How far is Clifton, NJ from Dover, NJ?

The driving distance from Clifton, NJ to Dover, NJ is about 26.5 miles (42.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 20.9 miles (33.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 11m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
26.47 mi
00h 35m
Flight
20.88 mi
33.61 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clifton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
20.88 mi
Kilometers
33.61 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
26.47 mi
Kilometers
42.6 km
Drive Time
00h 35m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Dover
Thu, Apr 23, 12:42 AM EDT
Return by in Clifton
Thu, Apr 23, 1:18 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clifton
2026-04-23T00:06
Arrive Dover
Thu, Apr 23, 12:42 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:36 AM to 7:36 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:18 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Clifton
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
East Hanover
NJ

Township of New Jersey

From Clifton
13.2 mi
00h 17m
To Dover
13.2 mi
00h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph NW
Destination
67°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Clifton and Dover.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clifton and Dover.

  1. 1

    Start on Holly Street

    157 m · 27 sec · Holly Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Donna Drive

    733 ft · 35 sec · Donna Drive

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Olga B Terrace

    135 m · 21 sec · Olga B Terrace

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Hutton Road

    12 m · 7 sec · Hutton Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Olga B Terrace

    53 m · 13 sec · Olga B Terrace

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Clifton Avenue

    2821 ft · 1 min · Clifton Avenue

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Allwood Road

    1069 ft · 31 sec · Allwood Road

  8. 8

    Take the ramp left toward NJ 3 West, GSP South

    654 ft · 18 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto State Route 3

    1.3 mi · 1 min · State Route 3

  10. 10

    Merge slight right

    10.8 mi · 12 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap

    1366 ft · 33 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on Interstate 80 West

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Interstate 80 West

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: Delaware Water Gap

    1623 ft · 21 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Christopher Columbus Highway

    6.5 mi · 8 min · Christopher Columbus Highway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward CR 513: Hibernia, Rockaway

    1156 ft · 28 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on CR 513 South: Main Street, Rockaway

    54 m · 4 sec

  17. 17

    Turn slight right onto Green Pond Road

    1467 ft · 29 sec · Green Pond Road

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Hibernia Avenue

    626 ft · 13 sec · Hibernia Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on Halsey Avenue

    150 m · 8 sec · Halsey Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn slight right onto Church Street

    1736 ft · 30 sec · Church Street

  21. 21

    Continue on Wall Street

    106 m · 8 sec · Wall Street

  22. 22

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Main Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

  23. 23

    Turn slight right onto Bloomfield Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Bloomfield Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left onto North Morris Street

    1242 ft · 27 sec · North Morris Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto East Blackwell Street

    1106 ft · 27 sec · East Blackwell Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Prospect Street

    9 m · 7 sec · Prospect Street

  27. 27

    Turn left

    52 m · 13 sec

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Clifton and Dover.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
28 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
105.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Route 3
12.1 mi · 46%
Christopher Columbus Highway
6.53 mi · 25%
Interstate 80 West
1.6 mi · 6%
Bloomfield Avenue
1.5 mi · 6%
West Main Street
1.38 mi · 5%
I 80 West
0.57 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

State Route 3

Merge slight right

10.8 mi · 00h 12m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 35m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.6 mi
20.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
East Hanover
00h 17m from Clifton
Leave By
7:18 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Clifton and Mostly Sunny near Dover.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Clifton to Dover?

The road trip is about 26.5 miles (42.6 km) and usually takes 00h 35m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

East Hanover is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.2 miles from Clifton and 13.2 miles from Dover.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 20.9 miles (33.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:18 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.84 one way or $7.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Clifton and Mostly Sunny near Dover.

Stop Ideas Near East Hanover

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around East Hanover, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to East Hanover.

RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

19 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

19 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West
RAIL

Metropark station

28 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

32 mi away
8th Ave 31st Street / 8th Ave 33rd Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clifton and Dover. Straight-line distance: 20.88 mi (33.61 km).

Clifton

#1 Clifton

The most populous city in Passaic County, New Jersey.

Population85,025
Coordinates40.8584300, -74.1637600
Altitude57
CountryUnited States
Dover

#2 Dover

Town in New Jersey, USA

Population17,619
Coordinates40.8839900, -74.5621000
Altitude176
CountryUnited States
Start: Clifton (-74.16376, 40.85843)
End: Dover (-74.5621, 40.88399)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 43 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.94 gal
3.54 L · about $3.84
Round trip
$7.68
1.88 gal · 7.08 L
Estimated CO2
8.4 kg one way
Round trip: 16.7 kg / 37 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $3.84 $7.68
Mid-grade $4.60 $4.32 $8.65
Premium $4.95 $4.66 $9.31
Diesel $5.98 $5.62 $11.24

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in New Jersey · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Clifton and Dover. The current time is 00:06:56.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.