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Create accountDrive Time
1h 20m
Distance
53.8 mi
87 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lawrence, NJ
Ren Aukeman
Clifton, NJ
James Kampeis
The drive from Lawrence, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 53.8 miles and takes about 1h 20m 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, Brunswick Pike, US 1 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.90 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
26.9 miles from Lawrence, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .
The drive from Lawrence, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 53.8 miles and takes about 1h 20m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
290 ft
Total Descent
167 ft
Highest Point
203 ft
~11.5 mi in
Elevation Range
140 ft
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 2 miles in near US 1 / Brunswick Pike.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 53.8 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 2 miles (US 1 / Brunswick Pike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Merge onto US 1 / Brunswick Pike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Between Lawrence, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, New Brunswick, Montclair and Nutley.
Newark|Newark
Camden
New Brunswick|Newark
New Brunswick
Montclair
Nutley
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 21.5 mi | 29m |
| Brunswick Pike | 16 mi | 22m |
| US 1 | 10.3 mi | 15m |
| Quaker Bridge Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Allwood Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Lawrence Station Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Passaic Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lawrence, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
Start on Fountayne Boulevard
Turn left onto CR 608
At end of road, turn left onto CR 533
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Take the exit
Merge onto GSP
Take the exit
Turn right onto CR 655
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
Turn right onto CR 622
Turn left onto CR 622
Continue on CR 622
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
Continue on CR 602
Turn right onto NJ 161
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
Turn right onto Hutton Road
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
Turn left onto Donna Drive
Turn right onto Holly Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 53.8 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 26.9 miles or 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clifton, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lawrence, 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 Lawrence, NJ
This is one driving day of about 53.8 miles and 1h 20m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.9 mi from Lawrence, NJ · 39m 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.
A short stop after about 53.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.9 miles from Lawrence, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$8.90 one way
$17.80 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $9.74 | $19.48 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.43 | $20.85 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.95 | $23.90 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.29
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.65 | $2.58 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.71 | $2.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.53 | $3.44 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Lawrence on Monday
Local time
12:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Patchy Frost then Sunny
Destination
Late night in Clifton on Monday
Local time
12:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Sunny
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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