Traveling from Wildwood to Clifton covers 154.8 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 12 minutes. Because this journey is manageable in a single day, it is perfect for a straightforward trip without the need for an overnight stay. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Garden State Parkway, which keeps the navigation simple and efficient. Budgeting roughly $26 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region of New Jersey, the transition between the coast and the northern part of the state is seamless. Whether you are heading home or starting a new adventure, this drive offers a reliable path through the heart of the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
77.4 miles from Wildwood, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
144.5 mi
2h 54m
North Wildwood Boulevard
3.1 mi
4m
New Jersey Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Allwood Road
1 mi
1m
West Spruce Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Clifton Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
West Passaic Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
East Passaic Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 144.5 mi, about 2h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wildwood, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on this road
38 ft·4 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto West Wildwood Avenue
142 ft·13 sec·West Wildwood Avenue
3
Turn left onto CR 621
1.5 mi·2 min·New Jersey Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on CR 621; OD
0.3 mi·36 sec·West Anglesea Drive
5
Continue on NJ 147; OD
0.5 mi·52 sec·West Spruce Avenue
6
Continue on NJ 147; OD
3.1 mi·4 min·North Wildwood Boulevard
7
Turn slight right
432 ft·15 sec
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 6Toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
9
Merge onto GSP
12 mi·14 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·31 sec
11
Merge onto GSP
34 mi·39 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
50 mi·58 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
14
Continue on GSP
48 mi·1 hr 2 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 151Toward Montclair, NutleyUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft·15 sec·Watchung Avenue
17
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi·45 sec·East Passaic Avenue
18
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi·52 sec·West Passaic Avenue
19
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft·7 sec·Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi·37 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
261 ft·4 sec·Allwood Road
22
Continue on CR 602
1.0 mi·1 min·Allwood Road
23
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.5 mi·1 min·Clifton Avenue
24
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft·9 sec·Olga B Terrace
25
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft·6 sec·Hutton Road
26
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft·25 sec·Olga B Terrace
27
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi·33 sec·Donna Drive
28
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft·22 sec·Holly Street
29
Arrive at destination
Holly Street
Trip Plan
Planning for one stop is a smart way to break up the 3-hour and 12-minute duration. Since the route relies heavily on the Garden State Parkway, keep an eye on traffic patterns, especially during peak travel hours, as this major artery can become congested. Flexibility is your biggest advantage on a drive of this length, allowing you to choose your departure time based on personal preference rather than a strict schedule. If you want to avoid the stress of heavy traffic, try hitting the road during mid-morning or early afternoon hours. Always ensure your tank has enough fuel to cover the $26 estimate before jumping onto the Parkway, as finding a convenient station can sometimes be tricky once you are locked into the highway flow.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 77.4 miles from Wildwood, NJ, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.5 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 34 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.4 miles or 1h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 33m
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 Wildwood, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Wildwood, NJ
This is one driving day of about 154.8 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Wildwood, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 144.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 151.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue
Turn left onto CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
5.6 mi into trip|~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 6
Toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
5
5.8 mi into trip|~9m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
52.5 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
151.2 mi into trip|~3h 5m 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
$25.66 one way
$51.33 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$28.11
$56.22
premium
$4.93
$30.02
$60.04
diesel
$5.61
$34.18
$68.36
Estimated Tolls: $8.66
Garden State Parkway
(144.5 mi)$8.66
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
$26
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.4
0
$16.25
$7.43
Efficient EV
38.7
0
$13.55
$6.19
EV Truck/SUV
61.9
0
$21.67
$9.91
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Wildwood, NJ
Night
in Wildwood on Saturday
Local time
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clifton, NJ
Night
in Clifton on Saturday
Local time
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Scattered Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
E 2 to 9 mph31% chanceLive 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
9 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
3h 12m 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...
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 154.8
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 138.7
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 112.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of your travel spent on major thoroughfares. You will start by navigating North Wildwood Boulevard and New Jersey Avenue before transitioning to the Garden State Parkway. Prepare for a long, consistent stretch of 144.5 miles on the Parkway, which defines the character of the entire route. While the local roads at the start require a bit more attention, the bulk of your time behind the wheel will be spent maintaining highway speeds. Expect a steady, uninterrupted rhythm that allows you to cover significant ground quickly as you move away from the coast.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 144.5 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 North Wildwood 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 CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 154.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Wildwood is on the Southern Shore of New Jersey. It is primarily a resort town whose population swells in the summer months (June - August) with vacationers coming mainly from New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, and Quebec. There are also a significant number of seasonal workers from Pennsylvania, Ireland and Eastern Europe. Together with the small bordering towns of North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest, Wildwood is often called "the Wildwoods."
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 154.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m 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 144.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $8.66 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Clifton, NJ, but most travelers stay overnight.
