Origin
Shrewsbury, NJ
Morning in Shrewsbury on Sunday
Local time
10:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shrewsbury, 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 7m
Distance
48.2 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shrewsbury, NJ
MINEIA MARTINS
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Shrewsbury, NJ to Clifton, NJ is 48.2 miles and takes about 1h 7m via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically connecting two points in New Jersey. Given its highway-focused profile and under-an-hour drive time, it's a straightforward journey perfect for a quick commute or a brief segment of a larger road trip. You'll likely find it a practical and efficient way to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 41.4 mi | 54m |
| Newman Springs Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Allwood Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Broad Street | 0.6 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
— 41.4 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shrewsbury, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on White Street
226 ft
·
13 sec
·
White Street
2
Turn right onto NJ 35
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
Broad Street
3
Turn straight
315 ft
·
13 sec
4
Continue on CR 520
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Newman Springs Road
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll North
6
Merge onto GSP
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Garden State Parkway
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Toward Crossover to Express Roadway
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto GSP
35 mi
·
47 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft
·
15 sec
·
Watchung Avenue
11
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Passaic Avenue
12
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Passaic Avenue
13
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft
·
7 sec
·
Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
261 ft
·
4 sec
·
Allwood Road
16
Continue on CR 602
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Allwood Road
17
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clifton Avenue
18
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft
·
9 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
19
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hutton Road
20
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft
·
25 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
21
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Donna Drive
22
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft
·
22 sec
·
Holly Street
23
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 24.1 miles from Shrewsbury, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 9.3 and 47.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9.3 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward Crossover to Express Roadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Crossover to Express Roadway
5
9.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
44.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 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
5
45.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Turn left onto CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
47.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
Hutton Road
Turn right onto Hutton Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.99 one way
$15.98 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.75 | $17.50 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.35 | $18.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.64 | $21.28 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.49
Garden State Parkway
(41.4 mi)
$2.49
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
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 | $5.06 | $2.31 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.22 | $1.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.75 | $3.08 |
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
Morning in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
10:51 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
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 7m 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 predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 86% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Garden State Parkway, experiencing a longest uninterrupted stretch of 41.4 miles on this highway. Expect a consistent driving experience with limited transitions to local roads, making it a predictable and swift journey. The focus is on covering ground efficiently rather than exploring varied terrains or winding paths.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.4 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Newman Springs Road. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 9.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.2 miles you will encounter 16 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 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Shrewsbury, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North, Crossover To Express Roadway, Montclair and Nutley.
Gsp Toll North
2.5 mi in
|
~4m
Crossover To Express Roadway
9.3 mi in
|
~12m
Montclair
44.6 mi in
|
~1h
Nutley
44.6 mi in
|
~1h
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 7m. Total distance: 48.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m 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 41.4 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.49 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 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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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