Origin
Metuchen, NJ
Night in Metuchen on Sunday
Local time
9:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Metuchen, NJ to Clifton, NJ
Drive Time
41m
Distance
26.6 mi
43 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Metuchen, NJ
James Kampeis
Clifton, NJ
James Kampeis
Trip Overview
Traveling between Metuchen and Clifton is a straightforward 26.6-mile journey that typically takes about 41 minutes. Because this trip stays entirely within New Jersey, you will remain in the Northeast region for the duration of your transit. It is an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops, keeping your logistics simple and efficient. With a fuel cost estimate of just $4, this drive is very budget-friendly for those commuting or visiting between these two points. You will primarily utilize the Garden State Parkway, Lincoln Highway, and Middlesex Avenue to navigate the distance. Overall, it is a practical, highway-focused route that gets you from origin to destination with minimal fuss.
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
13.3 miles from Metuchen, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a drive defined by its highway-focused profile, as 75% of your time will be spent on major roads. The Garden State Parkway serves as the backbone of your trip, featuring a longest uninterrupted stretch of 20 miles where you can maintain a steady pace. While the initial segments may involve local navigation via Middlesex Avenue and the Lincoln Highway, the transition to the parkway quickly changes the rhythm of your travel. You will find this to be a functional, efficient drive rather than a winding scenic tour. The transition from local roads to high-speed lanes is the primary shift in character you will experience behind the wheel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Garden State Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 20 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Lincoln Highway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near GSP / Garden State Parkway.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 3.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.2 miles (CR 622 / Darling Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
23 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
5
24.2 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Turn left onto CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
26.3 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
Hutton Road
Turn right onto Hutton Road
Navigation decision point
5
26.4 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
Donna Drive
Turn left onto Donna Drive
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
Between Metuchen, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North, Montclair and Nutley.
Gsp Toll North
2.7 mi in
|
~5m
Montclair
23 mi in
|
~34m
Nutley
23 mi in
|
~34m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 20 mi | 27m |
| Lincoln Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Middlesex Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| 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:
Garden State Parkway
— 20 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metuchen, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 27
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Middlesex Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on NJ 27
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Lincoln Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
467 ft
·
11 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
4
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
this road
5
Merge onto GSP
20 mi
·
27 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft
·
15 sec
·
Watchung Avenue
8
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Passaic Avenue
9
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Passaic Avenue
10
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft
·
7 sec
·
Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
261 ft
·
4 sec
·
Allwood Road
13
Continue on CR 602
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Allwood Road
14
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clifton Avenue
15
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft
·
9 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
16
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hutton Road
17
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft
·
25 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
18
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Donna Drive
19
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft
·
22 sec
·
Holly Street
20
Arrive at destination
Holly Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 41-minute duration, you have significant flexibility regarding your departure time, though you should always check local traffic conditions on the Garden State Parkway before heading out. Since there are zero planned stops on this 26.6-mile route, it is best to ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave to keep the trip seamless. The $4 fuel estimate makes this an economical excursion, so you won't need to worry much about gas stops along the way. Use the Lincoln Highway and Middlesex Avenue segments to settle into the drive before merging onto the longer highway stretch. Because the trip is so quick, it is perfect for a spontaneous half-day outing or a direct commute.
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 13.3 miles from Metuchen, NJ, or about 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20 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 26.6 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.3 miles or 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 33m
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 Metuchen, 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 Metuchen, NJ
This is one driving day of about 26.6 miles and 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Metuchen, 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 Garden State Parkway for about 20 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.3 mi from Metuchen, NJ · 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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 26.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.3 miles from Metuchen, 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
$4.40 one way
$8.80 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $4.82 | $9.63 |
| premium | $4.92 | $5.15 | $10.31 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.91 | $11.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.20
Garden State Parkway
(20 mi)
$1.20
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
$4
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8 | 0 | $2.79 | $1.28 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.33 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.72 | $1.70 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% 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
23 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
41m 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 Metuchen, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 26.6 miles and takes about 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Lincoln Highway, Middlesex 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 13.3 miles from Metuchen, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.40 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 26.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 3.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.2 miles (CR 622 / Darling Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Metuchen, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North, Montclair and Nutley.
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