Origin
Cape May, NJ
Afternoon in Cape May on Monday
Local time
12:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cape May, NJ to Clifton, NJ
Drive Time
2h 37m
Distance
158 mi
254 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 27m
★
6 AM
2h 38m
8 AM
2h 59m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 43m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 58m
8 PM
2h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cape May, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Clifton, NJ
James Kampeis
Trip Overview
The drive from Cape May, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 158 miles and takes about 2h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on New York Avenue, Reading Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.14 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
79 miles from Cape May, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 37m drive with frequent turns across 158 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New York Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Cape May, NJ to Clifton, NJ is easy. At 2h 37m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cape May, NJ to Clifton, NJ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Reading Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Massachusetts Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Washington Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lafayette Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Garden State Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Montclair | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
New York Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape May, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on the route
82 ft
·
11 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto New York Avenue
105 ft
·
7 sec
·
New York Avenue
3
Turn right onto Reading Avenue
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Reading Avenue
4
Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue
325 ft
·
20 sec
·
Massachusetts Avenue
5
Turn left onto East Street
302 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Street
6
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Washington Street
7
Keep slight right to continue on Washington Street
102 ft
·
2 sec
·
Washington Street
8
Turn straight onto Lafayette Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lafayette Street
9
Turn straight onto Garden State Parkway
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Garden State Parkway
10
Take the exit slight left
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
11
Merge slight right onto Garden State Parkway
34 mi
·
39 min
·
Garden State Parkway
12
Keep slight left to continue on Garden State Parkway
50 mi
·
58 min
·
Garden State Parkway
13
Keep slight left
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
14
Continue on Garden State Parkway
48 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Garden State Parkway
15
Take the exit slight right toward Montclair, Nutley
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Montclair, Nutley
16
Turn right onto Watchung Avenue
482 ft
·
15 sec
·
Watchung Avenue
17
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Passaic Avenue
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Passaic Avenue
18
Turn right onto West Passaic Avenue
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
West Passaic Avenue
19
Turn left onto Darling Avenue
410 ft
·
7 sec
·
Darling Avenue
20
Continue on Bloomfield Avenue
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Allwood Circle
262 ft
·
5 sec
·
Allwood Circle
22
Exit the rotary onto Allwood Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Allwood Road
23
Turn right onto Clifton Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clifton Avenue
24
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft
·
10 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
25
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft
·
7 sec
·
Hutton Road
26
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
443 ft
·
25 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
27
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Donna Drive
28
Turn right onto Holly Street
515 ft
·
23 sec
·
Holly Street
29
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79 miles from Cape May, NJ, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79 miles or 1h 18m 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 9m
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 Cape May, 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 Cape May, NJ
This is one driving day of about 158 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cape May, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79 mi from Cape May, NJ · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79 miles from Cape May, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Clifton, NJ
The final approach into Clifton, NJ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Clifton, NJ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.14 one way
$52.29 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $28.61 | $57.22 |
| premium | $4.92 | $30.62 | $61.23 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $35.10 | $70.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.4 | 0 | $16.59 | $7.58 |
| Efficient EV | 39.5 | 0 | $13.83 | $6.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.2 | 0 | $22.12 | $10.11 |
Gas CO2
55 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.
Destination
Clifton, NJ
Afternoon in Clifton on Monday
Local time
12:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
4 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
2h 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cape May, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 158 miles and takes about 2h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York Avenue, Reading Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79 miles from Cape May, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.14 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Cape May, NJ to Clifton, NJ is easy. At 2h 37m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cape May, NJ to Clifton, NJ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cape May, NJ to Clifton, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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