How far is Dover, NJ from Clifton, NJ?

The driving distance from Dover, NJ to Clifton, NJ is about 28.2 miles (45.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 20.9 miles (33.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 13m 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
28.18 mi
00h 36m
Flight
20.88 mi
33.61 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Dover.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
20.88 mi
Kilometers
33.61 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
28.18 mi
Kilometers
45.35 km
Drive Time
00h 36m

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 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clifton
Thu, Apr 23, 1:02 AM EDT
Return by in Dover
Thu, Apr 23, 1:39 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dover
2026-04-23T00:25
Arrive Clifton
Thu, Apr 23, 1:02 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:37 AM to 7:37 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:16 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Dover
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
Clinton
NJ

Town in New Jersey, United States

From Dover
13.2 mi
00h 18m
To Clifton
15 mi
00h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW
Destination
73°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    52 m · 15 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Prospect Street

    9 m · 9 sec · Prospect Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Blackwell Street

    1106 ft · 30 sec · West Blackwell Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto North Morris Street

    824 ft · 18 sec · North Morris Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto East Clinton Street

    553 ft · 15 sec · East Clinton Street

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Bergen Street

    89 m · 10 sec · Bergen Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto East McFarlan Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · East McFarlan Street

  8. 8

    Turn slight right

    84 m · 14 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Dover-Rockaway Road

    132 m · 9 sec · Dover-Rockaway Road

  10. 10

    Continue on West Main Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Wall Street

    103 m · 6 sec · Wall Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Church Street

    1748 ft · 30 sec · Church Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Halsey Avenue

    150 m · 10 sec · Halsey Avenue

  14. 14

    Continue on Hibernia Avenue

    626 ft · 11 sec · Hibernia Avenue

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Hibernia Avenue

    1077 ft · 18 sec · Hibernia Avenue

  16. 16

    Take the ramp straight toward I 80 East

    1277 ft · 31 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Christopher Columbus Highway

    15.4 mi · 17 min · Christopher Columbus Highway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel

    2413 ft · 59 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight right

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    2.4 mi · 3 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward Grove Street, Van Houten Avenue, Clifton, Passaic

    138 m · 16 sec

  22. 22

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Grove Street

    55 m · 10 sec · Grove Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Van Houten Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · Van Houten Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Clifton Avenue

    1817 ft · 47 sec · Clifton Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn left onto St James Place

    680 ft · 32 sec · St James Place

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Donna Drive

    159 m · 28 sec · Donna Drive

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Holly Street

    157 m · 23 sec · Holly Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Holly Street

Car Route Details

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

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
28 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
99.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Christopher Columbus Highway
15.4 mi · 55%
US 46 East
5 mi · 18%
West Main Street
1.34 mi · 5%
East McFarlan Street
1.32 mi · 5%
Van Houten Avenue
0.84 mi · 3%
Clifton Avenue
0.34 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Christopher Columbus Highway

Merge slight left onto Christopher Columbus Highway

15.4 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 36m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.3 mi
20.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clinton
00h 18m from Dover
Leave By
7:16 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Dover and Sunny near Clifton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 28.2 miles (45.4 km) and usually takes 00h 36m 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?

Clinton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.2 miles from Dover and 15 miles from Clifton.

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

The direct path is about 20.9 miles (33.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.3 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 7:16 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.05 one way or $8.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Clinton

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

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

RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

20 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

22 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

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

Metropark station

35 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Dover and Clifton. Straight-line distance: 20.88 mi (33.61 km).

Dover

#1 Dover

Town in New Jersey, USA

Population17,619
Coordinates40.8839900, -74.5621000
Altitude176
CountryUnited States
Clifton

#2 Clifton

The most populous city in Passaic County, New Jersey.

Population85,025
Coordinates40.8584300, -74.1637600
Altitude57
CountryUnited States
Start: West Blackwell Street (-74.562051, 40.883788)
End: Holly Street (-74.163585, 40.858575)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 45 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.99 gal
3.76 L · about $4.05
Round trip
$8.09
1.98 gal · 7.52 L
Estimated CO2
8.8 kg one way
Round trip: 17.6 kg / 39 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $4.05 $8.09
Mid-grade $4.60 $4.55 $9.11
Premium $4.95 $4.90 $9.81
Diesel $5.98 $5.92 $11.84

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Dover and Clifton. The current time is 00:25:32.

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.