This 74.4-mile drive from Browns Mills, NJ, to Clifton, NJ, is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take about 1 hour and 52 minutes. You'll be spending a good portion of your time on major highways, with 61% of the route being on such roads. The estimated fuel cost is around $12, making it an economical option for a quick journey within the Northeast region. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that doesn't require an overnight stop, allowing you to reach your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.2 miles from Browns Mills, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 74.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 74.4-mile journey. With 61% of the route utilizing highways, you'll experience stretches of consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 22.9 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike. While primarily on major arteries like the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, the initial and final portions may involve navigating local roads such as Browns Mills Cookstown Road, offering a slight shift in driving tempo.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New Jersey Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 22.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. 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 545 / Trenton Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.4 miles you will encounter 26 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 (CR 545 / Trenton Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (CR 667 / Broadway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 47.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 26 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 545 / Trenton Road
Turn right onto CR 545 / Trenton Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 667 / Broadway Street
Turn right onto CR 667 / Broadway Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
47.4 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward US 9, GSP: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
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 11
Toward US 9, GSP: Garden State Parkway, Woodbri...
7
47.9 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
8
70.8 mi into trip|~1h 45m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Browns Mills, NJ to Clifton, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Woodbridge along the way.
Woodbridge
47.4 mi in|~1h 11m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
22.9 mi
26m
Garden State Parkway
22.2 mi
30m
Browns Mills Cookstown Road
4.3 mi
7m
Sharon Station Road
4 mi
8m
Old York Road
3.7 mi
5m
Holmes Mill Road
2.9 mi
5m
Evergreen Road
1.4 mi
2m
Cookstown-New Egypt Road
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 22.9 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Browns Mills, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on this road
85 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto CR 545
187 ft·8 sec·Trenton Road
3
Turn right onto CR 667
0.4 mi·57 sec·Broadway Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on CR 667
0.8 mi·1 min·West Lakeshore Drive
5
Turn right onto CR 667
0.2 mi·31 sec·Bayberry Street
6
Turn left onto CR 667
0.3 mi·35 sec·East Lakeshore Drive
7
Continue on CR 667
4.3 mi·7 min·Browns Mills Cookstown Road
8
Continue on CR 616
0.2 mi·34 sec·Main Street
9
Continue on CR 616
1.3 mi·2 min·Cookstown-New Egypt Road
10
Continue on CR 616
0.6 mi·1 min·Maple Avenue
11
Continue on CR 528
0.2 mi·21 sec·Main Street
12
Turn left onto CR 8
1.4 mi·2 min·Evergreen Road
13
Continue on CR 27
2.9 mi·5 min·Holmes Mill Road
14
Turn right onto CR 27
0.6 mi·1 min·Burlington Path Road
15
Turn left onto CR 539
1.3 mi·1 min·Forked River Road
16
Enter roundabout onto CR 539 ALT
53 ft·0 sec·Sharon Station Road
17
Continue on CR 539 ALT
4.0 mi·8 min·Sharon Station Road
18
Turn left onto Herbert Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Herbert Road
19
Turn right onto CR 539
3.7 mi·5 min·Old York Road
20
Continue on CR 539
0.9 mi·1 min·South Main Street
21
Turn slight right
94 ft·3 sec
22
Turn right onto NJ 33
0.8 mi·1 min·Franklin Street
23
Turn left onto I 95; NJTP
23 mi·26 min·New Jersey Turnpike
24
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 11Toward US 9, GSP: Garden State Parkway, WoodbridgeUse the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward GSP North: Garden State ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
26
Merge onto GSP
22 mi·30 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 151Toward Montclair, NutleyUse the slight right lane.
28
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft·15 sec·Watchung Avenue
29
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi·45 sec·East Passaic Avenue
30
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi·52 sec·West Passaic Avenue
31
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft·7 sec·Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
32
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi·37 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
261 ft·4 sec·Allwood Road
34
Continue on CR 602
1.0 mi·1 min·Allwood Road
35
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.5 mi·1 min·Clifton Avenue
36
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft·9 sec·Olga B Terrace
37
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft·6 sec·Hutton Road
38
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft·25 sec·Olga B Terrace
39
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi·33 sec·Donna Drive
40
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft·22 sec·Holly Street
41
Arrive at destination
Holly Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 52 minutes, you have flexibility in planning your departure time. Leaving early can help you avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach the more urban areas near Clifton. With no designated stops included in this route, you can decide on your own breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road is 22.9 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike; budgeting around $12 for fuel should be sufficient for this trip.
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 Browns Mills, NJ, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.9 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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.2 miles or 59m 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 34m
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 Browns Mills, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Browns Mills, NJ
This is one driving day of about 74.4 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Browns Mills, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 22.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.2 mi from Browns Mills, NJ
· 59m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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 74.4
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...
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...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 64.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.33 one way
$24.67 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg26 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: $4.53
New Jersey Turnpike
(22.9 mi)$3.20
Garden State Parkway
(22.2 mi)$1.33
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
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
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
Browns Mills, NJ
Morning
in Browns Mills on Saturday
Local time
10:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clifton, NJ
Morning
in Clifton on Saturday
Local time
10:16 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 52m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Browns Mills, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 74.4 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Browns Mills Cookstown Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.2 miles from Browns Mills, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.33 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.4 miles you will encounter 26 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 545 / Trenton Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (CR 667 / Broadway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 47.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Browns Mills, NJ to Clifton, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Woodbridge along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Morristown National Historical Park. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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.
