Origin
Edison, NJ
Late night in Edison on Sunday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Edison, NJ to Union Beach, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
17.5 mi
28 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Edison, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Union Beach, NJ
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
This straightforward 17.5-mile drive from Edison to Union Beach, New Jersey, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 29 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate via NJ 35 and I-287, with a 62% highway share, making it a quick and efficient trip. The estimated fuel cost is around $3, which is quite economical for a journey of this length. Given its short duration and minimal stops, this route is perfect for a quick excursion within the Northeast region.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 35 | 6 mi | 8m |
| I 287 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Lincoln Highway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| NJ 440 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Garden State Parkway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Front Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Amboy Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 35
— 6 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Edison, NJ and Union Beach, NJ.
1
Start on this road
175 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on Reed Street
348 ft
·
20 sec
·
Reed Street
3
Turn left onto Central Avenue
345 ft
·
18 sec
·
Central Avenue
4
Turn right onto CR 529
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Plainfield Avenue
5
Turn left onto NJ 27
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Lincoln Highway
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 287 South, NJTP, GSP
7
Merge onto I 287
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on NJ 440
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 440
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward GSP South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto GSP
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Garden State Parkway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 125
Toward Riverton Boulevard, Sayreville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
this road
Exit 125
Toward Riverton Boulevard, Sayreville
13
Turn left onto Riverton Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Riverton Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14
Take the ramp
345 ft
·
10 sec
Toward US 9 South, NJ 35 South
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on NJ 35
501 ft
·
12 sec
·
NJ 35
Toward US 9 South
16
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 35
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 35
Toward US 9 South
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on NJ 35
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
424 ft
·
14 sec
Toward Amboy Avenue East, Cliffwood Avenue East
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on CR 6
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Amboy Road
20
Continue on CR 6
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Front Street
21
Turn left onto CR 4
365 ft
·
10 sec
·
Broad Street
22
Turn right onto CR 6
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street
23
Continue on CR 6
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Broadway
24
At end of road, turn left onto CR 39
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Florence Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
CR 39
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 6.5 and 14.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward GSP South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward GSP South
8
8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward Riverton Boulevard, Sayreville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 125
Toward Riverton Boulevard, Sayreville
7
8.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the ramp toward US 9 South, NJ 35 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 9 South, NJ 35 South
7
8.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
NJ 35
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 35 toward US 9 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 9 South
7
14.7 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward Amboy Avenue East, Cliffwood Avenue East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Amboy Avenue East, Cliffwood Avenue East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.90 one way
$5.80 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.18 | $6.36 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.39 | $6.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.86 | $7.73 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.06
Garden State Parkway
(1.1 mi)
$0.06
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.84 | $0.84 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.53 | $0.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7 | 0 | $2.45 | $1.12 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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 Beach, NJ
Late night in Union Beach on Sunday
Local time
4:48 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
24 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
29m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 17.5-mile trip. With 62% of the route on highways, you'll experience stretches of faster-paced travel. The longest uninterrupted segment is 6 miles along NJ 35, offering a consistent pace. While largely highway, the route incorporates parts of Lincoln Highway, hinting at a potential shift in scenery and speed as you approach your destination. It's a drive that prioritizes efficiency over leisurely exploration.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6 mi on NJ 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 35 and I 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 16 decision points packed into just 17.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles: 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 Edison, NJ and Union Beach, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp, Gsp, Gsp South, Sayreville, Amboy Avenue East and Cliffwood Avenue East.
Njtp
2.5 mi in
|
~5m
Gsp
2.5 mi in
|
~5m
Gsp South
6.5 mi in
|
~11m
Sayreville
8 mi in
|
~13m
Amboy Avenue East
14.7 mi in
|
~23m
Cliffwood Avenue East
14.7 mi in
|
~23m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 17.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6 miles on NJ 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.06 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 Beach, 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 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway National Recreation Area, Morristown National Historical Park and Thomas Edison 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 Beach, 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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