How far is Elizabeth, NJ from Clinton, NJ?

The driving distance from Elizabeth, NJ to Clinton, NJ is about 42.4 miles (68.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 36.7 miles (59.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 49m 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
42.41 mi
00h 54m
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 Elizabeth.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
36.7 mi
Kilometers
59.06 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
42.41 mi
Kilometers
68.25 km
Drive Time
00h 54m

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 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clinton
Tue, Jul 21, 9:14 PM EDT
Return by in Elizabeth
Tue, Jul 21, 10:09 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elizabeth
2026-07-21T20:19
Arrive Clinton
Tue, Jul 21, 9:14 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:55 AM to 10:55 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:40 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elizabeth
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 Elizabeth
21.2 mi
00h 27m
To Clinton
21.3 mi
00h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Tue, Jul 21 2:00 PM EDT
Wind
12 mph S
Destination
80°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Jul 21 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    11 m · 5 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Jersey Street

    707 ft · 28 sec · East Jersey Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Jefferson Avenue

    837 ft · 46 sec · Jefferson Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn sharp left onto East Grand Street

    951 ft · 30 sec · East Grand Street

  5. 5

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

    1 km · 2 min · Broad Street

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on North Broad Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · North Broad Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Hillside Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Hillside Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Chestnut Avenue

    2242 ft · 49 sec · Chestnut Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Paine Avenue

    112 m · 13 sec · Paine Avenue

  10. 10

    Take the ramp left toward I 78 West

    2115 ft · 52 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

    4.6 mi · 5 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 78 West: Clinton

    885 ft · 12 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

    31.2 mi · 36 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward NJ 31: Clinton, Flemington, Washington

    1963 ft · 43 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    1642 ft · 28 sec

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward to Route 31 Southbound

    137 m · 12 sec · to Route 31 Southbound

  17. 17

    Turn slight right onto Beaver Avenue

    45 m · 5 sec · Beaver Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Old Highway 22

    1.5 km · 2 min · Old Highway 22

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Leigh Street

    39 m · 3 sec · Leigh Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Leigh Street

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
47.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
35.9 mi · 85%
North Broad Street
1.58 mi · 4%
Hillside Avenue
1.03 mi · 2%
Old Highway 22
0.92 mi · 2%
NJ 31
0.68 mi · 2%
Broad Street
0.64 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

Merge slight left onto Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

31.2 mi · 00h 36m

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 54m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.7 mi
36.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Watchung
00h 27m from Elizabeth
Leave By
4:40 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 42.4 miles (68.2 km) and usually takes 00h 54m 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 21.2 miles from Elizabeth and 21.3 miles from Clinton.

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 5.7 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 4:40 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.13 one way or $12.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 13.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Elizabeth and Clinton. Straight-line distance: 36.7 mi (59.06 km).

Elizabeth

#1 Elizabeth

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

Population128,382
Coordinates40.6639900, -74.2107000
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Clinton

Clinton is a place in New Jersey, United States.

Population0
Coordinates40.6367700, -74.9098900
Altitude59
CountryUnited States
Start: Elizabeth (-74.2107, 40.66399)
End: Clinton (-74.90989, 40.63677)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 68 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.5 gal
5.66 L · about $6.13
Round trip
$12.26
3 gal · 11.32 L
Estimated CO2
13.3 kg one way
Round trip: 26.7 kg / 59 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $6.13 $12.26
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.90 $13.80
Premium $4.95 $7.43 $14.86
Diesel $5.98 $8.97 $17.94

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Elizabeth and Clinton. The current time is 20:19:18.

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.