Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Toms River, 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 37m

Distance

74.4 mi

120 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 30m ★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
township in Ocean County, New Jersey

Toms River, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States

Clifton, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 74.4-mile drive from Toms River, NJ, to Clifton, NJ, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 37 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route primarily utilizes the Garden State Parkway, making it a predominantly fast-paced drive. As both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, you'll be staying within familiar territory. This trip is ideal for a single day, requiring no overnight stays, and is perfect for those looking for an efficient way to travel between these two New Jersey locations.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

37.2 miles from Toms River, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Garden State Parkway 69 mi 1h 27m
Allwood Road 1 mi 1m
North Main Street 0.7 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
Route 37 West 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 69 mi, about 1h 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Toms River, NJ and Clifton, NJ.

1

Start on this road

78 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto NJ 166

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
3

Turn left onto NJ 37

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Route 37 West
4

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 47 sec
Toward US 9 Toll North, GSP Toll North: Lakewood, New York, Woodbridge
5

Merge onto GSP; US 9

21 mi · 24 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 31 sec
7

Continue on GSP

48 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 151 Toward Montclair, Nutley Use the slight right lane.
9

Turn right onto CR 655

483 ft · 15 sec · Watchung Avenue
10

At end of road, turn left onto CR 652

0.4 mi · 45 sec · East Passaic Avenue
11

Turn right onto CR 622

0.5 mi · 52 sec · West Passaic Avenue
12

Turn left onto CR 622

411 ft · 7 sec · Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
13

Continue on CR 622

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Enter roundabout onto CR 602

261 ft · 4 sec · Allwood Road
15

Continue on CR 602

1.0 mi · 1 min · Allwood Road
16

Turn right onto NJ 161

0.5 mi · 1 min · Clifton Avenue
17

Turn right onto Olga B Terrace

174 ft · 9 sec · Olga B Terrace
18

Turn right onto Hutton Road

39 ft · 6 sec · Hutton Road
19

Turn left onto Olga B Terrace

441 ft · 25 sec · Olga B Terrace
20

Turn left onto Donna Drive

0.1 mi · 33 sec · Donna Drive
21

Turn right onto Holly Street

516 ft · 22 sec · Holly Street
22

Arrive at destination

Holly Street

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 37 minutes for this 74.4-mile trip, you have a lot of flexibility. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid the worst of rush hour traffic, especially as you approach the Clifton area. With no designated stops recommended and a fuel cost of around $12, you can easily make this a quick, direct journey. Keep an eye out for the transition from the Garden State Parkway to your final local roads as the primary point where you'll need to pay close attention to navigation.

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 37.2 miles from Toms River, NJ, or about 46m 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 16 miles or 19m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 37.2 miles or 46m 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 20m

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 Toms River, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Toms River, NJ

This is one driving day of about 74.4 miles and 1h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Toms River, 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.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

37 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

Hamilton, NJ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.2 miles from Toms River, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Union, New Jersey

Later in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately mile 58.4

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+19083966401

Visit website

Oasis Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cranford, New Jersey

1.7 mi

Princess Maria's 2 Pizza & Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Brick Township, New Jersey

1.8 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Eagle Rock Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Montclair, New Jersey

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 74.4

Hours: 7:30 am–5:30 pm

+19733586543

Visit website

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately mile 58.4

Union, New Jersey

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+19083966401

Visit website

Oasis Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $30 to $50 mile 58.4

Cranford, New Jersey

Hours: 12–9:30 pm

+19089676161

Visit website

Princess Maria's 2 Pizza & Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 10.6

Brick Township, New Jersey

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+17327146471

Visit website

Fiore Rosso Restaurant & Catering

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $30 to $50 mile 5.3

Toms River, New Jersey

Hours: 5–9 pm

+17322553323

Visit website

Giorgio's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately mile 63.8

South Orange Village, New Jersey

Hours: 12–3 pm

+19737624440

Visit website

Restaurant Lorena's

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $50 to $10 mile 63.8

Maplewood, New Jersey

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19737634460

Visit website

Amsterdam Alley Bar & Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $20 to $30 mile 58.4

