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Create accountDrive Time
2h 3m
Distance
96 mi
155 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clifton, NJ
James Kampeis
Beach Haven West, NJ
Aisling Kerr
If you are looking to trade the urban bustle of Clifton for the coastal atmosphere of Beach Haven West, this 96-mile journey is a straightforward trek across the Northeast region of New Jersey. You should budget about 2 hours and 3 minutes of total driving time, making this a very manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $16 on fuel for the round trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Since the route is almost entirely highway-based, you can anticipate a consistent pace throughout the drive. It is a practical choice for those who want to reach the coast quickly without navigating complex backroads or secondary highways.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
48 miles from Clifton, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 97% of your travel spent on high-speed thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Garden State Parkway, including a single, uninterrupted stretch of 83.8 miles. Because the route relies so heavily on the Parkway and NJ 72, the experience is uniform and efficient rather than technical or winding. While you won't encounter significant variations in road type, the transition from the denser northern corridor to the coastal approach provides a clear sense of progress. Behind the wheel, you can expect a steady, predictable pace that favors highway cruising over stop-and-go local traffic.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
224 ft
Total Descent
397 ft
Highest Point
178 ft
Elevation Range
173 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Garden State Parkway Southbound. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Olga B Terrace.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 96 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: at 0.2 miles (Olga B Terrace): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.9 miles (CR 602 / Allwood Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn right onto Olga B Terrace
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
At end of road, turn right onto CR 602 / Allwood Road
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward NJ 3 West, GSP South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward GSP South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 72 East: Long Beach Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 83.8 mi | 1h 42m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| NJ 72 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Mill Creek Road | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Allwood Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Donna Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Olga B Terrace | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and Beach Haven West, NJ.
Start on Holly Street
Turn left onto Donna Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Olga B Terrace
Turn right onto Hutton Road
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
Turn left onto NJ 161
At end of road, turn right onto CR 602
Take the ramp
Merge onto NJ 3
Take the exit
Merge onto GSP
Continue on Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto NJ 72
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Mill Creek Road
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 2-hour drive, try to time your departure to avoid peak commuting hours on the Garden State Parkway. Since the entire trip is a single stint with no mandatory stops, you have the flexibility to power through or pull over whenever you need a break. Keep a close watch on your fuel gauge before merging onto the Parkway to ensure you don't need to exit prematurely for gas. Because the route is short, you can easily turn this into a full day trip with plenty of time to enjoy your destination upon arrival. Remember that NJ 72 will be your final connection to Beach Haven West, so stay alert for the transition off the main interstate as you approach the coast.
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.
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 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48 miles or 1h 4m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beach Haven West, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Clifton, 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 Clifton, NJ
This is one driving day of about 96 miles and 2h 3m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48 mi from Clifton, NJ · 1h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 48 miles from Clifton, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.8 miles.
The final approach into Beach Haven West, 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 Beach Haven West, NJ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$15.89 one way
$31.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $17.38 | $34.76 |
| premium | $4.92 | $18.60 | $37.21 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $21.33 | $42.66 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.39
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
$16
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.08 | $4.61 |
| Efficient EV | 24 | 0 | $8.40 | $3.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.4 | 0 | $13.44 | $6.14 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
10:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Clear
Destination
Night in Beach Haven West on Sunday
Local time
10:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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