Commuter guide
Getting to the city from Clifton, honestly
Clifton is 12 miles from the Lincoln Tunnel and 16 from the George Washington Bridge. This page is the straight story on how the commute actually works: which bus takes which route, what the train does well, and when driving beats both. Times are typical midweek figures, not promises, so check current schedules before you commit to a routine.
By bus
The express bus is the workhorse
NJ Transit express buses run from Clifton straight to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown. The routes that matter are the 191, 192 (including the 192X express), and 195, with the 199 joining in weekday peak hours via Allwood. Peak-flow rides typically land in the 30 to 40 minute range, which competes with most of Brooklyn.
- 191: Clifton and Willowbrook to New York, via Allwood Road
- 192 and 192X: Clifton to New York along Main Avenue, express from the Allwood Park and Ride
- 195: Clifton to New York, also serving the Allwood Park and Ride
- 199: Clifton, Lyndhurst, and New York, weekday peak hours
Where you board
The Allwood Park and Ride at Allwood Road and Route 3 is the main hub, with the 191, 192, 195, and 199 stopping there. Main Avenue in the downtown corridor also has 191, 192, and 195 stops, so several neighborhoods walk to a line.
Typical time
30 to 40 minutes to Port Authority in peak flow. Off-peak runs faster, bad tunnel days run slower. Buy tickets in the NJ Transit app before you board.
Rail + PATH
The NJ Transit Main and Bergen County Line serves two stations in Clifton: Clifton Station at the corner of Elm Street and Clifton Boulevard, and Delawanna Station near the Passaic line. Trains run to Hoboken in roughly a half hour, and from Hoboken the PATH connects to Midtown, Downtown, and the West Side.
One change for Penn
At Secaucus Junction, Main Line trains connect to NJ Transit trains into New York Penn Station, so you can skip Hoboken and PATH entirely if the timing lines up.
When the rail wins
Rail is the honest pick on bad-weather Tuesdays and tunnel-gridlock Fridays. It does not defeat the tunnel, it skips it.
By rail
The Main Line runs right through town
Clifton's two rail stations put the Main and Bergen County Line a short drive from nearly every neighborhood. There is no direct train to Manhattan from Clifton; the standard move is rail to Hoboken (about a half hour), then PATH. It is a change of trains, which is why most commuters default to the bus, but it is the dependable backup when conditions turn against driving.
Fares and schedules change seasonally. Confirm the current Main Line timetable and the PATH weekend schedule on the NJ Transit and PATH sites before you set your routine.
By car
Three highways, one town
Route 3
The straight shot to the Lincoln Tunnel and Secaucus, running right along the east side of town past Clifton Commons and the Allwood corridor. This is the line that makes 12 miles to the tunnel a straight, uncomplicated drive.
Route 46
Route 46 cuts through the south of Clifton, connecting toward the George Washington Bridge side of Bergen County and to Route 21 and the Parkway ramps. Useful for west-side errands and weekend trips.
Garden State Parkway
Minutes from most of Clifton, the Parkway links north to Bergen County, south to Newark and the Turnpike, and to Routes 3 and 46. Weekend trips to the shore start here.
12 mi
To the Lincoln Tunnel via Route 3
16 mi
To the George Washington Bridge
30-45
Typical minutes to Lower Manhattan in mixed traffic
Which option fits your week?
The weekday answer for most Clifton commuters is the express bus: one seat, no transfers, a 30 to 40 minute headline time. Rail is the transfer-heavy backup that keeps moving when the tunnel does not. Driving is for people whose schedules or destinations rarely fit transit, and the 12-mile tunnel math means the city is genuinely close.
Bus
Best for: one-seat rides to Midtown, predictable mornings, reading on the way in.
Train
Best for: snowy days, bridge backups, and trips that end near Hoboken or PATH stations.
Car
Best for: off-peak trips, the 12-mile tunnel hop, and errands the transit grid never quite covers.
Route numbers, schedules, and fares change; confirm current service on the NJ Transit website before you plan your move.
The test
The best commute data is a dry run. Ride it once, then decide.