Origin
Hawthorne, NJ
Late night in Hawthorne on Tuesday
Local time
4:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hawthorne, NJ to Union, NJ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
31m
Distance
20.2 mi
32 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
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.
Hawthorne, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
Planning a short hop from Hawthorne, NJ to Union, NJ? This 20.2-mile drive should take you about 31 minutes, making it an easy day trip. You'll spend most of your time on the Garden State Parkway and NJ 19, with a bit of Wagaraw Road mixed in. Given its brevity, a single day is more than enough time to complete this journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $3, which is quite budget-friendly. This route stays entirely within the Northeast region, offering a straightforward drive through familiar New Jersey terrain.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 13.8 mi | 19m |
| NJ 19 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Wagaraw Road | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Lafayette Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Holsman Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 13.8 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hawthorne, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on Royal Avenue
76 ft
·
5 sec
·
Royal Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 654
419 ft
·
18 sec
·
Diamond Bridge Avenue
3
Turn left onto CR 665
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lafayette Avenue
4
Turn right onto CR 504
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
Wagaraw Road
5
Turn slight left onto CR 504
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Goffle Road
6
Continue on CR 504
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Main Street
7
Continue on CR 504
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Holsman Street
8
Continue on CR 509
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Presidential Boulevard
9
Turn left onto CR 509
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Main Street
10
Turn right onto Memorial Drive
409 ft
·
14 sec
·
Memorial Drive
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto CR 509
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
West Broadway
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto CR 509
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Main Street
13
Turn right onto NJ 19
397 ft
·
9 sec
·
Ward Street
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on NJ 19
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Oliver Street
15
Turn slight left onto NJ 19
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 19
Use the slight left lane.
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP South
Use the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto GSP
14 mi
·
19 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 141
Toward Vauxhall Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto CR 630
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Vauxhall Road
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 19.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Memorial Drive
Turn right onto Memorial Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CR 509 / West Broadway
Turn left onto CR 509 / West Broadway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
NJ 19 / Ward Street
Turn right onto NJ 19 / Ward Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward GSP South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward GSP South
7
19.5 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
$3.35 one way
$6.70 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.67 | $7.34 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.92 | $7.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.46 | $8.92 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.83
Garden State Parkway
(13.8 mi)
$0.83
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$1
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.12 | $0.97 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.77 | $0.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.29 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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 Tuesday
Local time
4:51 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
14 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
31m 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 is primarily highway-focused, with 78% of the journey taking place on faster roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 13.8 miles on the Garden State Parkway, offering a consistent pace. While mostly on major thoroughfares like NJ 19, the inclusion of Wagaraw Road provides a slight change of pace before reaching your destination. Expect a straightforward driving experience with limited complex intersections, making it a relatively smooth ride.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.8 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 19. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near Memorial Drive.
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 20.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 2.5 miles (Memorial Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (CR 509 / West Broadway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (NJ 19 / Ward Street): 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 Hawthorne, NJ to Union, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp South along the way.
Gsp South
5.2 mi in
|
~8m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 20.2 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 (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.8 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.83 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: at 2.5 miles (Memorial Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (CR 509 / West Broadway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (NJ 19 / Ward Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison 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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