Origin
Delaware, NJ
Late night in Delaware on Sunday
Local time
4:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Delaware, 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 14m
Distance
56.9 mi
92 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Delaware, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
Delaware, NJ to Union, NJ is 56.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 14 minutes via Christopher Columbus Highway and NJ 24, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region and primarily within New Jersey, making it a straightforward, same-day excursion. You'll experience a mixed drive profile, so expect some variation in speed and road type. Given its relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a quick drive when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 23.7 mi | 27m |
| NJ 24 | 9.3 mi | 10m |
| Route 10 East | 9.2 mi | 11m |
| NJ 10 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| US 46 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Vauxhall Road | 2 mi | 5m |
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Springfield Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Christopher Columbus Highway
— 23.7 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Delaware, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on Clinton Street
488 ft
·
25 sec
·
Clinton Street
2
Turn right onto US 46
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 46
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
4
Turn straight onto NJ 94
337 ft
·
8 sec
·
NJ 94
5
Take the ramp onto ramp to I-80 Eastbound
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
ramp to I-80 Eastbound
Toward I 80 East: Netcong, New York City
6
Merge onto I 80
24 mi
·
27 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 28
Toward US 46 East: Ledgewood, Lake Hopatcong
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on CR 631
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Ledgewood Road
9
Continue on US 46
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 46
10
Continue on US 46
213 ft
·
4 sec
·
US 46
Use the left / uturn / straight lanes.
11
Turn straight onto NJ 10
9.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Route 10 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on NJ 10
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 10
Use the right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 287 South: Morristown, Morristown Airport
14
Merge onto I 287
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 287
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 37
Toward NJ 24 East: Springfield
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on NJ 24
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
NJ 24
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City, Newark
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 78 East Local: Newark
Use the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto I 78
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 49B
Toward NJ 124 East: Maplewood
Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn straight onto NJ 124
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Springfield Avenue
22
Turn right onto CR 630
2.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Vauxhall Road
23
Turn left onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.5 miles from Delaware, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 26.8 and 53.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
26.8 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward US 46 East: Ledgewood, Lake Hopatcong
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 28
Toward US 46 East: Ledgewood, Lake Hopatcong
7
42.2 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward NJ 24 East: Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 37
Toward NJ 24 East: Springfield
6
52.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City, Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City...
7
52.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 78 East Local: Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 78 East Local: Newark
7
53.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward NJ 124 East: Maplewood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49B
Toward NJ 124 East: Maplewood
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.43 one way
$18.87 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.33 | $20.66 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.04 | $22.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.56 | $25.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.97 | $2.73 |
| Efficient EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.97 | $3.64 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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, NJ
Late night in Union on Sunday
Local time
4:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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
5 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 14m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a varied experience, with 48% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches like the 23.7-mile segment on Christopher Columbus Highway, which likely provides a more consistent pace. As you transition to roads like NJ 24 and Route 10 East, expect the character to shift, potentially incorporating more local traffic or varied speed limits. The 'mixed drive' profile suggests you won't be solely on a monotonous interstate, but rather a blend that keeps things interesting without being overly technical.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.7 mi on Christopher Columbus Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.9 miles you will encounter 15 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 26.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Delaware, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Lake Hopatcong, Morristown Airport, New York City and Newark.
Lake Hopatcong
26.8 mi in
|
~32m
Morristown Airport
40.9 mi in
|
~50m
New York City
52.2 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Newark
52.2 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 56.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.7 miles on Christopher Columbus Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 26.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Morristown National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (5 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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