Origin
Spring Lake, NJ
Morning in Spring Lake on Friday
Local time
8:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Spring Lake, NJ to Clifton, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
60.9 mi
98 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spring Lake, NJ
JINISH RAJAGOPAL
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 60.9-mile drive from Spring Lake, NJ, to Clifton, NJ, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 25 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $10, it's an economical option for a day trip within the Northeast region. The primary artery for this route is the Garden State Parkway, which accounts for a significant portion of the drive. Given its relatively short distance and duration, no overnight stops are necessary, making it a convenient option for a quick transit or a specific errand.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 60.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this trip, with 79% of the route utilizing high-speed roads. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be 48.4 miles on the Garden State Parkway, offering a consistent pace for a substantial part of the journey. While the majority of the drive is on the parkway, you will transition to local roads like River Road and Asbury Avenue, introducing some variation in speed and environment. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway travel and more typical local road conditions as you approach your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 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 48.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and River Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near NJ 35; NJ 71 / River Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.9 miles you will encounter 19 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 2 miles (NJ 35; NJ 71 / River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 57.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.6 miles (CR 622 / Darling Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
NJ 35; NJ 71 / River Road
Turn right onto NJ 35; NJ 71 / River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
57.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m 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
58.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Turn left onto CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
60.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
Hutton Road
Turn right onto Hutton Road
Navigation decision point
5
60.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
Donna Drive
Turn left onto Donna Drive
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Spring Lake, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North, Montclair and Nutley.
Gsp Toll North
8.2 mi in
|
~14m
Montclair
57.4 mi in
|
~1h 18m
Nutley
57.4 mi in
|
~1h 18m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 48.4 mi | 1h 2m |
| River Road | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Asbury Avenue | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Allwood Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| 3rd Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Passaic Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 48.4 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spring Lake, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on Jersey Avenue
57 ft
·
7 sec
·
Jersey Avenue
2
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
3rd Avenue
3
Continue on Main Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
4
Turn left onto 10th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
10th Avenue
5
Turn right onto NJ 35; NJ 71
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
River Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 35
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Asbury Park Circle
7
Continue on CR 16
391 ft
·
6 sec
·
Asbury Park Circle
8
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 66; CR 16
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Asbury Avenue
9
Continue on CR 16
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Asbury Avenue
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
11
Merge onto GSP
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Garden State Parkway
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
13
Continue on GSP
48 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft
·
15 sec
·
Watchung Avenue
16
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Passaic Avenue
17
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Passaic Avenue
18
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft
·
7 sec
·
Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
261 ft
·
4 sec
·
Allwood Road
21
Continue on CR 602
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Allwood Road
22
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clifton Avenue
23
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft
·
9 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
24
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hutton Road
25
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft
·
25 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
26
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Donna Drive
27
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft
·
22 sec
·
Holly Street
28
Arrive at destination
Holly Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.5 mi from Spring Lake, NJ · 43m 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 30.5 miles from Spring Lake, 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
$10.10 one way
$20.19 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.06 | $22.12 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.81 | $23.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.45 | $26.89 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.90
Garden State Parkway
(48.4 mi)
$2.90
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$3
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.3 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 | 18.3 | 0 | $6.39 | $2.92 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.33 | $2.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.53 | $3.90 |
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
Morning in Clifton on Friday
Local time
8:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 3 to 12 mph
4% chance
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
44 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 25m 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 Spring Lake, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 60.9 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, River Road, Asbury Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.5 miles from Spring Lake, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.10 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.9 miles you will encounter 19 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 2 miles (NJ 35; NJ 71 / River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 57.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.6 miles (CR 622 / Darling Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Spring Lake, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North, Montclair and Nutley.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Morristown National Historical Park. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
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.
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