Origin
Seaside Park, NJ
Morning in Seaside Park on Sunday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Seaside Park, 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 49m
Distance
78.8 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 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Seaside Park, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 78.8-mile drive from Seaside Park, NJ, to Clifton, NJ, is designed for a single day, taking an estimated 1 hour and 49 minutes to complete. Primarily utilizing the Garden State Parkway, with brief sections on Fischer Boulevard and NJ 37, this route is heavily highway-focused. With a projected fuel cost of around $13, it's an economical option for a quick trip within the Northeast region. The drive offers a straightforward journey, making it ideal for those looking for efficient travel between these two New Jersey locations. You'll find this to be a practical and direct way to cover the distance.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.4 miles from Seaside Park, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 61.5 mi | 1h 17m |
| Fischer Boulevard | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| NJ 37 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Shorrock Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Hooper Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Allwood Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Beaverson Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Brick Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 61.5 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Seaside Park, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on E Street
149 ft
·
8 sec
·
E Street
2
Turn right onto NJ 35
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast Central Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 47
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Central Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Turn left onto CR 10
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Hamilton Avenue
5
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
this road
6
Continue on NJ 37
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
NJ 37
7
Turn right onto CR 549 Spur; CR 571
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Fischer Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn right onto CR 549
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Hooper Avenue
Use the right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto CR 549
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Brick Boulevard
10
Turn slight left
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto CR 66
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Beaverson Boulevard
12
Continue on CR 54
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Shorrock Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
this road
Toward GSP North Toll: Woodbridge
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
Toward GSP North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto GSP
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
17
Continue on GSP
48 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft
·
15 sec
·
Watchung Avenue
20
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Passaic Avenue
21
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Passaic Avenue
22
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft
·
7 sec
·
Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
261 ft
·
4 sec
·
Allwood Road
25
Continue on CR 602
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Allwood Road
26
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clifton Avenue
27
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft
·
9 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
28
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hutton Road
29
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft
·
25 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
30
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Donna Drive
31
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft
·
22 sec
·
Holly Street
32
Arrive at destination
Holly Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under two hours, this trip is easily manageable in one day. To make the most of your travel time, consider departing earlier in the day to avoid potential traffic, especially on the Garden State Parkway. Since there are no designated stops in the data, you'll have flexibility for breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on the parkway is over 60 miles. A good tip is to fuel up before you leave Seaside Park to ensure you have plenty of gas for the parkway portion.
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 39.4 miles from Seaside Park, NJ, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.5 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.4 miles or 54m 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 30m
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 Seaside Park, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Seaside Park, NJ
This is one driving day of about 78.8 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Seaside Park, 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 61.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 39.4 miles from Seaside Park, 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 61.5 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 75.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NJ 35 / Southeast Central Avenue
Turn right onto NJ 35 / Southeast Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 47 / East Central Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 47 / East Central Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
3.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
CR 549 Spur; CR 571 / Fischer Boulevard
Turn right onto CR 549 Spur; CR 571 / Fischer Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
12.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward GSP North
8
75.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m 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
$13.06 one way
$26.13 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $14.31 | $28.62 |
| premium | $4.93 | $15.28 | $30.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.40 | $34.80 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.69
Garden State Parkway
(61.5 mi)
$3.69
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 | 23.6 | 0 | $8.27 | $3.78 |
| Efficient EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.90 | $3.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.03 | $5.04 |
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
Morning in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 3 to 12 mph
4% chance
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
43 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 49m 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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
$10
near mile 70.7
View on nps.gov
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 78.8
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 62.5
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
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect an 81% highway-focused experience on this 78.8-mile journey. The bulk of your travel will be on the Garden State Parkway, including a significant uninterrupted stretch of 61.5 miles. This means consistent speeds and minimal interruptions for much of the drive. While primarily highway, the initial and final segments may involve navigating local roads like Fischer Boulevard and NJ 37, offering a slight shift in pace before merging onto the parkway. Overall, the character is one of efficient, high-speed travel.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.5 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 Fischer Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NJ 35 / Southeast Central 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 78.8 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 (NJ 35 / Southeast Central Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (CR 47 / East Central Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (CR 549 Spur; CR 571 / Fischer Boulevard): 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Seaside Park, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North Toll: Woodbridge and Gsp North.
Gsp North Toll: Woodbridge
12.3 mi in
|
~21m
Gsp North
12.8 mi in
|
~22m
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 49m. Total distance: 78.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.69 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 (NJ 35 / Southeast Central Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (CR 47 / East Central Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (CR 549 Spur; CR 571 / Fischer Boulevard): 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.
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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