Origin
Belleville, NJ
Late night in Belleville on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Belleville, NJ to Union, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
11.8 mi
19 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 17m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 22m
10 AM
0h 20m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 22m
8 PM
0h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Belleville, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
Belleville to Union is 11.8 miles and takes about 18 minutes via the Garden State Parkway and NJ 21, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short journey stays within the Northeast region, specifically New Jersey, making it a quick hop between two points. The drive is primarily highway-focused, suggesting it's designed for efficient travel rather than leisurely sightseeing. Given its brevity and the estimated fuel cost, this trip is ideal for a quick errand or connecting two nearby locations without significant time or expense. It's a straightforward route with minimal complexity, perfect for when you just need to get from point A to point B.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| NJ 21 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Essex Freeway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Joralemon Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Harding Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 4.5 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belleville, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 7
23 ft
·
4 sec
·
Washington Avenue
2
Turn right onto Joralemon Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Joralemon Street
3
Turn left onto Main Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Main Street
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward NJ 21 South: Newark
5
Merge onto NJ 21
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 21
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
50 ft
·
1 sec
Toward I 280 East, I 280 West: Harrison, Jersey City, The Oranges
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 280 West: The Oranges
8
Merge onto I 280
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Essex Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 12A; 12B
Toward GSP: Oraton Parkway, Clinton Street, East Orange
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 12B
Toward GSP: Garden State Parkway, Oraton Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward GSP South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
this road
13
Merge onto GSP
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 141
Toward Vauxhall Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto CR 630
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Vauxhall Road
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 11.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 280 West: The Oranges
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 280 West: The Oranges
8
5.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward GSP: Oraton Parkway, Clinton Street, East Orange
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12A; 12B
Toward GSP: Oraton Parkway, Clinton Street, Eas...
10
5.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP: Garden State Parkway, Oraton Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 12B
Toward GSP: Garden State Parkway, Oraton Parkwa...
8
6.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward GSP South
7
11.1 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward Vauxhall Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 141
Toward Vauxhall Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.96 one way
$3.91 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.14 | $4.29 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.29 | $4.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.61 | $5.21 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.27
Garden State Parkway
(4.5 mi)
$0.27
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$0
Total
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.24 | $0.57 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.03 | $0.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.76 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Union, NJ
Late night in Union on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Sunny
E 2 to 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
18 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
18m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for about 80% of this 11.8-mile trip. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the Garden State Parkway and the Essex Freeway, experiencing swift travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is about 4.5 miles, allowing for consistent speed. While the primary roads are major highways, the route also incorporates NJ 21, which might offer a slight variation in the driving experience as you transition. Overall, the character is one of efficient transit, with the bulk of the drive being on high-speed parkways and freeways.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.5 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 21. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 11.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 18m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Belleville, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Jersey City, The Oranges, Orange and Gsp South.
Jersey City
3.9 mi in
|
~5m
The Oranges
3.9 mi in
|
~5m
Orange
5.7 mi in
|
~8m
Gsp South
6.2 mi in
|
~9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 11.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.27 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Union, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Morristown National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Union, NJ before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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