Origin
Belmar, NJ
Afternoon in Belmar on Sunday
Local time
3:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Belmar, 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
1h 2m
Distance
46.2 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Belmar, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
Belmar, NJ to Union, NJ is 46.2 miles and takes about 1h 2m via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip within the Northeast region, specifically within New Jersey. Given its short distance and direct nature, it’s ideal for a quick transit or a day trip. You’ll primarily be on a major highway, making it an efficient way to get from point A to point B. Consider this route when you need to cover ground quickly without extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 37.4 mi | 47m |
| River Road | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Asbury Avenue | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Morris Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 10th Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Asbury Park Circle | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Harding Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| US 22 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 37.4 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belmar, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on D Street
40 ft
·
9 sec
·
D Street
2
Turn left onto 10th Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Avenue
3
Turn right onto NJ 35; NJ 71
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
River Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 35
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Asbury Park Circle
5
Continue on CR 16
391 ft
·
6 sec
·
Asbury Park Circle
6
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 66; CR 16
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Asbury Avenue
7
Continue on CR 16
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Asbury Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
9
Merge onto GSP
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Garden State Parkway
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
11
Continue on GSP
37 mi
·
47 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 140
Toward US 22, NJ 82: Hillside
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto US 22
158 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 22
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, Elizabeth
15
Turn slight right onto NJ 82
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Morris Avenue
16
Turn slight right
507 ft
·
44 sec
17
Turn left onto NJ 82
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Morris Avenue
18
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Harding Avenue
19
Turn right onto CR 630
32 ft
·
4 sec
·
Vauxhall Road
20
Turn left onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.1 miles from Belmar, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 45.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
NJ 35; NJ 71 / River Road
Turn right onto NJ 35; NJ 71 / River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
NJ 35 / Asbury Park Circle
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 35 / Asbury Park Circle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
4.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
NJ 66; CR 16 / Asbury Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 66; CR 16 / Asbury Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
8
44.8 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward US 22, NJ 82: Hillside
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 140
Toward US 22, NJ 82: Hillside
6
45.1 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, Elizabeth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, E...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.66 one way
$15.32 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.39 | $16.78 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.96 | $17.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.20 | $20.40 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.25
Garden State Parkway
(37.4 mi)
$2.25
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.85 | $2.22 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.04 | $1.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.47 | $2.96 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Afternoon in Union on Sunday
Local time
3:19 PM
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
20 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
1h 2m 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?
This drive is heavily focused on highway travel, with 81% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a highway-focused profile for the majority of your journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 37.4 miles on the Garden State Parkway, offering a consistent pace. Expect a driving experience dominated by faster speeds and limited access, characteristic of a significant highway component. The road's personality is geared towards efficient travel rather than scenic detours.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.4 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and River Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near NJ 35; NJ 71 / River Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.2 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (NJ 35; NJ 71 / River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles (NJ 35 / Asbury Park Circle): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.1 miles (NJ 66; CR 16 / Asbury Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
On the drive from Belmar, NJ to Union, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll North along the way.
Gsp Toll North
6.6 mi in
|
~10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 46.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.4 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.25 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 0.4 miles (NJ 35; NJ 71 / River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles (NJ 35 / Asbury Park Circle): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.1 miles (NJ 66; CR 16 / Asbury Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls 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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