Origin
West Long Branch, NJ
Afternoon in West Long Branch on Saturday
Local time
3:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Long Branch, 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
1h 14m
Distance
53.4 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Long Branch, NJ
Malcolm Garret
Clifton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 53.4-mile drive from West Long Branch to Clifton, New Jersey, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 14 minutes. With 90% of the route on highways, it's a very efficient journey, making it ideal for a single-day excursion. The estimated fuel cost is around $9, which is quite manageable. This highway-focused drive is designed for getting you from point A to point B without much fuss. Both your starting and ending points are within the Northeast region, so you'll be staying within familiar territory.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 45.5 mi | 59m |
| NJ 36 | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Allwood Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Passaic Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Parker Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Passaic Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Bloomfield Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 45.5 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Long Branch, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on CR 15
104 ft
·
9 sec
·
Locust Avenue
2
Turn left onto Parker Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Parker Road
3
Turn right onto NJ 71
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Monmouth Road
4
Turn left onto NJ 36
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 36
5
Take the exit
221 ft
·
5 sec
Toward GSP: Garden State Parkway
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward GSP Notrh: Woodbridge
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
8
Merge onto GSP
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Garden State Parkway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Toward Crossover to Express Roadway
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto GSP
35 mi
·
47 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
Use 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.7 miles from West Long Branch, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 49.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward GSP Notrh: Woodbridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward GSP Notrh: Woodbridge
5
4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
14.5 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward Crossover to Express Roadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Crossover to Express Roadway
5
14.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
49.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.85 one way
$17.71 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.70 | $19.39 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.36 | $20.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.79 | $23.58 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.73
Garden State Parkway
(45.5 mi)
$2.73
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$3
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.56 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Afternoon in Clifton on Saturday
Local time
3:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SW 3 to 12 mph
19% 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
19 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 14m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-centric experience for the majority of this 53.4-mile journey, as 90% of the drive utilizes high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 45.5 miles on the Garden State Parkway, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your travel. While the profile is generally 'highway-focused,' you will transition onto NJ 36 and then Allwood Road as you approach your destination, introducing some local road elements. This blend means you'll spend most of your time cruising, with a brief shift in character near the end.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.5 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 36. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.4 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 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between West Long Branch, NJ and Clifton, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Notrh: Woodbridge, Crossover To Express Roadway, Montclair and Nutley.
Gsp Notrh: Woodbridge
3.6 mi in
|
~6m
Crossover To Express Roadway
14.5 mi in
|
~19m
Montclair
49.8 mi in
|
~1h 7m
Nutley
49.8 mi in
|
~1h 7m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 53.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.73 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Clifton, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clifton, NJ before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Clifton, NJ
More trips to Clifton, NJ
Explore more options from West Long Branch, NJ or browse trips ending in Clifton, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.