Origin
Glen Gardner, NJ
Night in Glen Gardner on Thursday
Local time
9:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Glen Gardner, NJ to Clifton, NJ
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
54 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glen Gardner, NJ
James Kampeis
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 54-mile drive from Glen Gardner, NJ, to Clifton, NJ, can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 11 minutes, making it a perfect one-day trip. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 91% of the drive on major roads like Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and Garden State Parkway, so you'll spend most of your time cruising. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, this is an economical journey for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, so you won't be crossing any major geographical divides on this short hop.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 54 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 54-mile journey, with 91% of the route utilizing major expressways. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 35 miles on the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, offering a sustained period of consistent travel. While the exact nature of the road's evolution isn't detailed, the profile suggests a consistent, likely fast-paced drive with minimal deviations onto local roads. This means you'll be spending most of your time on well-maintained, high-speed thoroughfares designed for efficient transit.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 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 35 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 0.2 miles in near Sanatorium 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 54 miles you will encounter 21 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 (Sanatorium Road): Navigation decision point; at 19.5 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Sanatorium Road
Turn right onto Sanatorium Road
Navigation decision point
6
19.5 mi into trip
|
~24m 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
36.1 mi into trip
|
~43m 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
40.6 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
50.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m 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 Glen Gardner, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North Toll, Montclair and Nutley.
Gsp North Toll
40.9 mi in
|
~50m
Montclair
50.5 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Nutley
50.5 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 35 mi | 40m |
| Garden State Parkway | 8.9 mi | 12m |
| NJ 31 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| Allwood Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Passaic Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Passaic Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Bloomfield Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
— 35 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glen Gardner, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on Gardner Lane
31 ft
·
2 sec
·
Gardner Lane
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto Sanatorium Road
377 ft
·
21 sec
·
Sanatorium Road
4
Turn left onto NJ 31
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
NJ 31
5
Take the exit onto ramp to I-78/US 22 East
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
ramp to I-78/US 22 East
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Newark
6
Merge onto I 78; US 22
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 52
Toward GSP: G.S. Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP North Toll
11
Merge onto GSP
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft
·
15 sec
·
Watchung Avenue
14
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Passaic Avenue
15
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Passaic Avenue
16
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft
·
7 sec
·
Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
261 ft
·
4 sec
·
Allwood Road
19
Continue on CR 602
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Allwood Road
20
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clifton Avenue
21
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft
·
9 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
22
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hutton Road
23
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft
·
25 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
24
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Donna Drive
25
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft
·
22 sec
·
Holly Street
26
Arrive at destination
Holly Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27 mi from Glen Gardner, NJ · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27 miles from Glen Gardner, 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
$8.95 one way
$17.91 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.81 | $19.61 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.47 | $20.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.92 | $23.85 |
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
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.56 | $3.46 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Clifton, NJ
Night in Clifton on Thursday
Local time
9:18 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
26 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 11m 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 Glen Gardner, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 54 miles and takes about 1h 11m 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, NJ 31. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27 miles from Glen Gardner, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.95 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 54 miles you will encounter 21 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 (Sanatorium Road): Navigation decision point; at 19.5 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Glen Gardner, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North Toll, 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 5 parks within detour distance of this route.
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