How far is Clifton, NJ from Manalapan, NJ?

The driving distance from Clifton, NJ to Manalapan, NJ is about 49.5 miles (79.6 km), with a travel time of about 01h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 43.3 miles (69.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
49.44 mi
01h 15m
Flight
43.28 mi
69.65 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clifton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
43.28 mi
Kilometers
69.65 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
49.44 mi
Kilometers
79.56 km
Drive Time
01h 15m

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 01h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Manalapan
Tue, May 12, 8:43 PM EDT
Return by in Clifton
Tue, May 12, 9:59 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clifton
2026-05-12T19:28
Arrive Manalapan
Tue, May 12, 8:43 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:16 AM to 11:16 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:58 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Clifton
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Menlo Park
NJ

Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States

From Clifton
24.7 mi
00h 37m
To Manalapan
24.7 mi
00h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 7:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph NW
Destination
67°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    93 m · 4 sec · State Route 3

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward GSP South

    2000 ft · 49 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

    22.1 mi · 31 min · Garden State Parkway

  12. 12

    Continue on Garden State Parkway Southbound

    6.2 mi · 8 min · Garden State Parkway Southbound

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Garden State Parkway

    1.2 km · 49 sec · Garden State Parkway

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Garden State Parkway

    2254 ft · 30 sec · Garden State Parkway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 9 South: Sayreville, Old Bridge

    1910 ft · 47 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto US Highway 9

    10.5 mi · 15 min · US Highway 9

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right

    718 ft · 15 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Gordons Corner Road

    3 mi · 6 min · Gordons Corner Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Main Street

    3212 ft · 2 min · Main Street

  20. 20

    Continue on South Main Street

    942 ft · 32 sec · South Main Street

  21. 21

    Continue on High Bridge Road

    2080 ft · 51 sec · High Bridge Road

  22. 22

    Continue on Iron Ore Road

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Iron Ore Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Iron Ore Road

    1.1 km · 2 min · Iron Ore Road

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Iron Ore Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
24 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
48.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Garden State Parkway
23.2 mi · 47%
US Highway 9
10.6 mi · 22%
Garden State Parkway Southbound
6.2 mi · 13%
Iron Ore Road
3.2 mi · 6%
Gordons Corner Road
2.99 mi · 6%
Main Street
0.61 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Garden State Parkway

Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

22.1 mi · 00h 31m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 15m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.2 mi
43.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Menlo Park
00h 37m from Clifton
Leave By
3:58 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Clifton and Sunny near Manalapan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 49.5 miles (79.6 km) and usually takes 01h 15m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Menlo Park is a useful midpoint, sitting about 24.7 miles from Clifton and 24.7 miles from Manalapan.

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

The direct path is about 43.3 miles (69.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:58 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.11 one way or $14.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Clifton and Sunny near Manalapan.

Stop Ideas Near Menlo Park

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Menlo Park, 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 Menlo Park.

RAIL

Metropark station

1 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

New Brunswick station

12 mi away
French and Albany Streets
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

20 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

24 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clifton and Manalapan. Straight-line distance: 43.28 mi (69.65 km).

Clifton

#1 Clifton

The most populous city in Passaic County, New Jersey.

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

#2 Manalapan

Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey

Population39,225
Coordinates40.2573300, -74.3957100
Altitude48
CountryUnited States
Start: Clifton (-74.16376, 40.85843)
End: Manalapan (-74.39571, 40.25733)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 80 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 42m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.74 gal
6.6 L · about $7.11
Round trip
$14.22
3.48 gal · 13.2 L
Estimated CO2
15.5 kg one way
Round trip: 30.9 kg / 68 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $7.11 $14.22
Mid-grade $4.60 $8.00 $16.00
Premium $4.95 $8.62 $17.24
Diesel $5.98 $10.41 $20.81

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 · May 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Clifton and Manalapan. The current time is 19:28:02.

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.