Drive Time
35m
Distance
26.4 mi
43 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Photo: James Kampeis
The drive from Metuchen, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 26.4 miles and takes about 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Lincoln Highway, GSP Toll North, Garden State Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.25 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
13.2 miles from Metuchen, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Expect a 35m drive with frequent turns across 26.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| GSP Toll North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Garden State Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Montclair | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Watchung Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Passaic Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Passaic Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Darling Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Metuchen, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
Start on Middlesex Avenue
Continue on Lincoln Highway
Take the ramp left toward GSP Toll North
Continue straight
Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway
Take the exit slight right toward Montclair, Nutley
Turn right onto Watchung Avenue
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Passaic Avenue
Turn right onto West Passaic Avenue
Turn left onto Darling Avenue
Continue on Bloomfield Avenue
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Allwood Circle
Exit the rotary onto Allwood Road
Turn right onto Clifton Avenue
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 your 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 26.4 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.2 miles or 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clifton, NJ than in the middle of the route.
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 26.4 miles and 35m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.2 mi from Metuchen, NJ · 17m 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.
A short stop after about 26.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 13.2 miles from Metuchen, 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
$4.25 one way
$8.49 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $4.78 | $9.56 |
| premium | $4.95 | $5.15 | $10.30 |
| diesel | $5.98 | $6.22 | $12.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.31 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Metuchen on Saturday
Local time
11:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Clifton on Saturday
Local time
11:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Staten Island, NY
13 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
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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