How far is Clifton, NJ from Union, NJ?

The driving distance from Clifton, NJ to Union, NJ is about 14.6 miles (23.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 12.2 miles (19.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 40m 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
14.6 mi
00h 20m
Flight
12.27 mi
19.75 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clifton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
12.27 mi
Kilometers
19.75 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
14.6 mi
Kilometers
23.49 km
Drive Time
00h 20m

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 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Union
Wed, Apr 22, 8:17 PM EDT
Return by in Clifton
Wed, Apr 22, 8:37 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clifton
2026-04-22T19:56
Arrive Union
Wed, Apr 22, 8:17 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:20 AM to 7:20 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:50 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 Orange
NJ

The most populous city in Essex County, New Jersey.

From Clifton
7.2 mi
00h 10m
To Union
7.4 mi
00h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
60°F
Wednesday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph SE
Destination
Union Weather
NJ
Live fallback forecast
65°F
Wednesday
Using Hillside as the closest live forecast in the Union County weather hub.

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    12.1 mi · 17 min · Garden State Parkway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Vauxhall Road

    1129 ft · 31 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Vauxhall Road

    2017 ft · 1 min · Vauxhall Road

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Harding Avenue

    74 m · 11 sec · Harding Avenue

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Harding Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
15 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
102.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Garden State Parkway
12.1 mi · 83%
Vauxhall Road
0.6 mi · 4%
Clifton Avenue
0.53 mi · 4%
GSP South
0.38 mi · 3%
Allwood Road
0.2 mi · 1%
Donna Drive
0.14 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Garden State Parkway

Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

12.1 mi · 00h 17m

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 20m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.4 mi
12.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
East Orange
00h 10m from Clifton
Leave By
7:50 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Clifton and Chance Rain Showers near Union.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 14.6 miles (23.5 km) and usually takes 00h 20m 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 Orange is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.2 miles from Clifton and 7.4 miles from Union.

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

The direct path is about 12.2 miles (19.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.4 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 7:50 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.12 one way or $4.25 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Clifton and Chance Rain Showers near Union.

Stop Ideas Near East Orange

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 East Orange and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Hall Parking Lot
Scenic stop 9.4 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 11.4 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 3.7 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 11.4 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 East Orange.

RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

5 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

7 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

18 mi away
8th Ave 31st Street / 8th Ave 33rd Street
RAIL

Metropark station

24 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clifton and Union. Straight-line distance: 12.27 mi (19.75 km).

Clifton

#1 Clifton

The most populous city in Passaic County, New Jersey.

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

#2 Union

A city in Union County, New Jersey.

Population67,137
Coordinates40.6976000, -74.2632000
Altitude30
CountryUnited States
Start: Holly Street (-74.163585, 40.858575)
End: Harding Avenue (-74.26348, 40.697581)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 23 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 17m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.52 gal
1.95 L · about $2.12
Round trip
$4.25
1.04 gal · 3.9 L
Estimated CO2
4.6 kg one way
Round trip: 9.2 kg / 20 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $2.12 $4.25
Mid-grade $4.60 $2.39 $4.78
Premium $4.95 $2.58 $5.15
Diesel $5.98 $3.11 $6.22

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Clifton and Union. The current time is 19:56:54.

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.