How far is Rahway, NJ from Clifton, NJ?

The driving distance from Rahway, NJ to Clifton, NJ is about 21.9 miles (35.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 18.3 miles (29.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 04m 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
21.92 mi
00h 32m
Flight
18.29 mi
29.44 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rahway.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
18.29 mi
Kilometers
29.44 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
21.92 mi
Kilometers
35.28 km
Drive Time
00h 32m

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 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clifton
Wed, Apr 22, 9:46 PM EDT
Return by in Rahway
Wed, Apr 22, 10:18 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rahway
2026-04-22T21:14
Arrive Clifton
Wed, Apr 22, 9:46 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:32 AM to 7:32 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:26 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Rahway
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
Irvington
NJ

Township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States

From Rahway
10.8 mi
00h 16m
To Clifton
11.1 mi
00h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Rahway Weather
NJ
Live fallback forecast
65°F
Wednesday
Using Linden as the closest live forecast in the Union County weather hub.

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph SE
Destination
60°F
Wednesday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Elm Avenue

    138 m · 26 sec · Elm Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Irving Street

    1741 ft · 49 sec · Irving Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Grand Avenue

    2455 ft · 1 min · West Grand Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Saint Georges Avenue

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Saint Georges Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto North Stiles Street

    2439 ft · 49 sec · North Stiles Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Stiles Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Stiles Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Centennial Avenue

    112 m · 9 sec · Centennial Avenue

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right toward GSP Toll North

    1302 ft · 32 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

    14.5 mi · 20 min · Garden State Parkway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Montclair, Nutley

    889 ft · 22 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Watchung Avenue

    147 m · 15 sec · Watchung Avenue

  12. 12

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

    2278 ft · 46 sec · East Passaic Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn right onto West Passaic Avenue

    2703 ft · 53 sec · West Passaic Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Darling Avenue

    125 m · 7 sec · Darling Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on Bloomfield Avenue

    2001 ft · 38 sec · Bloomfield Avenue

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Allwood Circle

    80 m · 5 sec · Allwood Road

  17. 17

    Exit the rotary onto Allwood Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Allwood Road

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Clifton Avenue

    2833 ft · 1 min · Clifton Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Olga B Terrace

    53 m · 10 sec · Olga B Terrace

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Hutton Road

    12 m · 7 sec · Hutton Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Olga B Terrace

    135 m · 25 sec · Olga B Terrace

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Donna Drive

    733 ft · 34 sec · Donna Drive

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Holly Street

    157 m · 23 sec · Holly Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Holly Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Rahway 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
24 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
109.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Garden State Parkway
14.5 mi · 66%
Saint Georges Avenue
1.09 mi · 5%
Allwood Road
0.99 mi · 5%
Stiles Street
0.76 mi · 3%
Clifton Avenue
0.54 mi · 2%
West Passaic Avenue
0.51 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Garden State Parkway

Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

14.5 mi · 00h 20m

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 32m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.6 mi
18.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Irvington
00h 16m from Rahway
Leave By
7:26 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Rahway and Rain Showers Likely near Clifton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 21.9 miles (35.3 km) and usually takes 00h 32m 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?

Irvington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.8 miles from Rahway and 11.1 miles from Clifton.

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

The direct path is about 18.3 miles (29.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.6 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 7:26 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.15 one way or $6.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Rahway and Rain Showers Likely near Clifton.

Stop Ideas Near Irvington

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 Irvington and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Hall Parking Lot
Scenic stop 9.5 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 11.6 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 2.6 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 11.6 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 Irvington.

RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

5 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

6 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West
RAIL

Metropark station

20 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rahway and Clifton. Straight-line distance: 18.29 mi (29.44 km).

Rahway

#1 Rahway

City in Union County, New Jersey

Population29,832
Coordinates40.6081600, -74.2776500
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Clifton

#2 Clifton

The most populous city in Passaic County, New Jersey.

Population85,025
Coordinates40.8584300, -74.1637600
Altitude57
CountryUnited States
Start: Elm Avenue (-74.277656, 40.608206)
End: Holly Street (-74.163585, 40.858575)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 35 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.77 gal
2.93 L · about $3.15
Round trip
$6.29
1.54 gal · 5.86 L
Estimated CO2
6.8 kg one way
Round trip: 13.7 kg / 30 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $3.15 $6.29
Mid-grade $4.60 $3.54 $7.08
Premium $4.95 $3.81 $7.63
Diesel $5.98 $4.60 $9.21

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 Rahway and Clifton. The current time is 21:14:03.

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.