How far is Clinton, NJ from Elizabeth, NJ?

The driving distance from Clinton, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ is about 44.7 miles (72 km), with a travel time of about 00h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 36.7 miles (59.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 38m 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
44.75 mi
00h 49m
Flight
36.7 mi
59.06 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
36.7 mi
Kilometers
59.06 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
44.75 mi
Kilometers
72.02 km
Drive Time
00h 49m

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 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elizabeth
Tue, Jul 21, 7:56 PM EDT
Return by in Clinton
Tue, Jul 21, 8:45 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 Elizabeth
Tue, Jul 21, 7:56 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:49 AM to 10:49 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:52 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
21.3 mi
00h 24m
To Elizabeth
23.5 mi
00h 24m

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
83°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Tue, Jul 21 2:00 PM EDT
Wind
12 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    5.8 mi · 7 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Hillside, Irvington

    748 ft · 18 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Hillside

    573 ft · 30 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on Winans Avenue

    1309 ft · 40 sec · Winans Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Liberty Avenue

    2040 ft · 1 min · Liberty Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Hillside Avenue

    1782 ft · 38 sec · Hillside Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on Hillside Avenue

    2125 ft · 45 sec · Hillside Avenue

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Broad Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North Broad Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto North Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · North Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Spring Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Spring Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto East Jersey Street

    1164 ft · 36 sec · East Jersey Street

  20. 20

    Turn right

    11 m · 3 sec

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
21 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
47 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
36.2 mi · 81%
Spring Street
1.14 mi · 3%
North Broad Street
1.08 mi · 2%
North Avenue
0.96 mi · 2%
Hillside Avenue
0.74 mi · 2%
Old Highway 22
0.74 mi · 2%
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 49m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8 mi
36.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Watchung
00h 24m from Clinton
Leave By
4:52 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Clinton and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Elizabeth.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 44.7 miles (72 km) and usually takes 00h 49m 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 21.3 miles from Clinton and 23.5 miles from Elizabeth.

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

The direct path is about 36.7 miles (59.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 8 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 4:52 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.46 one way or $12.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Clinton and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Elizabeth.

Stop Ideas Near Watchung

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Watchung, 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 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 Elizabeth. Straight-line distance: 36.7 mi (59.06 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Clinton

Clinton is a place in New Jersey, United States.

Population0
Coordinates40.6367700, -74.9098900
Altitude59
CountryUnited States
Elizabeth

#2 Elizabeth

The second most populous city in Union County, New Jersey.

Population128,382
Coordinates40.6639900, -74.2107000
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Start: Leigh Street (-74.909966, 40.636731)
End: (-74.210651, 40.663974)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 72 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 38m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.58 gal
5.98 L · about $6.46
Round trip
$12.91
3.16 gal · 11.96 L
Estimated CO2
14 kg one way
Round trip: 28.1 kg / 62 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $6.46 $12.91
Mid-grade $4.60 $7.27 $14.53
Premium $4.95 $7.83 $15.65
Diesel $5.98 $9.45 $18.90

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 Elizabeth. The current time is 19:07:09.

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.