Origin
Hoboken, NJ
Night in Hoboken on Sunday
Local time
9:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hoboken, NJ to Clifton, NJ
Drive Time
23m
Distance
13.5 mi
22 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hoboken, NJ
Garrison Gao
Clifton, NJ
James Kampeis
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Hoboken to Clifton, you are in for a quick, 13.5-mile journey across the Northeast. Clocking in at just 23 minutes, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via Willow Avenue, NJ 495, and NJ 3 to complete the transit. Budgeting roughly $2 for fuel should be more than sufficient for this short distance. Given the efficiency of this highway-focused drive, it serves as a straightforward connection between these two New Jersey locations.
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
6.8 miles from Hoboken, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a high-speed experience as you spend 72% of your time on highways. The route shifts from local streets to a more intense pace once you merge onto the main thoroughfares. You will face your longest uninterrupted stretch of 8.8 miles while cruising along NJ 3, which defines the bulk of your time behind the wheel. Because this is a highway-focused drive, you should prepare for steady, consistent speeds rather than winding backroads. It is a functional, direct path designed to move you between points efficiently.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NJ 3 is the longest continuous segment at about 8.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 3 and NJ 495. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 13.5 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 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (Boulevard East): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: 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.
7
1.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn right
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
1.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Boulevard East
Turn left onto Boulevard East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
3.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
7
12.3 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward Broad Street, Bloomfield, Paterson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Broad Street, Bloomfield, Paterson
7
12.4 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Towns Along This Route
Between Hoboken, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Bloomfield and Paterson.
Bloomfield
12.3 mi in
|
~19m
Paterson
12.3 mi in
|
~19m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 3 | 8.8 mi | 10m |
| NJ 495 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Willow Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Clinton Street | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Boulevard East | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Allwood Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Marginal Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 3
— 8.8 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hoboken, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on 6th Street
361 ft
·
21 sec
·
6th Street
2
Turn right onto Clinton Street
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Clinton Street
3
Turn right onto 12th Street
272 ft
·
19 sec
·
12th Street
4
Turn left onto Willow Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Willow Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward Lincoln Tunnel
6
Turn right
72 ft
·
10 sec
Use the right lane.
7
Turn left onto Boulevard East
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Boulevard East
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto North Marginal Highway
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
North Marginal Highway
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward NJ 495 West
10
Merge onto NJ 495
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 495
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
453 ft
·
7 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto NJ 3
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
NJ 3
Use the none lane.
14
Take the exit
495 ft
·
13 sec
Toward Broad Street, Bloomfield, Paterson
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
117 ft
·
3 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto CR 602
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Allwood Road
17
Turn left onto NJ 161
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clifton Avenue
18
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft
·
9 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
19
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hutton Road
20
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft
·
25 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
21
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Donna Drive
22
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft
·
22 sec
·
Holly Street
23
Arrive at destination
Holly Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a brief 23-minute excursion, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning for intermediate stops, as the entire 13.5-mile route is designed to be completed in one go. Keep a close eye on traffic patterns when merging onto NJ 3, as this high-speed section is the core of your journey. With such a low fuel cost of $2, you can easily prioritize convenience over gas mileage. Use this quick transit to your advantage by scheduling your departure to avoid peak local congestion.
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 6.8 miles from Hoboken, NJ, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.8 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 13.5 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.8 miles or 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 18m
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 Hoboken, 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 Hoboken, NJ
This is one driving day of about 13.5 miles and 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hoboken, 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 3 for about 8.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.8 mi from Hoboken, NJ · 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 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 13.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 6.8 miles from Hoboken, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.23 one way
$4.47 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $2.44 | $4.89 |
| premium | $4.92 | $2.62 | $5.23 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.00 | $6.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.42 | $0.65 |
| Efficient EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.18 | $0.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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 Sunday
Local time
9:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
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
23m 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 Hoboken, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 13.5 miles and takes about 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NJ 3, NJ 495, Willow Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.8 miles from Hoboken, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.23 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 21 significant decision points across 13.5 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 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (Boulevard East): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Hoboken, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Bloomfield and Paterson.
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