Origin
Jersey City, NJ
Morning in Jersey City on Sunday
Local time
6:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jersey City, NJ to Union County, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
15.4 mi
25 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union County, NJ
Dajana Blakcori
Trip Overview
Jersey City, NJ to Union County, NJ is 15.4 miles and takes about 26 minutes via US 22, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, straightforward drive entirely within New Jersey, connecting two points in the densely populated Northeast region. Given its brief duration, this trip is ideal for a same-day excursion or as a quick connection between two points. You'll primarily be on major roadways, so expect typical urban and suburban traffic patterns. This route is best suited for those needing a quick, no-fuss transit between these two New Jersey locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 22 | 4.8 mi | 7m |
| US 1 | 3 mi | 3m |
| US 1 Truck | 3 mi | 5m |
| Garden State Parkway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| North Avenue East | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Springfield Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Duncan Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Central Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 22
— 4.8 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jersey City, NJ and Union County, NJ.
1
Start on Olean Avenue
316 ft
·
15 sec
·
Olean Avenue
2
Turn right onto Duncan Avenue
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Duncan Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Use the left lane.
4
Take the exit onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Newark Airport, Port Newark Elizabeth Seaport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Toward US 1 Truck South, US 9 Truck South: Port Newark, Newark Airport
6
Merge onto US 1; US 9
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 22
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
US 22
Toward US 22 West: Union, Hillside
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway South
9
Merge onto GSP
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 137
Toward NJ 28: Roselle Park, Cranford
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
323 ft
·
7 sec
Toward NJ 28 West: Cranford
Use the left / right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto NJ 28
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Avenue East
13
Turn right onto CR 615
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Springfield Avenue
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto Central Avenue
490 ft
·
16 sec
·
Central Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 14.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Turn left onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Take the exit onto US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Newark Airport, Port Newark Elizabeth Seaport
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.
Toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Newark Airport,...
7
6.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 22
Take the exit onto US 22 toward US 22 West: Union, Hillside
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 22 West: Union, Hillside
8
13.9 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward NJ 28: Roselle Park, Cranford
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 137
Toward NJ 28: Roselle Park, Cranford
8
14.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 28 West: Cranford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward NJ 28 West: Cranford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.55 one way
$5.11 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.80 | $5.59 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.99 | $5.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.40 | $6.80 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.14
Garden State Parkway
(2.4 mi)
$0.14
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: 5.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.62 | $0.74 |
| Efficient EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.35 | $0.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.16 | $0.99 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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 County, NJ
Morning in Union County on Sunday
Local time
6:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
12 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
26m 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 predominantly highway-focused, with 85% of the journey taking place on major roads like US 22, US 1, and US 1 Truck. You'll experience a consistent pace for much of the trip, highlighted by a longest stretch of 4.8 miles on US 22. Expect a relatively smooth and uninterrupted flow, characteristic of driving on well-maintained arterial routes. While not a scenic byway, the drive offers a practical experience of navigating through New Jersey's bustling urban and suburban corridors. The character remains largely consistent, prioritizing efficiency over leisurely cruising.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.8 mi on US 22.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 22 and US 1. 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
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 12 decision points packed into just 15.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.
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 0.9 miles (US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles (US 22): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Jersey City, NJ and Union County, NJ, road signs point toward Port Newark Elizabeth Seaport, Newark Airport, Hillside, Gsp South: Garden State Parkway South and Cranford.
Port Newark Elizabeth Seaport
0.9 mi in
|
~1m
|
via US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Newark Airport
2.8 mi in
|
~5m
|
via US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck
Hillside
6.5 mi in
|
~10m
|
via US 22
Gsp South: Garden State Parkway South
11.3 mi in
|
~18m
Cranford
13.9 mi in
|
~22m
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 15.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.8 miles on US 22. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.14 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 County, 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 0.9 miles (US 1 Truck; US 9 Truck): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles (US 22): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 County, 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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