Lacey, NJ to Union, NJ is 70.5 miles and takes about 1h 35m via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays entirely within New Jersey, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Given the short duration and highway focus, this route is best suited for a single-day excursion when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. It's a straightforward drive that doesn't require extensive planning, making it a convenient option for local travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.3 miles from Lacey, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
59.7 mi
1h 13m
Dover Road
6.9 mi
10m
Lacey Road
1.3 mi
1m
Morris Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
US 9
0.2 mi
<1m
Harding Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
US 22
<0.1 mi
<1m
Vauxhall Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 59.7 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lacey, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on this road
0.6 mi·3 min·this road
2
Turn left onto CR 614
1.3 mi·1 min·Lacey Road
3
Turn right onto CR 618
6.8 mi·10 min·Dover Road
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on CR 530
0.1 mi·23 sec·Dover Road
5
Take the ramp onto US 9
0.2 mi·16 sec·US 9
Toward GSP Toll North, US 9 Toll North: Lakewood, New York
6
Merge onto GSP; US 9
23 mi·26 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
8
Continue on GSP
37 mi·47 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 140Toward US 22, NJ 82: HillsideUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto US 22
158 ft·3 sec·US 22
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, Elizabeth
12
Turn slight right onto NJ 82
0.1 mi·14 sec·Morris Avenue
13
Turn slight right
507 ft·44 sec
14
Turn left onto NJ 82
0.5 mi·55 sec·Morris Avenue
15
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
0.1 mi·28 sec·Harding Avenue
16
Turn right onto CR 630
32 ft·4 sec·Vauxhall Road
17
Turn left onto Harding Avenue
243 ft·10 sec·Harding Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this trip is under two hours and primarily highway, there's no need to split it up. You can comfortably complete it in one day. Leaving mid-morning can help you avoid the worst of the commuter rush. With only 70.5 miles, you'll have plenty of flexibility if you decide to make an unplanned stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $12 estimated cost is based on current prices and the direct route; longer detours could impact this.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.3 miles from Lacey, NJ, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 16 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.3 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lacey, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lacey, NJ
This is one driving day of about 70.5 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Lacey, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 59.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 69.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.9 mi into trip|~5m in|CR 618 / Dover Road
Turn right onto CR 618 / Dover Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
8.8 mi into trip|~16m in|US 9
Take the ramp onto US 9 toward GSP Toll North, US 9 Toll North: Lakewood, New York
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward GSP Toll North, US 9 Toll North: Lakewoo...
5
9 mi into trip|~16m in|GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
69.2 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward US 22, NJ 82: 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.
Exit 140
Toward US 22, NJ 82: Hillside
6
69.5 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, Elizabeth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.2
0
$7.40
$3.38
Efficient EV
17.6
0
$6.17
$2.82
EV Truck/SUV
28.2
0
$9.87
$4.51
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lacey, NJ
Morning
in Lacey on Sunday
Local time
10:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Union, NJ
Morning
in Union on Sunday
Local time
10:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 35m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 68.1
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 70.5
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 41.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 85% of the 70.5 miles on freeways. You'll spend the longest stretch, 59.7 miles, on the Garden State Parkway. Expect a high concentration of exits along this parkway. Dover Road and Lacey Road make up the remaining 15% of the drive, offering a transition to surface streets as you approach your destination.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.7 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 Dover Road. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near CR 618 / Dover Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 70.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 1.9 miles (CR 618 / Dover Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (US 9): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9 miles (GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
Between Lacey, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North and New York.
Gsp Toll North
8.8 mi in|~16m|via US 9
New York
8.8 mi in|~16m|via US 9
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 70.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.7 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.59 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 1.9 miles (CR 618 / Dover Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (US 9): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9 miles (GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls 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.
