Origin
Wildwood, NJ
Evening in Wildwood on Sunday
Local time
8:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wildwood, NJ to Clifton, NJ
Drive Time
3h 12m
Distance
154.8 mi
249 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 1m
★
6 AM
3h 13m
8 AM
3h 36m
10 AM
3h 21m
12 PM
3h 19m
3 PM
3h 22m
5 PM
3h 35m
8 PM
3h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clifton, NJ
James Kampeis
Trip Overview
Traveling from Wildwood to Clifton covers 154.8 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 12 minutes. Because this journey is manageable in a single day, it is perfect for a straightforward trip without the need for an overnight stay. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Garden State Parkway, which keeps the navigation simple and efficient. Budgeting roughly $26 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region of New Jersey, the transition between the coast and the northern part of the state is seamless. Whether you are heading home or starting a new adventure, this drive offers a reliable path through the heart of the state.
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
77.4 miles from Wildwood, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of your travel spent on major thoroughfares. You will start by navigating North Wildwood Boulevard and New Jersey Avenue before transitioning to the Garden State Parkway. Prepare for a long, consistent stretch of 144.5 miles on the Parkway, which defines the character of the entire route. While the local roads at the start require a bit more attention, the bulk of your time behind the wheel will be spent maintaining highway speeds. Expect a steady, uninterrupted rhythm that allows you to cover significant ground quickly as you move away from the coast.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 29 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 144.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and North Wildwood Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 154.8 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: near the start (CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue
Turn left onto CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
5.6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 6
Toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
5
5.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
52.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m 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
151.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 5m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 144.5 mi | 2h 54m |
| North Wildwood Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| New Jersey Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Allwood Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Spruce Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Clifton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Passaic Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Passaic Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 144.5 mi, about 2h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wildwood, NJ and Clifton, NJ.
1
Start on this road
38 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto West Wildwood Avenue
142 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Wildwood Avenue
3
Turn left onto CR 621
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
New Jersey Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on CR 621; OD
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
West Anglesea Drive
5
Continue on NJ 147; OD
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Spruce Avenue
6
Continue on NJ 147; OD
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North Wildwood Boulevard
7
Turn slight right
432 ft
·
15 sec
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 6
Toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
9
Merge onto GSP
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the none lane.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
11
Merge onto GSP
34 mi
·
39 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
50 mi
·
58 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
14
Continue on GSP
48 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 151
Toward Montclair, Nutley
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto CR 655
483 ft
·
15 sec
·
Watchung Avenue
17
At end of road, turn left onto CR 652
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Passaic Avenue
18
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Passaic Avenue
19
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft
·
7 sec
·
Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Enter roundabout onto CR 602
261 ft
·
4 sec
·
Allwood Road
22
Continue on CR 602
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Allwood Road
23
Turn right onto NJ 161
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clifton Avenue
24
Turn right onto Olga B Terrace
174 ft
·
9 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
25
Turn right onto Hutton Road
39 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hutton Road
26
Turn left onto Olga B Terrace
441 ft
·
25 sec
·
Olga B Terrace
27
Turn left onto Donna Drive
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Donna Drive
28
Turn right onto Holly Street
516 ft
·
22 sec
·
Holly Street
29
Arrive at destination
Holly Street
Trip Plan
Planning for one stop is a smart way to break up the 3-hour and 12-minute duration. Since the route relies heavily on the Garden State Parkway, keep an eye on traffic patterns, especially during peak travel hours, as this major artery can become congested. Flexibility is your biggest advantage on a drive of this length, allowing you to choose your departure time based on personal preference rather than a strict schedule. If you want to avoid the stress of heavy traffic, try hitting the road during mid-morning or early afternoon hours. Always ensure your tank has enough fuel to cover the $26 estimate before jumping onto the Parkway, as finding a convenient station can sometimes be tricky once you are locked into the highway flow.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 77.4 miles from Wildwood, NJ, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.5 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.4 miles or 1h 32m 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 33m
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 Wildwood, 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 Wildwood, NJ
This is one driving day of about 154.8 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wildwood, 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 144.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 77.4 mi from Wildwood, NJ · 1h 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 77.4 miles from Wildwood, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 144.5 miles.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.62 one way
$51.23 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $28.03 | $56.06 |
| premium | $4.92 | $30.00 | $59.99 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $34.39 | $68.78 |
Estimated Tolls: $8.66
Garden State Parkway
(144.5 mi)
$8.66
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
$26
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.4 | 0 | $16.25 | $7.43 |
| Efficient EV | 38.7 | 0 | $13.55 | $6.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.9 | 0 | $21.67 | $9.91 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Evening in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
8:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live 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
6 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
3h 12m 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 Wildwood, NJ to Clifton, NJ covers 154.8 miles and takes about 3h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, North Wildwood Boulevard, New Jersey 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 77.4 miles from Wildwood, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.62 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 20 significant decision points across 154.8 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: near the start (CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Wildwood, NJ to Clifton, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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