Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
50.6 mi
81 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Princeton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Princeton, NJ to Clifton, NJ is 50.6 miles and takes about 1h 16m 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 connecting two points in New Jersey. Expect a drive primarily on well-traveled parkways and highways, making it a straightforward journey. It's a short enough distance that you can easily complete it in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. This route is ideal if you're looking for a quick and efficient connection between these two New Jersey locations.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 21.5 mi | 29m |
| Brunswick Pike | 13 mi | 18m |
| US 1 | 10.3 mi | 15m |
| Washington Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Princeton, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
Start on NJ 27
Turn right onto CR 526; CR 571
Enter roundabout onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Take the exit
Merge onto GSP
Take the exit
Turn right onto CR 655
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
Turn right onto CR 622
Turn left onto CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
Continue on CR 602
Turn right onto NJ 161
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
Turn right onto Hutton Road
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
Turn left onto Donna Drive
Turn right onto Holly Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.3 miles from Princeton, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 47 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto CR 526; CR 571 / Washington Road
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$8.39 one way
$16.78 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.19 | $18.38 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.81 | $19.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.17 | $22.34 |
Estimated Tolls: $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
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.31 | $2.43 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.43 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.08 | $3.24 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Princeton on Sunday
Local time
6:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Morning in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
6:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is largely highway-focused, with 63% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll experience stretches of faster-paced driving, including a continuous 21.5-mile segment on the Garden State Parkway. While the majority of the drive is on these main arteries, expect some transitions as you navigate between them, particularly on routes like Brunswick Pike and US 1. The feel is generally that of a direct connection rather than a winding, scenic tour, emphasizing efficiency. Prepare for an experience that prioritizes getting you to your destination with minimal fuss.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Brunswick Pike. 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 CR 526; CR 571 / Washington Road.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.6 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 (CR 526; CR 571 / Washington Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.9 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Princeton, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, New Brunswick, Montclair and Nutley.
Newark|Newark
Camden
New Brunswick|Newark
New Brunswick
Montclair
Nutley
Princeton, home to the prestigious Princeton University, is a municipality with a population of approximately 32,000 (2017) in Mercer County, central New Jersey.
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 50.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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