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Trip from Middletown, NJ to Clifton, NJ

Drive Time

2h 52m

Distance

136.5 mi

220 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

34 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 41m ★
6 AM
2h 52m
8 AM
3h 14m
10 AM
3h 0m
12 PM
2h 58m
3 PM
3h 1m
5 PM
3h 13m
8 PM
2h 46m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Middletown, NJ, NJ

Middletown, NJ

Alexa V. Mato

Downtown Clifton, NJ, NJ

Clifton, NJ

James Kampeis

Trip Overview

The drive from Middletown, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 136.5 miles and takes about 2h 52m 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, CR 631, Allwood Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 126.1 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.59 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

68.3 miles from Middletown, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 52m highway drive covering 136.5 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and CR 631. The longest continuous stretch is about 126.1 miles on Garden State Parkway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 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 126.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and CR 631. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NJ 50.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 136.5 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: near the start (NJ 50): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (CR 631): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 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 | NJ 50

Turn left onto NJ 50

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
0.4 mi into trip | ~0m in | CR 631

Turn left onto CR 631

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
6.1 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the ramp toward GSP Toll North, US 9 Toll North

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward GSP Toll North, US 9 Toll North
6
34.2 mi into trip | ~42m in | GSP / Garden State Parkway

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
132.9 mi into trip | ~2h 44m 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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Garden State Parkway 126.1 mi 2h 33m
CR 631 4.9 mi 7m
Allwood Road 1 mi 1m
West Roosevelt Boulevard 0.6 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 — 126.1 mi, about 2h 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Washington Avenue

55 ft · 5 sec · Washington Avenue
2

Turn left onto NJ 50

0.3 mi · 35 sec · NJ 50
Use the left lane.
3

Turn left onto CR 631

4.9 mi · 7 min · CR 631
Use the left lane.
4

Turn straight onto CR 662

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Old Tuckahoe Road
5

Turn straight onto CR 623

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Roosevelt Boulevard
6

Take the ramp

253 ft · 6 sec
Toward GSP Toll North, US 9 Toll North
7

Continue on GSP Northbound entrance

0.3 mi · 32 sec · GSP Northbound entrance
Toward GSP, US 9 North
8

Merge onto US 9; GSP

28 mi · 32 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

50 mi · 58 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 31 sec
11

Continue on GSP

48 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 151 Toward Montclair, Nutley Use the slight right lane.
13

Turn right onto CR 655

483 ft · 15 sec · Watchung Avenue
14

At end of road, turn left onto CR 652

0.4 mi · 45 sec · East Passaic Avenue
15

Turn right onto CR 622

0.5 mi · 52 sec · West Passaic Avenue
16

Turn left onto CR 622

411 ft · 7 sec · Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
17

Continue on CR 622

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Enter roundabout onto CR 602

261 ft · 4 sec · Allwood Road
19

Continue on CR 602

1.0 mi · 1 min · Allwood Road
20

Turn right onto NJ 161

0.5 mi · 1 min · Clifton Avenue
21

Turn right onto Olga B Terrace

174 ft · 9 sec · Olga B Terrace
22

Turn right onto Hutton Road

39 ft · 6 sec · Hutton Road
23

Turn left onto Olga B Terrace

441 ft · 25 sec · Olga B Terrace
24

Turn left onto Donna Drive

0.1 mi · 33 sec · Donna Drive
25

Turn right onto Holly Street

516 ft · 22 sec · Holly Street
26

Arrive at destination

Holly Street

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.3 miles from Middletown, NJ, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.1 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 80 miles or 1h 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 68.3 miles or 1h 22m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 17m

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 Middletown, 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 Middletown, NJ

This is one driving day of about 136.5 miles and 2h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Middletown, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 126.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 68.3 mi from Middletown, NJ · 1h 22m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

68 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68.3 miles from Middletown, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 126.1 miles.

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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 near mile 127.1
Park Closure: Glenmont Mansion and Grounds Closed
View on nps.gov
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 136.5
View on nps.gov
Morristown National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...

15 mi from route ~38 min detour Free near mile 122.4
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area

Gateway National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...

18 mi from route ~45 min detour Free near mile 94.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.59 one way

$45.17 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $24.72 $49.43
premium $4.92 $26.45 $52.90
diesel $5.64 $30.33 $60.65

Estimated Tolls: $7.56

Garden State Parkway (126.1 mi) $7.56

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

$23

Tolls

$8

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

34 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Stafford Township, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Somers Point, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

JR's Fresh Market - Tesla Supercharger

Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Barnegat, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Toms River, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Brick Township, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 16 Tesla: 8 Blink Network: 3 EV Connect: 3 EVIUM: 1 CHARGEUP: 1 CHARGESMART_EV: 1 Electrify America: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.9 0 $14.33 $6.55
Efficient EV 34.1 0 $11.94 $5.46
EV Truck/SUV 54.6 0 $19.11 $8.74

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Middletown, NJ

Afternoon in Middletown on Monday

Local time

12:49 PM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clifton, NJ

Afternoon in Clifton on Monday

Local time

12:49 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

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

2h 52m 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 Middletown, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 136.5 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, CR 631, 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 68.3 miles from Middletown, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.59 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 136.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NJ 50): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (CR 631): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Middletown, NJ to Clifton, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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