Origin
West Milford, NJ
Morning in West Milford on Monday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Milford, NJ to Clifton, NJ
Drive Time
41m
Distance
30.6 mi
49 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Milford, NJ
James Kampeis
Clifton, NJ
James Kampeis
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward commute or a quick trip through Northern New Jersey, the 30.6-mile drive from West Milford to Clifton is an efficient choice. You can expect to reach your destination in about 41 minutes, making this an ideal one-day excursion that requires no overnight stops. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is a very economical route for a standard vehicle. You will primarily navigate via Union Valley Road, NJ 23, and US 46. Since both points are located within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent suburban feel throughout the journey.
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
15.3 miles from West Milford, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 70% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will start by navigating local stretches like Union Valley Road before transitioning onto NJ 23, which features the longest uninterrupted segment of the trip at 16.6 miles. As you merge onto US 46, the character of the drive shifts toward a faster-paced, multi-lane environment typical of suburban transit corridors. Expect a blend of steady highway cruising and brief transitions as you move between these primary routes. The experience is functional and direct rather than winding or scenic, keeping you focused on the road ahead.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Union Valley Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from West Milford, NJ to Clifton, NJ is easy. At 41m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from West Milford, NJ to Clifton, NJ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Union Valley Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 46 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grove Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Van Houten Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Clifton Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| St James Place | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Donna Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Union Valley Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Milford, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on the route
39 ft
·
10 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto Union Valley Road
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Union Valley Road
3
Keep slight right to continue on Union Valley Road
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Union Valley Road
4
Take the ramp straight
180 ft
·
5 sec
5
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
6
Take the exit slight right
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
7
At the end of the road, turn left
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
8
At the end of the road, turn left
10 mi
·
12 min
9
Keep slight left
6.2 mi
·
7 min
10
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 East, US 46 East: New York, Clifton
299 ft
·
7 sec
·
I 80 East, US 46 East: New York, Clifton
11
Keep slight right to continue on US 46 East: Clifton
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 46 East: Clifton
12
Merge slight right
2.1 mi
·
2 min
13
Continue straight
2.4 mi
·
3 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward Grove Street, Van Houten Avenue, Clifton, Passaic
453 ft
·
16 sec
·
Grove Street, Van Houten Avenue, Clifton, Passaic
15
At the end of the road, turn right onto Grove Street
180 ft
·
10 sec
·
Grove Street
16
Turn left onto Van Houten Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Houten Avenue
17
Turn right onto Clifton Avenue
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Clifton Avenue
18
Turn left onto St James Place
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
St James Place
19
Turn right onto Donna Drive
522 ft
·
28 sec
·
Donna Drive
20
Turn left onto Holly Street
515 ft
·
23 sec
·
Holly Street
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a short 41-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though it is wise to check local traffic reports for the NJ 23 corridor before heading out. Since you have no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily complete the entire 30.6-mile journey in one go without needing to plan for rest breaks. Keep your $5 fuel budget in mind, but rest assured that the duration is short enough that you likely won't need to refuel mid-trip. My best advice for this specific route is to stay alert when transitioning from the 16.6-mile stretch on NJ 23 to the interchange for US 46, as traffic patterns can shift quickly in that area.
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 15.3 miles from West Milford, NJ, or about 20m into the drive.
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 30.6 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.3 miles or 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 35m
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 Milford, 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 Milford, NJ
This is one driving day of about 30.6 miles and 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from West Milford, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.3 mi from West Milford, NJ · 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.3 miles from West Milford, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.06 one way
$10.13 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $5.54 | $11.08 |
| premium | $4.92 | $5.93 | $11.86 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.80 | $13.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.68 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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 Monday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
59°F
Ramapo, NY
15 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
2 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
41m 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 Milford, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 30.6 miles and takes about 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Union Valley Road, I 80 East, US 46 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.3 miles from West Milford, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.06 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.
The drive from West Milford, NJ to Clifton, NJ is easy. At 41m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from West Milford, NJ to Clifton, NJ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from West Milford, NJ to Clifton, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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