How far is Menlo Park, NJ from Cliffside Park, NJ?

The driving distance from Menlo Park, NJ to Cliffside Park, NJ is about 30.3 miles (48.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 25.5 miles (41 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 33m 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
30.32 mi
00h 46m
Flight
25.48 mi
41.01 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Menlo Park.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
25.48 mi
Kilometers
41.01 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
30.32 mi
Kilometers
48.8 km
Drive Time
00h 46m

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 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cliffside Park
Thu, Oct 15, 10:14 PM EDT
Return by in Menlo Park
Thu, Oct 15, 11:01 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Menlo Park
2026-10-15T21:27
Arrive Cliffside Park
Thu, Oct 15, 10:14 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:47 AM to 10:47 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:56 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Menlo Park
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
Newark
NJ

The most populous city in New Jersey and the center of the Newark metropolitan area.

From Menlo Park
15.2 mi
00h 23m
To Cliffside Park
15.2 mi
00h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 2:00 PM EDT
Wind
5 mph E
Destination
Cliffside Park Weather
NJ
Live fallback forecast
63°F
This Afternoon
Using Fairview as the closest live forecast in the Bergen County weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 3:00 PM EDT
Wind
7 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Menlo Park and Cliffside Park.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Menlo Park and Cliffside Park.

  1. 1

    Start on Philip Street

    897 ft · 36 sec · Philip Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Lincoln Highway

    1 km · 1 min · Lincoln Highway

  3. 3

    Take the ramp left toward GSP Toll North

    142 m · 11 sec

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    1306 ft · 47 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

    10.3 mi · 14 min · Garden State Parkway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right

    553 ft · 14 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 78 East: Newark Airport, Newark

    1435 ft · 36 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1-9 North: Frontage Road

    1330 ft · 45 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on US 1-9 North

    1182 ft · 29 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    5.5 mi · 9 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1-9 North: Jersey City, Lincoln Tunnel

    2.8 mi · 4 min

  13. 13

    Continue on Tonnelle Avenue

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Tonnelle Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto 76th Street

    1825 ft · 59 sec · 76th Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto John F. Kennedy Boulevard

    3087 ft · 1 min · John F. Kennedy Boulevard

  16. 16

    Continue on John F. Kennedy Boulevard

    1901 ft · 51 sec · John F. Kennedy Boulevard

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Bergenline Avenue

    69 m · 5 sec · Bergenline Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on Anderson Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · Anderson Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Edgewater Road

    748 ft · 29 sec · Edgewater Road

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Palisade Avenue

    526 ft · 13 sec · Palisade Avenue

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Palisade Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Menlo Park and Cliffside Park.

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
21 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
69.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Garden State Parkway
10.4 mi · 34%
US 1-9 North
8.78 mi · 29%
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
4.6 mi · 15%
Tonnelle Avenue
2.56 mi · 8%
Anderson Avenue
0.96 mi · 3%
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
0.94 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Garden State Parkway

Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

10.3 mi · 00h 14m

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 46m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.8 mi
25.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Newark
00h 23m from Menlo Park
Leave By
4:56 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Menlo Park and Sunny near Cliffside Park.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Menlo Park to Cliffside Park?

The road trip is about 30.3 miles (48.8 km) and usually takes 00h 46m 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?

Newark is a useful midpoint, sitting about 15.2 miles from Menlo Park and 15.2 miles from Cliffside Park.

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

The direct path is about 25.5 miles (41 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.8 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 4:56 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.60 one way or $9.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Menlo Park and Sunny near Cliffside Park.

Stop Ideas Near Newark

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 Newark and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Hall Parking Lot
Scenic stop 7.6 mi away

City Hall Parking Lot

Jersey City , NJ
280 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Parking lot
#Artlook New York City Hall Wedding Photographer
Practical stop 9.7 mi away

#Artlook New York City Hall Wedding Photographer

New York , NY
141 Worth St, New York, NY 10013
Rating 5.0/5 13 reviews Photographer,Photography service,Photography studio,Wedding photographer
City Hall Personnel Office
Meeting point 1.8 mi away

City Hall Personnel Office

Newark , NJ
920 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102
Rating 5.0/5 5 reviews City government office
Diamond City Hall Photography
Nearby stop 9.7 mi away

Diamond City Hall Photography

New York , NY
141 Worth St, New York, NY 10013
Rating 5.0/5 53 reviews Wedding photographer

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

1 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

4 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

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

Metropark station

23 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Menlo Park and Cliffside Park. Straight-line distance: 25.48 mi (41.01 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Menlo Park

Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States

Population97,687
Coordinates40.5651000, -74.3373700
Altitude42
CountryUnited States
Cliffside Park

#2 Cliffside Park

Borough in New Jersey

Population26,001
Coordinates40.8214900, -73.9876400
Altitude79
CountryUnited States
Start: Menlo Park (-74.33737, 40.5651)
End: Cliffside Park (-73.98764, 40.82149)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 49 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.07 gal
4.05 L · about $4.60
Round trip
$9.19
2.14 gal · 8.1 L
Estimated CO2
9.5 kg one way
Round trip: 19 kg / 42 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.30 $4.60 $9.19
Mid-grade $4.88 $5.22 $10.44
Premium $5.18 $5.54 $11.07
Diesel $6.32 $6.76 $13.52

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Menlo Park and Cliffside Park. The current time is 21:27:58.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.