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Trip from Lebanon, 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

Distance

45.9 mi

74 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 56m ★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m

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

Downtown Lebanon, NJ, NJ

Lebanon, NJ

Nemika F

city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States

Clifton, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Lebanon, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 45.9 miles and takes about 1h 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, Allwood Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.9 miles on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.61 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 45.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h highway drive covering 45.9 miles, with most of the trip on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and Garden State Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 31.9 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 24 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 31.9 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 early in the drive near Cokesbury 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 45.9 miles you will encounter 19 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: near the start (Cokesbury Road): Navigation decision point; at 11.3 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.9 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Cokesbury Road

Turn left onto Cokesbury Road

Navigation decision point

6
11.3 mi into trip | ~14m 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
27.9 mi into trip | ~33m 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
32.5 mi into trip | ~38m 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
42.3 mi into trip | ~53m 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 Lebanon, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North Toll, Montclair and Nutley.

Gsp North Toll

32.8 mi in | ~39m

Montclair

42.3 mi in | ~53m

Nutley

42.3 mi in | ~53m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway 31.9 mi 36m
Garden State Parkway 8.9 mi 12m
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
Cokesbury Road 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway — 31.9 mi, about 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Main Street

163 ft · 10 sec · Main Street
2

Turn left onto Cokesbury Road

0.3 mi · 54 sec · Cokesbury Road
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 78 East
4

Merge onto I 78

11 mi · 12 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
5

Keep slight right at fork onto I 78

17 mi · 19 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 78

4.6 mi · 5 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 47 sec
Exit 52 Toward GSP: G.S. Parkway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward GSP North Toll
9

Merge onto GSP

8.9 mi · 12 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 151 Toward Montclair, Nutley Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn right onto CR 655

483 ft · 15 sec · Watchung Avenue
12

At end of road, turn left onto CR 652

0.4 mi · 45 sec · East Passaic Avenue
13

Turn right onto CR 622

0.5 mi · 52 sec · West Passaic Avenue
14

Turn left onto CR 622

411 ft · 7 sec · Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
15

Continue on CR 622

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16

Enter roundabout onto CR 602

261 ft · 4 sec · Allwood Road
17

Continue on CR 602

1.0 mi · 1 min · Allwood Road
18

Turn right onto NJ 161

0.5 mi · 1 min · Clifton Avenue
19

Turn right onto Olga B Terrace

174 ft · 9 sec · Olga B Terrace
20

Turn right onto Hutton Road

39 ft · 6 sec · Hutton Road
21

Turn left onto Olga B Terrace

441 ft · 25 sec · Olga B Terrace
22

Turn left onto Donna Drive

0.1 mi · 33 sec · Donna Drive
23

Turn right onto Holly Street

516 ft · 22 sec · Holly Street
24

Arrive at destination

Holly Street

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 23 mi from Lebanon, NJ · 27m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

23 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

Bedminster, NJ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Plainfield, NJ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23 miles from Lebanon, 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

$7.61 one way

$15.22 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $8.33 $16.67
premium $4.93 $8.90 $17.80
diesel $5.61 $10.13 $20.27

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

$8

Tolls

$1

Total

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.8 0 $4.82 $2.20
Efficient EV 11.5 0 $4.02 $1.84
EV Truck/SUV 18.4 0 $6.43 $2.94

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (69% 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 13, 2026

Origin

Lebanon, NJ

Late night in Lebanon on Saturday

Local time

1:49 AM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clifton, NJ

Late night in Clifton on Saturday

Local time

1:49 AM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

SW 18 mph 15% chance 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

37 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 on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Lebanon, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 45.9 miles and takes about 1h 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, Allwood 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 23 miles from Lebanon, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.61 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 45.9 miles you will encounter 19 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: near the start (Cokesbury Road): Navigation decision point; at 11.3 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.9 miles (I 78 / Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Between Lebanon, 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 4 parks within detour distance of this route.

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

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