The drive from Somers Point, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 127.3 miles and takes about 2h 40m 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, Allwood Road, Laurel Drive for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 121.5 miles on Garden State Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.10 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
63.6 miles from Somers Point, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 40m. Total distance: 127.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 40m highway drive covering 127.3 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and Allwood Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 121.5 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 25 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 121.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Allwood Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near GSP / Garden State Parkway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 127.3 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: at 1.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 123.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
25 mi into trip|~31m 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
123.7 mi into trip|~2h 33m 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
124.9 mi into trip|~2h 35m in|CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Turn left onto CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
127 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|Hutton Road
Turn right onto Hutton Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
121.5 mi
2h 28m
Allwood Road
1 mi
1m
Laurel Drive
0.6 mi
1m
Clifton Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
West Passaic Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
West New York Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
East Passaic Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Bloomfield Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 121.5 mi, about 2h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Somers Point, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on 1st Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·1st Street
2
Turn right onto CR 665
0.5 mi·1 min·West New York Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 9
0.1 mi·14 sec·New Road
4
Turn right onto Laurel Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Laurel Drive
5
Take the ramp
201 ft·4 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
6
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·44 sec·this road
Toward GSP Toll North
7
Merge onto GSP
23 mi·26 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
50 mi·58 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
10
Continue on GSP
48 mi·1 hr 2 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 151Toward Montclair, NutleyUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft·15 sec·Watchung Avenue
13
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi·45 sec·East Passaic Avenue
14
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi·52 sec·West Passaic Avenue
15
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft·7 sec·Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi·37 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
261 ft·4 sec·Allwood Road
18
Continue on CR 602
1.0 mi·1 min·Allwood Road
19
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.5 mi·1 min·Clifton Avenue
20
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft·9 sec·Olga B Terrace
21
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft·6 sec·Hutton Road
22
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft·25 sec·Olga B Terrace
23
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi·33 sec·Donna Drive
24
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft·22 sec·Holly Street
25
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 63.6 miles from Somers Point, NJ, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.5 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 28 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.6 miles or 1h 16m 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 8m
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 Somers Point, 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 Somers Point, NJ
This is one driving day of about 127.3 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Somers Point, 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 121.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 63.6 mi from Somers Point, NJ
· 1h 16m into the drive
The midpoint is around 63.6 miles from Somers Point, 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.
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
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...
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 127.3
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 109.7
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 83.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.10 one way
$42.21 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$23.11
$46.23
premium
$4.93
$24.69
$49.38
diesel
$5.61
$28.11
$56.21
Estimated Tolls: $7.28
Garden State Parkway
(121.5 mi)$7.28
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
$21
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.2
0
$13.37
$6.11
Efficient EV
31.8
0
$11.14
$5.09
EV Truck/SUV
50.9
0
$17.82
$8.15
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Somers Point, NJ
Late night
in Somers Point on Friday
Local time
3:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clifton, NJ
Late night
in Clifton on Friday
Local time
3:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Chance Rain Showers
NW 6 mph26% chanceLive 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
20 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 40m 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 Somers Point, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 127.3 miles and takes about 2h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Allwood Road, Laurel Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 63.6 miles from Somers Point, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.10 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 17 significant decision points across 127.3 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: at 1.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 123.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Somers Point, NJ to Clifton, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
