Origin
Country Lake Estates, NJ
Late night in Country Lake Estates on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Country Lake Estates, NJ to Union City, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
74.5 mi
120 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 45m
★
6 AM
1h 53m
8 AM
2h 9m
10 AM
1h 59m
12 PM
1h 57m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Country Lake Estates, NJ
Malcolm Garret
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Country Lake Estates, NJ to Union City, NJ is 74.5 miles and takes about 1h 52m via New Jersey Turnpike and New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within New Jersey, offering a straightforward journey. Expect a mixed drive with a significant portion on major highways, making it a practical choice for a quick transit between these two points. Given its duration and mileage, it's easily achievable within a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.2 miles from Country Lake Estates, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 37.8 mi | 45m |
| New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Browns Mills Cookstown Road | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| Sharon Station Road | 4 mi | 8m |
| Old York Road | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Holmes Mill Road | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Lakehurst Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Evergreen Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 37.8 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Country Lake Estates, NJ and Union City, NJ.
1
Start on Spring Lake Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Spring Lake Boulevard
2
At end of road, turn left onto Chippewa Trail
419 ft
·
16 sec
·
Chippewa Trail
3
Turn right onto Spring Terrace
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Spring Terrace
4
Continue on Choctaw Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Choctaw Drive
5
At end of road, turn left onto CR 530
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Lakehurst Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto Clubhouse Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Clubhouse Road
7
Continue on Clubhouse Road
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Clubhouse Road
8
Turn left onto East Lakeshore Drive
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Lakeshore Drive
9
Continue on CR 667
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Browns Mills Cookstown Road
10
Continue on CR 616
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Main Street
11
Continue on CR 616
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Cookstown-New Egypt Road
12
Continue on CR 616
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Maple Avenue
13
Continue on CR 528
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Main Street
14
Turn left onto CR 8
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Evergreen Road
15
Continue on CR 27
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Holmes Mill Road
16
Turn right onto CR 27
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Burlington Path Road
17
Turn left onto CR 539
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Forked River Road
18
Enter roundabout onto CR 539 ALT
53 ft
·
0 sec
·
Sharon Station Road
19
Continue on CR 539 ALT
4.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Sharon Station Road
20
Turn left onto Herbert Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Herbert Road
21
Turn right onto CR 539
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Old York Road
22
Continue on CR 539
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
23
Turn slight right
94 ft
·
3 sec
24
Turn right onto NJ 33
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Franklin Street
25
Turn left onto I 95; NJTP
38 mi
·
45 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
26
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 16E
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on NJ 495
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
NJ 495
29
Take the exit
263 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Kennedy Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
30
Continue on 30th Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
30th Street
31
Turn left onto CR 501
296 ft
·
16 sec
·
John F Kennedy Boulevard
32
Continue on CR 501
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
33
Turn right onto 47th Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
47th Street
34
At end of road, turn right onto Bergenline Avenue
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bergenline Avenue
35
Turn right onto 45th Street
64 ft
·
2 sec
·
45th Street
36
Arrive at destination
45th Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a relatively short, single-day trip of under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility. You could leave Country Lake Estates in the morning or afternoon. The most significant stretch is on the New Jersey Turnpike, so be mindful of potential traffic, especially during peak commuting hours. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it's wise to ensure you have enough gas before you depart, as dedicated services might be more spaced out on the non-highway portions. Keep an eye on your GPS for any real-time traffic advisories, particularly as you approach the more urbanized areas around Union City.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.2 miles from Country Lake Estates, NJ, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.8 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 16 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.2 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union City, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Country Lake Estates, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Country Lake Estates, NJ
This is one driving day of about 74.5 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Country Lake Estates, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 37.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.2 miles from Country Lake Estates, 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 205 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 73.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Chippewa Trail
At end of road, turn left onto Chippewa Trail
Navigation decision point
6
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR 530 / Lakehurst Road
At end of road, turn left onto CR 530 / Lakehurst Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
65.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
|
NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
71.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16E
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel
6
73.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward Kennedy Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Kennedy Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.35 one way
$24.70 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $13.53 | $27.05 |
| premium | $4.93 | $14.45 | $28.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.45 | $32.90 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.17
New Jersey Turnpike
(44.1 mi)
$6.17
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
$12
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.82 | $3.58 |
| Efficient EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.52 | $2.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.43 | $4.77 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 City, NJ
Late night in Union City on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
West Windsor, NJ
37 mi in
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
2 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 52m 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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
$10
near mile 66.8
Park Closure: Glenmont Mansion and Grounds Closed
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 71.9
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
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...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 61.6
View on nps.gov
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 59.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely dominated by highway driving, with 60% of the journey on major roadways like the New Jersey Turnpike. You'll experience a longest stretch of 37.8 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, which means extended periods of consistent speed. The profile is described as a 'mixed drive,' suggesting that while highways are prevalent, you'll also encounter some sections on local roads like Browns Mills Cookstown Road. This blend means you'll get both efficient highway cruising and moments of navigating through more varied terrain.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.8 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Chippewa Trail.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.5 miles you will encounter 20 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 0.2 miles (Chippewa Trail): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (CR 530 / Lakehurst Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 65.3 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Union City, NJ
Full guide →Union City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey. Union City is a small city, roughly 1.283 square miles. It is bordered by Weehawken to the east, Jersey City to the south, North Bergen to the west and north, and West New York to the north.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 74.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.8 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.17 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. 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 City, 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 0.2 miles (Chippewa Trail): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (CR 530 / Lakehurst Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 65.3 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area (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 City, 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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