Origin
Menlo Park, NJ
Morning in Menlo Park on Thursday
Local time
11:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Menlo Park, NJ to Clayton, NJ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 48m
Distance
83.9 mi
135 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Menlo Park, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Clayton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Menlo Park, NJ to Clayton, NJ covers 83.9 miles and takes about 1h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Lincoln Highway, Wood Avenue, Middlesex-Essex Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.91 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.
Midpoint
41.9 miles from Menlo Park, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 83.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 48m drive with frequent turns across 83.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lincoln Highway is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Menlo Park, NJ to Clayton, NJ is easy. At 1h 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Menlo Park, NJ to Clayton, NJ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Highway | — | — |
| Wood Avenue | — | — |
| Middlesex-Essex Turnpike | — | — |
| GSP Toll South | — | — |
| Garden State Parkway | — | — |
| I 95 | — | — |
| I 95 South | — | — |
| New Jersey Turnpike | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Menlo Park, NJ and Clayton, NJ.
1
Start on Philip Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Philip Street
2
At the end of the road, turn left onto Lincoln Highway
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Lincoln Highway
3
Turn right onto Wood Avenue
495 ft
·
22 sec
·
Wood Avenue
4
Turn left onto Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
5
Take the ramp slight right toward GSP Toll South
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
GSP Toll South
6
Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Garden State Parkway
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 95, NJTP, US 9, NJ 440, I 287: New York City, Philadelphia, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 95, NJTP, US 9, NJ 440, I 287: New York City, Philadelphia, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 95, NJTP: New York City, Philadelphia
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
I 95, NJTP: New York City, Philadelphia
9
Keep slight left
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
11
Keep slight left
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
12
Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike
39 mi
·
45 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
13
Keep slight left to continue on New Jersey Turnpike
25 mi
·
29 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
14
Take the exit slight right toward NJ 168: Camden, Atlantic City Expressway
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
NJ 168: Camden, Atlantic City Expressway
15
Keep slight left to continue on NJ 168 South: Woodbury, Atlantic City
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
NJ 168 South: Woodbury, Atlantic City
16
Turn straight onto Black Horse Pike
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Black Horse Pike
17
Turn right onto West Clements Bridge Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Clements Bridge Road
18
Continue on Clements Bridge Road
256 ft
·
8 sec
·
Clements Bridge Road
19
Turn straight onto Hurffville Road
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Hurffville Road
20
Continue on Delsea Drive
6.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Delsea Drive
21
Continue on North Delsea South
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Delsea South
22
Continue on North Delsea Drive
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Delsea Drive
23
Turn left onto East Academy Street
59 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Academy Street
24
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 41.9 miles from Menlo Park, NJ, or about 54m into the drive.
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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.9 miles or 54m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clayton, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Menlo Park, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Menlo Park, NJ
This is one driving day of about 83.9 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Menlo Park, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.9 mi from Menlo Park, NJ · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.9 miles from Menlo Park, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Clayton, NJ
The final approach into Clayton, 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
$13.91 one way
$27.82 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $15.23 | $30.47 |
| premium | $4.93 | $16.27 | $32.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.52 | $37.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.2 | 0 | $8.81 | $4.03 |
| Efficient EV | 21 | 0 | $7.34 | $3.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.6 | 0 | $11.75 | $5.37 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Clayton, NJ
Morning in Clayton on Thursday
Local time
11:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Bristol, PA
42 mi in
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
1 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 48m 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 Menlo Park, NJ to Clayton, NJ covers 83.9 miles and takes about 1h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lincoln Highway, Wood Avenue, Middlesex-Essex Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.9 miles from Menlo Park, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.91 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.
The drive from Menlo Park, NJ to Clayton, NJ is easy. At 1h 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Menlo Park, NJ to Clayton, NJ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Menlo Park, NJ to Clayton, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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