The drive from Clifton, NJ to Milford, NJ covers 64.6 miles and takes about 1h 30m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 287, Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, US 46 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.2 miles on I 287.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.71 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.
Midpoint
32.3 miles from Clifton, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 40m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 64.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 30m highway drive covering 64.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 287 and Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 19.2 miles on I 287.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 287 is the longest continuous segment at about 19.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 287 and Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. 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.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.6 miles you will encounter 23 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 0.2 miles (Olga B Terrace): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|Olga B Terrace
At end of road, turn right onto Olga B Terrace
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward NJ 3 West, GSP South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 3 West, GSP South
8
36.8 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward I 78 West: Easton, Pennsylvania
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 21B
Toward I 78 West: Easton, Pennsylvania
8
51.3 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward NJ 173 East: Clinton, Pittstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 15
Toward NJ 173 East: Clinton, Pittstown
8
51.4 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Pittstown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Pittstown
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clifton, NJ and Milford, NJ, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah, Pennsylvania and Pittstown.
Del Water Gap
13.3 mi in|~17m
Mahwah
13.5 mi in|~17m|via I 80W
Pennsylvania
36.8 mi in|~46m
Pittstown
51.3 mi in|~1h 3m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 287
19.2 mi
23m
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
14.2 mi
16m
US 46
10.8 mi
12m
Pittstown Road
4.2 mi
7m
Everittstown Road
4 mi
7m
Milford - Mount Pleasant Road
2.6 mi
6m
Little York - Mount Pleasant Road
2.3 mi
5m
Interstate 80 West
2.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 287
— 19.2 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, NJ and Milford, NJ.
1
Start on Holly Street
516 ft·26 sec·Holly Street
2
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi·34 sec·Donna Drive
3
At end of road, turn right onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft·21 sec·Olga B Terrace
4
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft·7 sec·Hutton Road
5
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft·13 sec·Olga B Terrace
6
Turn left onto NJ 161
0.5 mi·1 min·Clifton Avenue
7
At end of road, turn right onto CR 602
0.2 mi·31 sec·Allwood Road
Use the right lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward NJ 3 West, GSP South
9
Merge onto NJ 3
1.3 mi·1 min·State Route 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 46
11 mi·12 min·US 46
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap
12
Continue on I 80W
2.1 mi·2 min·Interstate 80 West
Toward I 287: Morristown, MahwahUse the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
1.9 mi·2 min
Exit 43AToward I 287 South: Morristown
14
Merge onto I 287
19 mi·23 min·I 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·34 sec
Exit 21BToward I 78 West: Easton, PennsylvaniaUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 78
14 mi·16 min·Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 15Toward NJ 173 East: Clinton, PittstownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
150 ft·6 sec
Toward PittstownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto NJ 173; CR 513
4.2 mi·7 min·Pittstown Road
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto CR 513
4.0 mi·7 min·Everittstown Road
21
Turn right onto CR 519
2.3 mi·5 min·Little York - Mount Pleasant Road
22
Turn left onto CR 519
2.6 mi·6 min·Milford - Mount Pleasant Road
23
At end of road, turn right onto CR 519
519 ft·13 sec·Frenchtown Road
24
Turn left onto Bridge Street
30 ft·0 sec·Bridge Street
25
Arrive at destination
Bridge Street
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 32.3 miles from Clifton, NJ, or about 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.2 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 14 miles or 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.3 miles or 40m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Milford, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clifton, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clifton, NJ
This is one driving day of about 64.6 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Clifton, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 287 for about 19.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.3 mi from Clifton, NJ
· 40m into the drive
The midpoint is around 32.3 miles from Clifton, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Milford, NJ
The final approach into Milford, NJ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
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...
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...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.4
0
$6.78
$3.10
Efficient EV
16.2
0
$5.65
$2.58
EV Truck/SUV
25.8
0
$9.04
$4.13
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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 16, 2026
Origin
Clifton, NJ
Morning
in Clifton on Saturday
Local time
10:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Milford, NJ
Morning
in Milford on Saturday
Local time
10:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°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
25 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 30m 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 Clifton, NJ to Milford, NJ covers 64.6 miles and takes about 1h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 287, Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, US 46. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.3 miles from Clifton, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.71 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 64.6 miles you will encounter 23 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 0.2 miles (Olga B Terrace): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Clifton, NJ and Milford, NJ, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah, Pennsylvania and Pittstown.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
