Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
29.1 mi
47 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kinnelon, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
If you are planning a quick trip from Kinnelon to Union, you will cover 29.1 miles in roughly 39 minutes. This straightforward journey stays entirely within the Northeast region of New Jersey, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Because the route is so efficient, you will not need to worry about overnight logistics or heavy travel fatigue. With a fuel cost of approximately $5, it remains an incredibly budget-friendly commute or weekend jaunt. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares, ensuring a direct connection between these two points.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 11.8 mi | 16m |
| NJ 23 | 10.3 mi | 12m |
| US 46 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| NJ 3 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Kinnelon Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| ramp to GSP Southbound | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Maple Lake Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kinnelon, NJ and Union, NJ.
Start on Kiel Avenue
Turn left onto Maple Lake Road
Turn right onto CR 618
Turn right onto NJ 23
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 23
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 46
Continue on US 46
Turn slight left onto NJ 3
Take the exit onto ramp to GSP Southbound
Merge onto GSP
Take the exit
Turn right onto CR 630
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 28.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 23
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 80 East, US 46 East: New York, Clifton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward US 46 East: Clifton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit onto ramp to GSP Southbound toward GSP Toll South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Vauxhall Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$4.82 one way
$9.65 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.28 | $10.57 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.64 | $11.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.42 | $12.85 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.71
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.06 | $1.40 |
| Efficient EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.55 | $1.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.07 | $1.86 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Kinnelon on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Union on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Partly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a highly focused highway experience, as 93% of this 29.1-mile trek is spent on high-speed roads. You will navigate a combination of NJ 23, US 46, and the Garden State Parkway to reach your destination. The most significant portion of the drive occurs on the Garden State Parkway, where you will encounter an 11.8-mile stretch that serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of the trip. Behind the wheel, this feels like a functional, high-tempo drive rather than a winding scenic tour. The transition between these major arterial roads defines the character of the journey, keeping you moving steadily from start to finish.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 23. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in near NJ 23.
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 29.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.7 miles (NJ 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kinnelon, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Clifton and Gsp Toll South.
Clifton
Gsp Toll South
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 29.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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