How far is Clinton, NJ from Clifton, NJ?

The driving distance from Clinton, NJ to Clifton, NJ is about 52 miles (83.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 41.9 miles (67.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 56m 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
52.01 mi
00h 58m
Flight
41.95 mi
67.51 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clinton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
41.95 mi
Kilometers
67.51 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
52.01 mi
Kilometers
83.71 km
Drive Time
00h 58m

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 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clifton
Tue, Jul 21, 8:05 PM EDT
Return by in Clinton
Tue, Jul 21, 9:03 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clinton
2026-07-21T19:07
Arrive Clifton
Tue, Jul 21, 8:05 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:58 AM to 10:58 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:34 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Clinton
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
Watchung
NJ

Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States

From Clinton
24.9 mi
00h 29m
To Clifton
27.2 mi
00h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Jul 21 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE
Destination
69°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Tue, Jul 21 12:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Leigh Street

    39 m · 10 sec · Leigh Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Old Highway 22

    1.2 km · 1 min · Old Highway 22

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Center Street

    794 ft · 16 sec · Center Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight

    78 m · 7 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    719 ft · 9 sec

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight left toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Newark

    1479 ft · 36 sec · ramp to I-78/US 22 East

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

    13.8 mi · 16 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

    16.6 mi · 19 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

    4.6 mi · 5 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward GSP: G.S. Parkway

    1412 ft · 48 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on GSP North Toll

    1.1 km · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

    8.9 mi · 12 min · Garden State Parkway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Montclair, Nutley

    889 ft · 22 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Watchung Avenue

    147 m · 15 sec · Watchung Avenue

  15. 15

    At the end of the road, turn left onto East Passaic Avenue

    2278 ft · 46 sec · East Passaic Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right onto West Passaic Avenue

    2703 ft · 53 sec · West Passaic Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Darling Avenue

    125 m · 7 sec · Darling Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on Bloomfield Avenue

    2001 ft · 38 sec · Bloomfield Avenue

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Allwood Circle

    80 m · 5 sec · Allwood Road

  20. 20

    Exit the rotary onto Allwood Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Allwood Road

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Clifton Avenue

    2833 ft · 1 min · Clifton Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Olga B Terrace

    53 m · 10 sec · Olga B Terrace

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Hutton Road

    12 m · 7 sec · Hutton Road

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Olga B Terrace

    135 m · 25 sec · Olga B Terrace

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Donna Drive

    733 ft · 34 sec · Donna Drive

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Holly Street

    157 m · 23 sec · Holly Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Holly Street

Car Route Details

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

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
27 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
51.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
35 mi · 67%
Garden State Parkway
8.91 mi · 17%
Allwood Road
0.99 mi · 2%
Old Highway 22
0.74 mi · 1%
GSP North Toll
0.66 mi · 1%
Clifton Avenue
0.54 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

Keep slight right to continue on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

16.6 mi · 00h 19m

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
00h 58m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.1 mi
41.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Watchung
00h 29m from Clinton
Leave By
4:34 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Clinton and Mostly Cloudy near Clifton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 52 miles (83.7 km) and usually takes 00h 58m 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?

Watchung is a useful midpoint, sitting about 24.9 miles from Clinton and 27.2 miles from Clifton.

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

The direct path is about 41.9 miles (67.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:34 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.52 one way or $15.04 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Clinton and Mostly Cloudy near Clifton.

Stop Ideas Near Watchung

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 Watchung and the surrounding midpoint area.
West Orange Town Hall
Scenic stop 13.8 mi away

West Orange Town Hall

West Orange , NJ
66 Main St, West Orange, NJ 07052
Rating 4.1/5 16 reviews Park
City of Elizabeth
Meeting point 12.3 mi away

City of Elizabeth

Elizabeth , NJ
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
Rating 4.5/5 65 reviews City Hall
Linden City Hall
Nearby stop 10.1 mi away

Linden City Hall

Linden , NJ
301 N Wood Ave, Linden, NJ 07036
Rating 3.6/5 7 reviews Police department

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Metropark station

13 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

New Brunswick station

16 mi away
French and Albany Streets
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

23 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

26 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clinton and Clifton. Straight-line distance: 41.95 mi (67.51 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Clinton

Clinton is a place in New Jersey, United States.

Population0
Coordinates40.6367700, -74.9098900
Altitude59
CountryUnited States
Clifton

#2 Clifton

The most populous city in Passaic County, New Jersey.

Population85,025
Coordinates40.8584300, -74.1637600
Altitude57
CountryUnited States
Start: Leigh Street (-74.909966, 40.636731)
End: Holly Street (-74.163585, 40.858575)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 84 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.84 gal
6.95 L · about $7.52
Round trip
$15.04
3.68 gal · 13.9 L
Estimated CO2
16.4 kg one way
Round trip: 32.7 kg / 72 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $7.52 $15.04
Mid-grade $4.60 $8.46 $16.92
Premium $4.95 $9.12 $18.23
Diesel $5.98 $11.00 $22.01

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 · Jul 21, 2026

There is no time difference between Clinton and Clifton. The current time is 19:07:01.

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.