How far is Spotswood, NJ from Clifton, NJ?

The driving distance from Spotswood, NJ to Clifton, NJ is about 39.6 miles (63.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 34.5 miles (55.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 46m 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
39.65 mi
00h 53m
Flight
34.51 mi
55.54 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Spotswood.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
34.51 mi
Kilometers
55.54 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
39.65 mi
Kilometers
63.81 km
Drive Time
00h 53m

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 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clifton
Sun, Apr 19, 5:53 AM EDT
Return by in Spotswood
Sun, Apr 19, 6:46 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Spotswood
2026-04-19T04:59
Arrive Clifton
Sun, Apr 19, 5:53 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:53 AM to 10:53 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:44 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Spotswood
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
Clark
NJ

Township in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States

From Spotswood
20.5 mi
00h 26m
To Clifton
19.1 mi
00h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W
Destination
60°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Willard Clark Circle

    72 m · 16 sec · Willard Clark Circle

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Eaton Avenue

    101 m · 17 sec · Eaton Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Snowhill Street

    1749 ft · 44 sec · Snowhill Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Main Street

    2449 ft · 55 sec · Main Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Summerhill Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Summerhill Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Rues Lane

    1.1 km · 1 min · Rues Lane

  7. 7

    Turn left onto State Route 18

    4.8 mi · 6 min · State Route 18

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1 North: Newark

    1359 ft · 43 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    1.4 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    969 ft · 17 sec

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    1162 ft · 20 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    5.9 mi · 9 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway

    2305 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

    21.5 mi · 30 min · Garden State Parkway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Montclair, Nutley

    889 ft · 22 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Watchung Avenue

    147 m · 15 sec · Watchung Avenue

  17. 17

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

    2278 ft · 46 sec · East Passaic Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto West Passaic Avenue

    2703 ft · 53 sec · West Passaic Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Darling Avenue

    125 m · 7 sec · Darling Avenue

  20. 20

    Continue on Bloomfield Avenue

    2001 ft · 38 sec · Bloomfield Avenue

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Allwood Circle

    80 m · 5 sec · Allwood Road

  22. 22

    Exit the rotary onto Allwood Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Allwood Road

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Clifton Avenue

    2833 ft · 1 min · Clifton Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Olga B Terrace

    53 m · 10 sec · Olga B Terrace

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Hutton Road

    12 m · 7 sec · Hutton Road

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Olga B Terrace

    135 m · 25 sec · Olga B Terrace

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Donna Drive

    733 ft · 34 sec · Donna Drive

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Holly Street

    157 m · 23 sec · Holly Street

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Holly Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Spotswood 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
29 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
73 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Garden State Parkway
21.5 mi · 54%
US 1 North
7.47 mi · 19%
State Route 18
4.77 mi · 12%
Summerhill Road
1.66 mi · 4%
Allwood Road
0.99 mi · 2%
Rues Lane
0.67 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Garden State Parkway

Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

21.5 mi · 00h 30m

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 53m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.1 mi
34.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clark
00h 26m from Spotswood
Leave By
4:44 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Spotswood 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 Spotswood to Clifton?

The road trip is about 39.6 miles (63.8 km) and usually takes 00h 53m 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?

Clark is a useful midpoint, sitting about 20.5 miles from Spotswood and 19.1 miles from Clifton.

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

The direct path is about 34.5 miles (55.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.1 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 4:44 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.72 one way or $11.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Clark

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 Clark and the surrounding midpoint area.
West Orange Town Hall
Scenic stop 11.9 mi away

West Orange Town Hall

West Orange , NJ
66 Main St, West Orange, NJ 07052
Rating 4.1/5 16 reviews Park
City of Elizabeth
Meeting point 6.2 mi away

City of Elizabeth

Elizabeth , NJ
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
Rating 4.5/5 65 reviews City Hall
Bloomfield Municipal Building
Nearby stop 13.6 mi away

Bloomfield Municipal Building

Bloomfield , NJ
1 Municipal Plaza, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Rating 4.4/5 17 reviews Municipal hall

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Metropark station

8 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

12 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

16 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West
RAIL

New Brunswick station

20 mi away
French and Albany Streets

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Spotswood and Clifton. Straight-line distance: 34.51 mi (55.54 km).

Spotswood

#1 Spotswood

Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey

Population8,169
Coordinates40.3917700, -74.3984800
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Clifton

#2 Clifton

The most populous city in Passaic County, New Jersey.

Population85,025
Coordinates40.8584300, -74.1637600
Altitude57
CountryUnited States
Start: Willard Clark Circle (-74.39867, 40.391409)
End: Holly Street (-74.163585, 40.858575)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 64 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 47m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.4 gal
5.3 L · about $5.72
Round trip
$11.44
2.8 gal · 10.6 L
Estimated CO2
12.4 kg one way
Round trip: 24.9 kg / 55 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $5.72 $11.44
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.44 $12.88
Premium $4.95 $6.94 $13.87
Diesel $5.98 $8.37 $16.74

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Spotswood and Clifton. The current time is 04:59:57.

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.