Origin
Dayton, NJ
Afternoon in Dayton on Friday
Local time
1:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dayton, NJ to Clifton, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
43.4 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dayton, NJ
Tashaud Bullock
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Dayton, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 43.4 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Garden State Parkway, US 1, US 130 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.20 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 43.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 6m highway drive covering 43.4 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and US 1. The longest continuous stretch is about 21.5 miles on Garden State Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Garden State Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 21.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US 1. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.4 miles in near GSP / Garden State Parkway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.4 miles you will encounter 19 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 18.4 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.1 miles (CR 622 / Darling Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
18.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
39.9 mi into trip
|
~58m 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
5
41.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Turn left onto CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
43.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
Hutton Road
Turn right onto Hutton Road
Navigation decision point
5
43.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
Donna Drive
Turn left onto Donna Drive
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dayton, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Montclair and Nutley.
Montclair
39.9 mi in
|
~58m
Nutley
39.9 mi in
|
~58m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 21.5 mi | 29m |
| US 1 | 9.5 mi | 14m |
| US 130 | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Allwood Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Ridge Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Passaic Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Passaic Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 21.5 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dayton, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on this road
22 ft
·
3 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto CR 697
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Georges Road
3
Turn right onto Ridge Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Ridge Road
4
Take the ramp
1.8 mi
·
2 min
5
Continue on US 130
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
US 130
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 1 North: Newark
7
Merge onto US 1
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1
8
Continue on US 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1
9
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 1
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on US 1
5.9 mi
·
9 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
13
Merge onto GSP
21 mi
·
29 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft
·
15 sec
·
Watchung Avenue
16
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Passaic Avenue
17
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Passaic Avenue
18
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft
·
7 sec
·
Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
261 ft
·
4 sec
·
Allwood Road
21
Continue on CR 602
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Allwood Road
22
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clifton Avenue
23
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft
·
9 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
24
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hutton Road
25
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft
·
25 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
26
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Donna Drive
27
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft
·
22 sec
·
Holly Street
28
Arrive at destination
Holly Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.7 mi from Dayton, NJ · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.7 miles from Dayton, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.20 one way
$14.39 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.88 | $15.76 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.42 | $16.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.58 | $19.16 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.29
Garden State Parkway
(21.5 mi)
$1.29
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.08 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.80 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.08 | $2.78 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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 Friday
Local time
1:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 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 6m 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 Dayton, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 43.4 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, US 1, US 130. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.7 miles from Dayton, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.20 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 43.4 miles you will encounter 19 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 18.4 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.1 miles (CR 622 / Darling Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Dayton, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Montclair and Nutley.
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.
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