Origin
Jersey City, NJ
Morning in Jersey City on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jersey City, NJ to Union City, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
11m
Distance
6.6 mi
11 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 11m
★
6 AM
0h 12m
8 AM
0h 14m
10 AM
0h 12m
12 PM
0h 12m
3 PM
0h 12m
5 PM
0h 13m
8 PM
0h 11m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 6.6-mile drive from Jersey City to Union City, NJ, is a straightforward hop that can be completed in about 11 minutes. It's a perfect example of a short, local trip that doesn't require an overnight stay, easily fitting into a single day. You'll primarily navigate via Tonnelle Avenue and US 1 Truck, with a brief segment on 51st Street. With a minimal fuel cost estimated at just $1, this route is very budget-friendly. The overall feel is that of a turn-heavy local drive, so expect to be actively navigating through familiar urban landscapes within the Northeast region.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tonnelle Avenue | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| US 1 Truck | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| 51st Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Duncan Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Bergenline Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 47th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Olean Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tonnelle Avenue
— 3.5 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jersey City, NJ and Union City, NJ.
1
Start on Olean Avenue
316 ft
·
15 sec
·
Olean Avenue
2
Turn right onto Duncan Avenue
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Duncan Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
169 ft
·
4 sec
·
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 North, US 9 North: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Secaucus, Lincoln Tunnel
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Toward US 1-9 North: Secaucus, Lincoln Tunnel
Use the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto US 1; US 9
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 1; US 9
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto 51st Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
51st Street
10
Turn right onto CR 501
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
11
Turn left onto 47th Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
47th Street
12
At end of road, turn right onto Bergenline Avenue
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bergenline Avenue
13
Turn right onto 45th Street
64 ft
·
2 sec
·
45th Street
14
Arrive at destination
45th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 2.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Turn right onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Take the exit onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
9
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 139 East, US 1 North, US 9 North: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Secaucus, Lincoln Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 North, US 9 North: Hob...
8
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck toward US 1-9 North: Secaucus, Lincoln Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 1-9 North: Secaucus, Lincoln Tunnel
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 1; US 9 / Tonnelle Avenue
Merge onto US 1; US 9 / Tonnelle Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.09 one way
$2.19 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
2 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $1.20 | $2.40 |
| premium | $4.93 | $1.28 | $2.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.46 | $2.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2 | 0 | $0.69 | $0.32 |
| Efficient EV | 1.7 | 0 | $0.58 | $0.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.92 | $0.42 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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
Morning in Union City on Sunday
Local time
11:12 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
2 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
11m 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 route that's heavily influenced by local traffic patterns, characterized by frequent turns. The highway share on this drive is relatively low at 24%, meaning most of your journey will be on surface streets. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be about 3.5 miles along Tonnelle Avenue, offering a brief period of steadier travel before you encounter more intersections. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; it's a more engaged, turn-heavy local drive that requires your attention as you transition between main roads like Tonnelle Avenue and US 1 Truck.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.5 mi on Tonnelle Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 6.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 11m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Jersey City, NJ to Union City, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Secaucus along the way.
Secaucus
1.4 mi in
|
~2m
About the Cities
Starting in Jersey City, NJ
Full guide →Jersey City is New Jersey's second-largest city. Jersey City sits in Hudson County in the northeastern section of the state, across the Hudson from its older and bigger cousin, New York City, and south of Hoboken. It is frequently referred to as New York’s “sixth borough”. Until the early 1600s, the area was inhabited by Lenape Indians. The Dutch then settled here as a part of the colony of New Amsterdam. It evolved into an industrial powerhouse, with railroads winding up and down the city (some of these lines are still used today). Although Jersey City declined in the 1960s, an upswing began in the 1980s, and the city was transformed into what it is today.
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
This is a super easy same-day round trip, clocking in at just 6.6 miles and 11 minutes. You'll be back before you know it, no need to even think about an overnight.
Family Friendly
The 8/10 complexity rating and turn-heavy nature of this 6.6-mile drive might be a bit much for the little ones. It's short enough to keep them from getting too bored, though.
Solo Traveler
This 6.6-mile drive is definitely comfortable for a solo trip, but the 8/10 complexity rating means you'll need to stay alert. It's short enough to be engaging without being exhausting.
EV Driver
This route is way too short for an EV DC fast charge stop, with only 57 chargers available within 50 miles. You'll likely have enough range on a single charge for this 6.6-mile trip.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 3.5 miles on Tonnelle Avenue. 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 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 0.5 miles (US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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