Origin
Middletown, NJ
Night in Middletown on Friday
Local time
11:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Middletown, 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
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
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
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.
Middletown, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
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 $22.63 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 .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 136.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
192 ft
8 ft
Total Climb
437 ft
Total Descent
289 ft
Highest Point
192 ft
~126.8 mi in
Elevation Range
184 ft
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.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
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 pointsThese 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 30 miles or 38m 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 30 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
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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 checkTop 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.63 one way
$45.26 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $24.78 | $49.57 |
| premium | $4.93 | $26.47 | $52.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.14 | $60.27 |
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, 2026-04-13.
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.
Destination
Clifton, NJ
Night in Clifton on Friday
Local time
11:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
W 2 to 12 mph
16% chance
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
14 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
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 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 $22.63 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.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 8 ft to 192 ft elevation with about 437 ft of total climbing.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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