How far is Clifton, NJ from Scotch Plains, NJ?

The driving distance from Clifton, NJ to Scotch Plains, NJ is about 22.4 miles (36 km), with a travel time of about 00h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 18.3 miles (29.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 15m 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
22.36 mi
00h 37m
Flight
18.36 mi
29.54 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clifton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
18.36 mi
Kilometers
29.54 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
22.36 mi
Kilometers
35.98 km
Drive Time
00h 37m

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 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Scotch Plains
Tue, May 5, 7:28 AM EDT
Return by in Clifton
Tue, May 5, 8:06 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clifton
2026-05-05T06:50
Arrive Scotch Plains
Tue, May 5, 7:28 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:38 AM to 7:38 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:14 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
Irvington
NJ

Township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States

From Clifton
11.2 mi
00h 18m
To Scotch Plains
11.2 mi
00h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 20 mph SW
Destination
Scotch Plains Weather
NJ
Live fallback forecast
82°F
Tuesday
Using Linden as the closest live forecast in the Union County weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clifton and Scotch Plains.

  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

    12.3 mi · 18 min · Garden State Parkway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 22, NJ 82 East: Elizabeth, Somerville

    1533 ft · 37 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    6.8 mi · 11 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right

    615 ft · 21 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right

    47 m · 4 sec

  16. 16

    Turn slight right onto Mountain Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · Mountain Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Evergreen Boulevard

    1084 ft · 53 sec · Evergreen Boulevard

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Coles Avenue

    15 m · 4 sec · Coles Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Evergreen Boulevard

    544 ft · 26 sec · Evergreen Boulevard

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Westfield Avenue

    709 ft · 20 sec · Westfield Avenue

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Westfield Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
21 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
93.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Garden State Parkway
12.3 mi · 55%
US 22
7.27 mi · 33%
Mountain Avenue
0.66 mi · 3%
Clifton Avenue
0.53 mi · 2%
GSP South
0.38 mi · 2%
Evergreen Boulevard
0.31 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Garden State Parkway

Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

12.3 mi · 00h 18m

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 37m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.1 mi
18.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Irvington
00h 18m from Clifton
Leave By
7:14 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Clifton and Sunny near Scotch Plains.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Clifton to Scotch Plains?

The road trip is about 22.4 miles (36 km) and usually takes 00h 37m 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?

Irvington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.2 miles from Clifton and 11.2 miles from Scotch Plains.

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

The direct path is about 18.3 miles (29.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.1 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 7:14 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.23 one way or $6.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Irvington

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Irvington and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Hall Parking Lot
Scenic stop 9.6 mi away

City Hall Parking Lot

Jersey City , NJ
280 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Parking lot
#Artlook New York City Hall Wedding Photographer
Practical stop 11.7 mi away

#Artlook New York City Hall Wedding Photographer

New York , NY
141 Worth St, New York, NY 10013
Rating 5.0/5 13 reviews Photographer,Photography service,Photography studio,Wedding photographer
City Hall Personnel Office
Meeting point 2.7 mi away

City Hall Personnel Office

Newark , NJ
920 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102
Rating 5.0/5 5 reviews City government office
Diamond City Hall Photography
Nearby stop 11.8 mi away

Diamond City Hall Photography

New York , NY
141 Worth St, New York, NY 10013
Rating 5.0/5 53 reviews Wedding photographer

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Irvington.

RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

5 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

6 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West
RAIL

Metropark station

20 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clifton and Scotch Plains. Straight-line distance: 18.36 mi (29.54 km).

Clifton

#1 Clifton

The most populous city in Passaic County, New Jersey.

Population85,025
Coordinates40.8584300, -74.1637600
Altitude57
CountryUnited States
Scotch Plains

#2 Scotch Plains

Township in Union County, New Jersey, United States

Population24,138
Coordinates40.6553800, -74.3898700
Altitude50
CountryUnited States
Start: Clifton (-74.16376, 40.85843)
End: Scotch Plains (-74.38987, 40.65538)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 36 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.79 gal
2.99 L · about $3.23
Round trip
$6.46
1.58 gal · 5.98 L
Estimated CO2
7 kg one way
Round trip: 14 kg / 31 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $3.23 $6.46
Mid-grade $4.60 $3.63 $7.27
Premium $4.95 $3.91 $7.83
Diesel $5.98 $4.72 $9.45

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 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Clifton and Scotch Plains. The current time is 06:50:46.

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.