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Trip from Fair Lawn, NJ to Clifton, NJ

Data updated 5 minutes ago

Drive Time

13m

Distance

8.1 mi

13 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$1

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

26 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 13m ★
6 AM
0h 14m
8 AM
0h 16m
10 AM
0h 15m
12 PM
0h 14m
3 PM
0h 15m
5 PM
0h 16m
8 PM
0h 13m ★

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States

Fair Lawn, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States

Clifton, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 8.1-mile drive from Fair Lawn, NJ, to Clifton, NJ, is a quick hop that can be completed in about 13 minutes. It's a straightforward trip, ideal for a single day, and won't require an overnight stay. You'll primarily be on NJ 19, River Street, and River Road, offering a mixed driving experience. With a fuel cost estimated at just $1, this is a very budget-friendly option for getting between these two Northeast locations. Think of it as a short shuttle rather than a full-blown road trip, perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.

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

4 miles from Fair Lawn, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a varied driving experience on this short journey, with 39% of the route on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 3.1 miles along NJ 19, which provides a more direct, faster-paced segment. As you transition to River Street and River Road, the character shifts to a more mixed drive, likely involving more local traffic and signals. This route isn't a monotonous interstate cruise but rather a functional connection between towns, reflecting its short distance and purpose.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NJ 19 is the longest continuous segment at about 3.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Campbell Road.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 8.1 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 0.1 miles (Campbell Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Maple Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (Memorial Drive): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Campbell Road

Turn right onto Campbell Road

Navigation decision point

6
0.8 mi into trip | ~2m in | Maple Avenue

Turn left onto Maple Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
3 mi into trip | ~5m in | Memorial Drive

Turn right onto Memorial Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
3.1 mi into trip | ~5m in | CR 509 / West Broadway

Turn left onto CR 509 / West Broadway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
3.5 mi into trip | ~6m in | NJ 19 / Ward Street

Turn right onto NJ 19 / Ward Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
NJ 19 3.1 mi 3m
River Street 1.9 mi 2m
River Road 0.5 mi <1m
Van Houten Avenue 0.5 mi <1m
Main Street 0.3 mi <1m
Clifton Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Campbell Road 0.2 mi <1m
Oliver Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: NJ 19 — 3.1 mi, about 3m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fair Lawn, NJ and Clifton, NJ.

1

Start on 11th Street

405 ft · 20 sec · 11th Street
2

Turn right onto Campbell Road

0.2 mi · 59 sec · Campbell Road
3

At end of road, turn right onto CR 507

0.5 mi · 52 sec · River Road
4

Turn left onto Maple Avenue

0.1 mi · 10 sec · Maple Avenue
Use the left lane.
5

Turn slight right onto NJ 20

0.2 mi · 15 sec · 1st Avenue
6

Turn left onto CR 504; CR 653

366 ft · 6 sec · River Street
7

Keep slight right at fork onto River Street

1.8 mi · 2 min · River Street
8

At end of road, turn left onto CR 509

233 ft · 7 sec · Main Street
9

Turn right onto Memorial Drive

409 ft · 14 sec · Memorial Drive
Use the right lane.
10

Turn left onto CR 509

0.1 mi · 11 sec · West Broadway
Use the left lane.
11

Turn right onto CR 509

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Main Street
12

Turn right onto NJ 19

397 ft · 9 sec · Ward Street
Use the right lane.
13

Continue on NJ 19

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Oliver Street
14

Turn slight left onto NJ 19

3.1 mi · 3 min · NJ 19
Use the slight left lane.
15

Turn left onto CR 614

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Van Houten Avenue
Use the left lane.
16

Turn right onto NJ 161

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Clifton Avenue
17

Turn left onto St James Place

0.1 mi · 31 sec · St James Place
18

Turn right onto Donna Drive

522 ft · 28 sec · Donna Drive
19

Turn left onto Holly Street

516 ft · 22 sec · Holly Street
20

Arrive at destination

Holly Street

Trip Plan

Given the minimal 8.1-mile distance and 13-minute estimated duration, flexibility is key for this trip. There's no need to meticulously plan stops, but if you do need to stretch your legs, consider the longest stretch on NJ 19 as a point where you might want to be more aware of your surroundings. The fuel cost is negligible at around $1, so you won't need to worry about frequent refueling. Leaving at off-peak times will ensure you experience the full 13-minute estimate, avoiding potential delays on River Street or River Road.

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 4 miles from Fair Lawn, NJ, or about 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 3.1 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 8.1 miles or 13m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 4 miles or 7m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 10m

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 Fair Lawn, 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 Fair Lawn, NJ

This is one driving day of about 8.1 miles and 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fair Lawn, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on NJ 19 for about 3.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 4 mi from Fair Lawn, NJ · 7m into the drive

town in Rockland County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

4 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

New York City, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 8.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ramapo, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 4 miles from Fair Lawn, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

0 mi from route ~1 min detour Free near mile 3.6
Caution: Limited Amphitheater Accessibility
Caution: Overlook Park Parking Lot - Vehicles Must Be Parked in a Designated Spot
View on nps.gov
Thomas Edison National Historical Park

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...

6 mi from route ~16 min detour $10 near mile 8.1
View on nps.gov
Morristown National Historical Park

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...

20 mi from route ~51 min detour Free near mile 8.1
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area

Gateway National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

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...

24 mi from route ~60 min detour Free near mile 8.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.34 one way

$2.69 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 3 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $1.47 $2.94
premium $4.93 $1.57 $3.14
diesel $5.61 $1.79 $3.58

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$26–$51

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 2.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

26 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Raymour & Flanigan - Tesla Supercharger

Paramus, NJ

Tesla

20 DCFC

Bergen Town Center - Tesla Supercharger

Paramus, NJ

Tesla

16 DCFC

Dunkin' Donuts - Tesla Supercharger

Paramus, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Paramus, NJ - 501 NJ-17 - Tesla Supercharger

Paramus, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Lodi, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Starbucks - Tesla Supercharger

Saddle Brook, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Paramus, NJ

Paramus, NJ

RIVIAN_ADVENTURE

6 DCFC

Audi - Jack Daniels Motors

Paramus, NJ

Blink Network

6 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 9 Tesla: 6 Electrify America: 3 RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 1 Blink Network: 1 BP_PULSE: 1 ABM: 1 FORD_CHARGE: 1 EV Connect: 1 CHARGESMART_EV: 1 EVIUM: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 2.4 0 $0.85 $0.39
Efficient EV 2 0 $0.71 $0.32
EV Truck/SUV 3.2 0 $1.13 $0.52

Gas CO2

3 kg

EV CO2

1 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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Fair Lawn, NJ

Night in Fair Lawn on Tuesday

Local time

9:28 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clifton, NJ

Night in Clifton on Tuesday

Local time

9:28 PM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

40°F

Ramapo, NY

4 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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

13m 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 Fair Lawn, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 8.1 miles and takes about 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NJ 19, River Street, River Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4 miles from Fair Lawn, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.34 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 is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 8.1 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Campbell Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Maple Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (Memorial Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fair Lawn, NJ to Clifton, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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