Origin
Fairfield, NJ
Late night in Fairfield on Sunday
Local time
3:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield, 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
31m
Distance
21.6 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
Fairfield, NJ to Union, NJ is 21.6 miles and takes about 31 minutes via Garden State Parkway/US 46/NJ 3, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, quick trip primarily within New Jersey, making it an easy option for a single day. You'll be on major roadways for most of the journey, so expect consistent traffic flow, especially during peak hours. This route is ideal if you need to get between these two points efficiently without significant detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 11.8 mi | 16m |
| US 46 | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| NJ 3 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Hollywood Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| ramp to GSP Southbound | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Craig Place | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Harding Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 11.8 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on Alan Drive
183 ft
·
10 sec
·
Alan Drive
2
Turn right onto Craig Place
355 ft
·
17 sec
·
Craig Place
3
Turn right onto CR 625
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Hollywood Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
5
Merge onto US 46
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 46
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 46
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 46
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn slight left onto NJ 3
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto ramp to GSP Southbound
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
ramp to GSP Southbound
Toward GSP Toll South
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto GSP
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 141
Toward Vauxhall Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto CR 630
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Vauxhall Road
Use the right lane.
12
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 20.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Craig Place
Turn right onto Craig Place
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 46
Merge onto US 46
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
8.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
ramp to GSP Southbound
Take the exit onto ramp to GSP Southbound toward GSP Toll South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward GSP Toll South
5
9.1 mi into trip
|
~12m 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 right lanes.
7
20.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward Vauxhall Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 141
Toward Vauxhall Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.58 one way
$7.16 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.92 | $7.84 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.19 | $8.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.77 | $9.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.71
Garden State Parkway
(11.8 mi)
$0.71
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
3:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Scattered Rain Showers
N 5 mph
32% 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
9 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
31m 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 route is predominantly highway-focused, with 89% of the drive taking place on faster roads. You'll spend a good portion of your time navigating the Garden State Parkway and US 46, offering a consistent driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 11.8 miles on the Garden State Parkway. Expect the drive to feel like a typical commute on major arteries, with limited opportunities for scenic pull-offs.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.8 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US 46. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Craig Place.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 21.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 31m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Craig Place): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (US 46): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles (ramp to GSP Southbound): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Fairfield, NJ to Union, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll South along the way.
Gsp Toll South
8.9 mi in
|
~12m
|
via ramp to GSP Southbound
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 21.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.8 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.71 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: near the start (Craig Place): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (US 46): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles (ramp to GSP Southbound): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Morristown 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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