Traveling from Cape May Court House to Union covers 133.4 miles, a journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes. Because this is a straightforward trek within the Northeast region, you can easily complete the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $22 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for a quick transit between Southern and Northern New Jersey. You will primarily utilize Stone Harbor Boulevard, the Garden State Parkway, and US 22 to navigate your way north. Whether you are heading home or starting a new adventure, this route offers a reliable connection through the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.7 miles from Cape May Court House, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
129.7 mi
2h 34m
Morris Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Stone Harbor Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
Harding Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
US 22
<0.1 mi
<1m
Vauxhall Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 129.7 mi, about 2h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape May Court House, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on US 9
0.4 mi·42 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn right onto CR 657
0.3 mi·47 sec·Stone Harbor Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 10
4
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·34 sec·this road
Exit 10
5
Merge onto GSP
8.6 mi·9 min·Garden State Parkway
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·31 sec
7
Merge onto GSP
34 mi·39 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
50 mi·58 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
10
Continue on GSP
37 mi·47 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 140Toward US 22, NJ 82: HillsideUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto US 22
158 ft·3 sec·US 22
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, Elizabeth
14
Turn slight right onto NJ 82
0.1 mi·14 sec·Morris Avenue
15
Turn slight right
507 ft·44 sec
16
Turn left onto NJ 82
0.5 mi·55 sec·Morris Avenue
17
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
0.1 mi·28 sec·Harding Avenue
18
Turn right onto CR 630
32 ft·4 sec·Vauxhall Road
19
Turn left onto Harding Avenue
243 ft·10 sec·Harding Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 10 minutes, you have significant flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the Garden State Parkway, especially as you approach the busier northern corridors. Since there are no formal planned stops, carry snacks and water in the car to maintain your comfort throughout the 133.4-mile trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Cape May Court House; while $22 should cover your needs, refueling before you hit the heavier traffic near Union can save you time later. Use the direct nature of this route to your advantage by planning your arrival to align with your personal schedule.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.7 miles from Cape May Court House, NJ, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 29 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.7 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cape May Court House, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cape May Court House, NJ
This is one driving day of about 133.4 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Cape May Court House, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 129.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 132.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 657 / Stone Harbor Boulevard
Turn right onto CR 657 / Stone Harbor Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
10.4 mi into trip|~13m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
44.3 mi into trip|~52m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
132 mi into trip|~2h 38m 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
132.4 mi into trip|~2h 39m 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
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40
0
$14.01
$6.40
Efficient EV
33.4
0
$11.67
$5.34
EV Truck/SUV
53.4
0
$18.68
$8.54
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Cape May Court House, NJ
Night
in Cape May Court House on Saturday
Local time
9:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Union, NJ
Night
in Union on Saturday
Local time
9:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 42m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
$10
near mile 133.4
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 133.4
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 133.4
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 105.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate cruise, this route requires you to navigate transitions between local roads and major thoroughfares. While the Garden State Parkway provides the bulk of your movement, the inclusion of Stone Harbor Boulevard and US 22 means you will face changing traffic patterns and speeds throughout the 2-hour-and-10-minute duration. You should be prepared for a dynamic experience rather than a singular, uninterrupted stretch of pavement. Because the highway share is minimal, stay alert for the frequent road changes that define this specific 133.4-mile path.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129.7 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Morris Avenue. 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 CR 657 / Stone Harbor Boulevard.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 133.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (CR 657 / Stone Harbor Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.4 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.3 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 133.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 129.7 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.79 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (CR 657 / Stone Harbor Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.4 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.3 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
