Origin
Prospect Park, NJ
Late night in Prospect Park on Thursday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Prospect Park, NJ to Clifton, NJ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
59 mi
95 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Prospect Park, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 59-mile drive from Prospect Park to Clifton, New Jersey, is a straightforward 1 hour and 29 minute trip. Designed as a single-day excursion, it involves a 61% highway share, primarily utilizing the Garden State Parkway, Brunswick Pike, and US 1. With an estimated fuel cost of just $10, this route is an economical option for a quick getaway within the Northeast region. The overall feel is a focused highway journey, making it ideal for those who prefer to reach their destination efficiently. Since there are no recommended overnight stops, you can easily complete this journey in one go.
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
29.5 miles from Prospect Park, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience on this route, with 61% of the journey taking place on major roads. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be 21.5 miles along the Garden State Parkway, offering a consistent pace. While the profile suggests a predominantly highway drive, the inclusion of Brunswick Pike and US 1 indicates potential shifts to more varied road conditions as you progress. This mix means you'll experience both the speed of parkways and potentially more localized traffic on the other named roads, keeping the drive engaging without being overly complex.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 34 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 21.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Brunswick Pike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near CR 622 / Olden Avenue.
Route Complexity
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59 miles you will encounter 24 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 0.5 miles (CR 622 / Olden Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.3 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 622 / Olden Avenue
Turn right onto CR 622 / Olden Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
23.2 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
23.3 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|New...
7
23.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
55.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Prospect Park, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, New Brunswick, Montclair and Nutley.
Newark|Newark
23.3 mi in
|
~35m
|
via US 1
Camden
23.3 mi in
|
~35m
|
via US 1
New Brunswick|Newark
23.3 mi in
|
~35m
|
via US 1
New Brunswick
23.3 mi in
|
~35m
|
via US 1
Montclair
55.5 mi in
|
~1h 21m
Nutley
55.5 mi in
|
~1h 21m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 21.5 mi | 29m |
| Brunswick Pike | 16.8 mi | 24m |
| US 1 | 14.7 mi | 21m |
| Allwood Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Olden Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Brunswick Avenue | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Passaic Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 21.5 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prospect Park, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on Weber Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Weber Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 627
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Prospect Street
3
Turn right onto CR 622
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Olden Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto US 206
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
Brunswick Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Enter roundabout onto US 1 Business
299 ft
·
10 sec
·
Brunswick Pike
6
Continue on US 1 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Brunswick Pike
7
Enter roundabout onto US 1 Business
123 ft
·
2 sec
·
Brunswick Pike
8
Continue on US 1 Business
16 mi
·
22 min
·
Brunswick Pike
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 1; CR 610
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
US 1; CR 610
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
504 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 1
Toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
366 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1
14
Continue on US 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1
15
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 1
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on US 1
5.9 mi
·
9 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
19
Merge onto GSP
21 mi
·
29 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft
·
15 sec
·
Watchung Avenue
22
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Passaic Avenue
23
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Passaic Avenue
24
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft
·
7 sec
·
Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
25
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
261 ft
·
4 sec
·
Allwood Road
27
Continue on CR 602
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Allwood Road
28
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clifton Avenue
29
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft
·
9 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
30
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hutton Road
31
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft
·
25 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
32
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Donna Drive
33
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft
·
22 sec
·
Holly Street
34
Arrive at destination
Holly Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 29 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, but consider avoiding peak commute times on the Garden State Parkway to ensure the smoothest travel. Since no specific stops are recommended, plan for fuel and rest as needed, though the $10 fuel cost suggests you won't need frequent stops. Keep an eye out for the transition from the Garden State Parkway to Brunswick Pike and US 1, as this is where road conditions might change slightly. A good strategy is to begin your drive mid-morning to bypass the worst of rush hour.
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 29.5 miles from Prospect Park, NJ, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.5 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 13 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.5 miles or 44m 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 14m
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 Prospect Park, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Prospect Park, NJ
This is one driving day of about 59 miles and 1h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Prospect Park, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 21.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.5 mi from Prospect Park, NJ · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.5 miles from Prospect Park, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.78 one way
$19.56 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.71 | $21.43 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.44 | $22.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.03 | $26.05 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.29
Garden State Parkway
(21.5 mi)
$1.29
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
$10
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.19 | $2.83 |
| Efficient EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.16 | $2.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.26 | $3.78 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Late night in Clifton on Thursday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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 29m 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 Prospect Park, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 59 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Brunswick Pike, US 1. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.5 miles from Prospect Park, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.78 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 59 miles you will encounter 24 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 0.5 miles (CR 622 / Olden Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.3 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Prospect Park, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Newark|Newark, Camden, New Brunswick|Newark, New Brunswick, Montclair and Nutley.
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