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Trip from West Caldwell, NJ to Clifton, NJ

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

17m

Distance

11.4 mi

18 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 16m ★
6 AM
0h 17m
8 AM
0h 20m
10 AM
0h 18m
12 PM
0h 18m
3 PM
0h 18m
5 PM
0h 20m
8 PM
0h 16m ★

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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township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States

West Caldwell, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States

Clifton, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from West Caldwell, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 11.4 miles and takes about 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 46, Passaic Avenue, Van Houten Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 5.9 miles on US 46. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.89 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

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

5.7 miles from West Caldwell, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 8m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

The drive from West Caldwell, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 11.4 miles and takes about 17m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 46 is the longest continuous segment at about 5.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in near US 46.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 11.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 3.9 miles (US 46): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.8 miles (CR 623 / Grove Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
3.9 mi into trip | ~6m in | US 46

Merge onto US 46

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
9.8 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward Grove Street, Van Houten Avenue, Clifton, Passaic

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward Grove Street, Van Houten Avenue, Clifton...
5
9.8 mi into trip | ~13m in | CR 623 / Grove Street

At end of road, turn right onto CR 623 / Grove Street

Navigation decision point

5
9.9 mi into trip | ~13m in | CR 614 / Van Houten Avenue

Turn left onto CR 614 / Van Houten Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
4
11.2 mi into trip | ~16m in | Donna Drive

Turn right 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.

On the drive from West Caldwell, NJ to Clifton, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Passaic along the way.

Passaic

9.8 mi in | ~13m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 46 5.9 mi 6m
Passaic Avenue 3.8 mi 5m
Van Houten Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
Clifton Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
St James Place 0.1 mi <1m
Donna Drive <0.1 mi <1m
Holly Street <0.1 mi <1m
Grove Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 46 — 5.9 mi, about 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on CR 613

3.8 mi · 5 min · Passaic Avenue
2

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 19 sec
3

Merge onto US 46

3.4 mi · 3 min · US 46
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Continue on US 46

2.4 mi · 2 min · US 46
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Take the exit

452 ft · 16 sec
Toward Grove Street, Van Houten Avenue, Clifton, Passaic Use the slight right lane.
6

At end of road, turn right onto CR 623

179 ft · 9 sec · Grove Street
7

Turn left onto CR 614

0.8 mi · 1 min · Van Houten Avenue
Use the left lane.
8

Turn right onto NJ 161

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Clifton Avenue
9

Turn left onto St James Place

0.1 mi · 31 sec · St James Place
10

Turn right onto Donna Drive

522 ft · 28 sec · Donna Drive
11

Turn left onto Holly Street

516 ft · 22 sec · Holly Street
12

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 5.7 miles from West Caldwell, NJ, or about 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.9 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 11.4 miles or 17m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 5.7 miles or 8m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 13m

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 West Caldwell, 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 West Caldwell, NJ

This is one driving day of about 11.4 miles and 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from West Caldwell, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 46 for about 5.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 5.7 mi from West Caldwell, NJ · 8m into the drive

town in Rockland County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

6 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

New York City, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ramapo, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 5.7 miles from West Caldwell, 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.

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.

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...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 6.7
Caution: Limited Amphitheater Accessibility
Caution: Overlook Park Parking Lot - Vehicles Must Be Parked in a Designated Spot
View on nps.gov
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...

5 mi from route ~13 min detour $10
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...

13 mi from route ~33 min detour Free
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...

24 mi from route ~60 min detour Free near mile 11.4
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.89 one way

$3.78 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $2.07 $4.14
premium $4.93 $2.21 $4.42
diesel $5.61 $2.52 $5.03

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.4 0 $1.20 $0.55
Efficient EV 2.9 0 $1.00 $0.46
EV Truck/SUV 4.6 0 $1.60 $0.73

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 4 days ago

Origin

West Caldwell, NJ

Evening in West Caldwell on Tuesday

Local time

6:41 PM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clifton, NJ

Evening in Clifton on Tuesday

Local time

6:41 PM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

40°F

Ramapo, NY

6 mi in

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

17m 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 West Caldwell, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 11.4 miles and takes about 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 46, Passaic Avenue, Van Houten Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.7 miles from West Caldwell, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.89 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 11.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 3.9 miles (US 46): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.8 miles (CR 623 / Grove Street): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from West Caldwell, NJ to Clifton, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Passaic along the way.

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