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Trip from Frenchtown, NJ to Clifton, NJ

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 26m

Distance

61.9 mi

100 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 20m ★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m

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

borough of New Jersey

Frenchtown, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States

Clifton, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Frenchtown, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 61.9 miles and takes about 1h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, Garden State Parkway, Everittstown Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.6 miles on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.26 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 61.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 26m highway drive covering 61.9 miles, with most of the trip on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and Garden State Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 36.6 miles on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 36.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.5 miles in near CR 513; CR 579 / Pittstown Road.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.9 miles you will encounter 22 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 7.5 miles (CR 513; CR 579 / Pittstown Road): Navigation decision point; at 27.3 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.9 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 22 key points

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

5
7.5 mi into trip | ~13m in | CR 513; CR 579 / Pittstown Road

At end of road, turn left onto CR 513; CR 579 / Pittstown Road

Navigation decision point

6
27.3 mi into trip | ~39m in | I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
43.9 mi into trip | ~58m in | I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
48.4 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in

Take the exit toward GSP: G.S. Parkway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 52 Toward GSP: G.S. Parkway
8
58.3 mi into trip | ~1h 18m 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

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Frenchtown, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Newark, Gsp North Toll, Montclair and Nutley.

Newark

11.5 mi in | ~20m

Gsp North Toll

48.7 mi in | ~1h 4m

Montclair

58.3 mi in | ~1h 18m

Nutley

58.3 mi in | ~1h 18m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway 36.6 mi 42m
Garden State Parkway 8.9 mi 12m
Everittstown Road 6.5 mi 11m
Pittstown Road 4 mi 7m
Allwood Road 1 mi 1m
Everittstown Hill Road 0.8 mi 1m
Clifton Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
West Passaic Avenue 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway — 36.6 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Harrison Street

47 ft · 7 sec · South Harrison Street
2

Turn left

152 ft · 16 sec
3

Turn left onto Trenton Avenue

133 ft · 4 sec · Trenton Avenue
4

Turn right onto NJ 12

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Race Street
5

Continue on CR 513

0.8 mi · 1 min · Everittstown Hill Road
6

Continue on CR 513

6.5 mi · 11 min · Everittstown Road
7

At end of road, turn left onto CR 513; CR 579

4.0 mi · 7 min · Pittstown Road
8

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: New York, Newark
9

Merge onto I 78; US 22

15 mi · 17 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 78

17 mi · 19 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 78

4.6 mi · 5 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 47 sec
Exit 52 Toward GSP: G.S. Parkway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward GSP North Toll
14

Merge onto GSP

8.9 mi · 12 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 151 Toward Montclair, Nutley Use the slight right lane.
16

Turn right onto CR 655

483 ft · 15 sec · Watchung Avenue
17

At end of road, turn left onto CR 652

0.4 mi · 45 sec · East Passaic Avenue
18

Turn right onto CR 622

0.5 mi · 52 sec · West Passaic Avenue
19

Turn left onto CR 622

411 ft · 7 sec · Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
20

Continue on CR 622

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21

Enter roundabout onto CR 602

261 ft · 4 sec · Allwood Road
22

Continue on CR 602

1.0 mi · 1 min · Allwood Road
23

Turn right onto NJ 161

0.5 mi · 1 min · Clifton Avenue
24

Turn right onto Olga B Terrace

174 ft · 9 sec · Olga B Terrace
25

Turn right onto Hutton Road

39 ft · 6 sec · Hutton Road
26

Turn left onto Olga B Terrace

441 ft · 25 sec · Olga B Terrace
27

Turn left onto Donna Drive

0.1 mi · 33 sec · Donna Drive
28

Turn right onto Holly Street

516 ft · 22 sec · Holly Street
29

Arrive at destination

Holly Street

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 30.9 mi from Frenchtown, NJ · 43m into the drive

Downtown Union, NJ, NJ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Union, NJ

31 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

Lebanon, NJ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bedminster, NJ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.9 miles from Frenchtown, 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

$10.26 one way

$20.52 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $11.24 $22.48
premium $4.93 $12.00 $24.01
diesel $5.61 $13.67 $27.33

Estimated Tolls: $0.53

Garden State Parkway (8.9 mi) $0.53

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Tolls

$1

Total

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.6 0 $6.50 $2.97
Efficient EV 15.5 0 $5.42 $2.48
EV Truck/SUV 24.8 0 $8.67 $3.96

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Frenchtown, NJ

Morning in Frenchtown on Saturday

Local time

6:43 AM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clifton, NJ

Morning in Clifton on Saturday

Local time

6:43 AM

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

25 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 26m 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 Frenchtown, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 61.9 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, Garden State Parkway, Everittstown 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 30.9 miles from Frenchtown, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.26 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 61.9 miles you will encounter 22 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 7.5 miles (CR 513; CR 579 / Pittstown Road): Navigation decision point; at 27.3 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.9 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Between Frenchtown, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Newark, Gsp North Toll, Montclair and Nutley.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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