How far is Hightstown, NJ from Clifton, NJ?

The driving distance from Hightstown, NJ to Clifton, NJ is about 55.6 miles (89.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 44.9 miles (72.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 57m 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
55.56 mi
00h 58m
Flight
44.85 mi
72.18 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hightstown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
44.85 mi
Kilometers
72.18 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
55.56 mi
Kilometers
89.42 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
Thu, Apr 23, 4:52 AM EDT
Return by in Hightstown
Thu, Apr 23, 5:51 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hightstown
2026-04-23T03:53
Arrive Clifton
Thu, Apr 23, 4:52 AM 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
8:59 AM to 10:59 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:32 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Hightstown
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
Fords
NJ

Town

From Hightstown
25.4 mi
00h 29m
To Clifton
30.2 mi
00h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 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 Hightstown and Clifton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    113 m · 15 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn slight right

    29 m · 4 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Franklin Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Franklin Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto New Jersey Turnpike

    22.9 mi · 26 min · New Jersey Turnpike

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward US 9, GSP: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge

    2656 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on GSP North: Garden State Parkway

    1.2 km · 2 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

    22.2 mi · 31 min · Garden State Parkway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Montclair, Nutley

    889 ft · 22 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Watchung Avenue

    147 m · 15 sec · Watchung Avenue

  10. 10

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

    2278 ft · 46 sec · East Passaic Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn right onto West Passaic Avenue

    2703 ft · 53 sec · West Passaic Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Darling Avenue

    125 m · 7 sec · Darling Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on Bloomfield Avenue

    2001 ft · 38 sec · Bloomfield Avenue

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Allwood Circle

    80 m · 5 sec · Allwood Road

  15. 15

    Exit the rotary onto Allwood Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Allwood Road

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Clifton Avenue

    2833 ft · 1 min · Clifton Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Olga B Terrace

    53 m · 10 sec · Olga B Terrace

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Hutton Road

    12 m · 7 sec · Hutton Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Olga B Terrace

    135 m · 25 sec · Olga B Terrace

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Donna Drive

    733 ft · 34 sec · Donna Drive

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Holly Street

    157 m · 23 sec · Holly Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Holly Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Hightstown 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
22 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
39.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
New Jersey Turnpike
22.9 mi · 41%
Garden State Parkway
22.2 mi · 40%
Allwood Road
0.99 mi · 2%
Franklin Street
0.75 mi · 1%
GSP North
0.74 mi · 1%
Clifton Avenue
0.54 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

New Jersey Turnpike

Turn left onto New Jersey Turnpike

22.9 mi · 00h 26m

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 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.7 mi
44.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fords
00h 29m from Hightstown
Leave By
4:32 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Hightstown and Sunny near Clifton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 55.6 miles (89.4 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?

Fords is a useful midpoint, sitting about 25.4 miles from Hightstown and 30.2 miles from Clifton.

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

The direct path is about 44.9 miles (72.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.7 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 4:32 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.01 one way or $16.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Fords

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

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

RAIL

Metropark station

4 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

New Brunswick station

12 mi away
French and Albany Streets
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

22 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 Hightstown and Clifton. Straight-line distance: 44.85 mi (72.18 km).

Hightstown

#1 Hightstown

Borough in Mercer County, New Jersey

Population5,276
Coordinates40.2695500, -74.5232100
Altitude31
CountryUnited States
Clifton

#2 Clifton

The most populous city in Passaic County, New Jersey.

Population85,025
Coordinates40.8584300, -74.1637600
Altitude57
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-74.523184, 40.269538)
End: Holly Street (-74.163585, 40.858575)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 89 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.96 gal
7.42 L · about $8.01
Round trip
$16.02
3.92 gal · 14.84 L
Estimated CO2
17.4 kg one way
Round trip: 34.8 kg / 77 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $8.01 $16.02
Mid-grade $4.60 $9.01 $18.03
Premium $4.95 $9.71 $19.42
Diesel $5.98 $11.72 $23.44

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 Hightstown and Clifton. The current time is 03:53:53.

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.