
12.6 mi in
|
~20m
|
via US 1
New Brunswick
12.6 mi in
|
~20m
|
via US 1
Montclair
44.8 mi in
|
~1h 6m
Nutley
44.8 mi in
|
~1h 6m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 48.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.29 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 0.1 miles (Parkway Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.8 miles (US 1): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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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