Clayton, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ is 91.3 miles and takes about 1h 58m via New Jersey Turnpike, Delsea Drive, and Hurffville Road, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region and the state of New Jersey, making it a convenient, same-day journey. Expect a drive that's primarily on major roadways, offering a straightforward path between these two New Jersey locations. It's a practical option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.6 miles from Clayton, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 91.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 80% of the journey utilizing major roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 71.9 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, which forms the backbone of this route. While the majority is highway, you'll also navigate segments on Delsea Drive and Hurffville Road, which may offer a slight change of pace from the high-speed travel. The overall feel is one of consistent motion on well-maintained, high-capacity roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 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 71.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Delsea Drive. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.7 miles in near NJ 168 / Black Horse Pike.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.3 miles you will encounter 17 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 13.7 miles (NJ 168 / Black Horse Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.5 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
13.7 mi into trip|~22m in|NJ 168 / Black Horse Pike
Turn left onto NJ 168 / Black Horse Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
14.8 mi into trip|~25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJTP North: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NJTP North: New York
6
38.5 mi into trip|~52m in|NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
87.3 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
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 13
Toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten Island
5
89.1 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 439: Elizabeth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NJ 439: Elizabeth
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clayton, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike and Njtp North: New York.
Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
14.5 mi in|~24m
Njtp North: New York
14.8 mi in|~25m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
71.9 mi
1h 23m
Delsea Drive
6.6 mi
10m
Hurffville Road
3.8 mi
6m
North Delsea Drive
1.3 mi
1m
US 1
1 mi
1m
North Delsea South
0.9 mi
1m
Black Horse Pike
0.8 mi
1m
West Clements Bridge Road
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 71.9 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clayton, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
1
Start on CR 610
58 ft·4 sec·East Academy Street
2
Turn right onto NJ 47
1.3 mi·1 min·North Delsea Drive
3
Continue on NJ 47
0.9 mi·1 min·North Delsea South
4
Continue on NJ 47
6.6 mi·10 min·Delsea Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on NJ 41
3.8 mi·6 min·Hurffville Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on NJ 41; CR 544
0.3 mi·45 sec·Clements Bridge Road
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 41
0.8 mi·1 min·West Clements Bridge Road
8
Turn left onto NJ 168
0.8 mi·1 min·Black Horse Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward NJTP North: New YorkUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto NJTP
23 mi·26 min·New Jersey Turnpike
12
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
49 mi·56 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
1.4 mi·2 min
Exit 13Toward I 278: Elizabeth, Staten IslandUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 278 West, NJ 439: Elizabeth, Linden
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·35 sec
Toward NJ 439: Elizabeth
16
Continue on NJ 439
0.3 mi·41 sec·Bayway
17
Turn right onto CR 623
0.3 mi·52 sec·South Broad Street
18
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
1.0 mi·1 min·US 1; US 9
19
Turn right
60 ft·6 sec
20
Turn right
383 ft·28 sec
21
Turn right
278 ft·22 sec
22
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.3 mi·50 sec·East Jersey Street
23
Turn right
34 ft·2 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours and a fuel cost estimated at $15, this trip offers considerable flexibility. You can easily depart mid-morning and still arrive well before evening, or even leave in the afternoon. Since there are no mandated stops and the longest uninterrupted stretch is on the New Jersey Turnpike, plan for potential traffic delays, especially if traveling during peak commuting hours. Consider keeping your fuel tank topped off before you begin, as you'll be on major highways for most of the 91.3 miles.
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 45.6 miles from Clayton, NJ, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.9 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 20 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.6 miles or 1h 1m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elizabeth, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clayton, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clayton, NJ
This is one driving day of about 91.3 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Clayton, 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 71.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45.6 mi from Clayton, NJ
· 1h 1m 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...
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 88.1
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...
17 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 91.3
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...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 91.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.14 one way
$30.27 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$16.58
$33.16
premium
$4.93
$17.71
$35.41
diesel
$5.61
$20.16
$40.32
Estimated Tolls: $10.07
New Jersey Turnpike
(71.9 mi)$10.07
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
$15
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.4
0
$9.59
$4.38
Efficient EV
22.8
0
$7.99
$3.65
EV Truck/SUV
36.5
0
$12.78
$5.84
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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
Clayton, NJ
Morning
in Clayton on Saturday
Local time
10:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Elizabeth, NJ
Morning
in Elizabeth on Saturday
Local time
10:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Bristol, PA
46 mi in
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
2 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 58m 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 Clayton, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ covers 91.3 miles and takes about 1h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New Jersey Turnpike, Delsea Drive, Hurffville 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 45.6 miles from Clayton, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.14 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.3 miles you will encounter 17 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: at 13.7 miles (NJ 168 / Black Horse Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.5 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Clayton, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike and Njtp North: New York.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area and Paterson Great Falls 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.