Linden, New Jersey

Hours: 12 pm–12 am

+19089254166

Visit website

Deluca's Italian Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour Moderately mile 47.8

Staten Island, New York

Hours: 12–9 pm

+17182277200

Visit website

Eagle Rock Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 74.4

Montclair, New Jersey

Hours: 7:30 am–5:30 pm

+19733586543

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 21.3

Tinton Falls, NJ

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 69.1

Belleville, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Rivian Adventure Network

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 21.3

Tinton Falls, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18665761495

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

3.1 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 21.3

Tinton Falls, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 10.6

Lakewood, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 58.4

Union, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 53.1

Clark, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 47.8

Perth Amboy, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Fords Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.2 mi from route mile 47.8

Woodbridge, New Jersey

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+17327453900

Visit website

Nomahegan Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 58.4

Cranford, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+19085274900

Visit website

Cornucopia Cruise Lines

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 47.8

Perth Amboy, New Jersey

+17326979500

Visit website

Military Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 63.8

Newark, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+19739005800

Visit website

Conference House Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 42.5

Staten Island, New York

+17189846046

Visit website

Independence Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 63.8

Newark, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19732683500

Visit website

Echo Lake Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 58.4

Mountainside, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

Wild Child Play Space

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 47.8

Staten Island, New York

Hours: Closed

+19296146088

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 74.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.8 mi into trip | ~1m 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
1.3 mi into trip | ~2m 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
70.8 mi into trip | ~1h 29m 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
72 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in | CR 622 / Darling Avenue

Turn left onto CR 622 / Darling Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
74.1 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in | Hutton Road

Turn right onto Hutton Road

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.33 one way

$24.67 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $13.51 $27.02
premium $4.93 $14.43 $28.86
diesel $5.61 $16.43 $32.85

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

$12

Tolls

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.3 0 $7.81 $3.57
Efficient EV 18.6 0 $6.51 $2.98
EV Truck/SUV 29.8 0 $10.42 $4.76

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Toms River, NJ

Morning in Toms River on Sunday

Local time

6:16 AM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clifton, NJ

Morning in Clifton on Sunday

Local time

6:16 AM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

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

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 37m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

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 ~5 min detour $10 near mile 66.7
Park Closure: Glenmont Mansion and Grounds Closed
View on nps.gov
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

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 74.4
View on nps.gov
Morristown National Historical Park

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 59
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area

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 33.3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 74.4-mile trip, with 93% of the drive taking place on major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Garden State Parkway, enjoying an uninterrupted stretch of 69 miles. This means consistent speed and minimal traffic lights for the bulk of the journey. The latter part of the route may involve transitions onto local roads like Allwood Road and North Main Street, offering a slight change of pace before you reach Clifton.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 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?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Allwood Road. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 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 74.4 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles (GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Starting in Toms River, NJ

Full guide →

Toms River is the county seat of Ocean County, New Jersey. It is a few miles west of the beaches of the Jersey Shore Region, midway between New York and Philadelphia and a short distance from Atlantic City. Toms River is easy to get to by car as the Garden State Parkway bisects the town, and it is served by express bus service to and from New York City.

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 37m. Total distance: 74.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). 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 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles (GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.8 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Clifton, NJ

Cape May, NJ 157.9 mi · 3h 15m Salem, NJ 129.6 mi · 2h 37m Vineland, NJ 120.1 mi · 2h 36m Olivet, NJ 119.7 mi · 2h 31m

More from Toms River, NJ

Allamuchy, NJ 92.3 mi · 2h 4m Salem, NJ 89.1 mi · 2h Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 88 mi · 1h 56m Greenwich, NJ 86.9 mi · 1h 58m New Milford, NJ 83.9 mi · 1h 50m Wildwood Crest, NJ 83 mi · 1h 39m

More trips to Clifton, NJ

Wildwood, NJ 154.8 mi North Wildwood, NJ 153.8 mi Atlantic City, NJ 126.6 mi Millville, NJ 121.3 mi Deerfield, NJ 120.1 mi Penns Grove, NJ 118.5 mi
Escape planner: Toms River, NJ Scenic drives in NJ

Explore more options from Toms River, NJ or browse trips ending in Clifton, NJ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.