Origin
Lebanon, NJ
Morning in Lebanon on Tuesday
Local time
8:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lebanon, NJ to Union City, 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
1h 2m
Distance
48.6 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lebanon, NJ
Nemika F
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lebanon, NJ to Union City, NJ is 48.6 miles and takes about 1h 2m via Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Northeast region, entirely within New Jersey. It's a straightforward, predominantly highway drive, making it a practical choice for a quick trip. If you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without much fuss, this is a solid option.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 36.8 mi | 42m |
| New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| NJ 495 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Cokesbury Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 30th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Bergenline Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 47th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
— 36.8 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lebanon, NJ and Union City, NJ.
1
Start on Main Street
163 ft
·
10 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto Cokesbury Road
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
Cokesbury Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 78 East
4
Merge onto I 78
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 78
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 58A-B
Toward NJTP, I 95, US 1-9, NJ 21, US 22: Port Newark
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 78
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95/NJTP North Tolls
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
I 95/NJTP North Tolls
12
Keep straight at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North
13
Continue on this road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
this road
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 95, I 80, NJ 3: Lincoln Tunnel
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 16E
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on NJ 495
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
NJ 495
18
Take the exit
263 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Kennedy Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
19
Continue on 30th Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
30th Street
20
Turn left onto CR 501
296 ft
·
16 sec
·
John F Kennedy Boulevard
21
Continue on CR 501
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
22
Turn right onto 47th Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
47th Street
23
At end of road, turn right onto Bergenline Avenue
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bergenline Avenue
24
Turn right onto 45th Street
64 ft
·
2 sec
·
45th Street
25
Arrive at destination
45th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.3 miles from Lebanon, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 35.7 and 45.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
35.7 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City
8
36.8 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward NJTP, I 95, US 1-9, NJ 21, US 22: Port Newark
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.
Exit 58A-B
Toward NJTP, I 95, US 1-9, NJ 21, US 22: Port N...
7
38.2 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep straight at fork toward I 95 North, NJTP North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North
8
39.6 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95, I 80, NJ 3: Lincoln Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95, I 80, NJ 3: Lincoln Tunnel
7
45.7 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16E
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.06 one way
$16.11 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.82 | $17.65 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.43 | $18.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.73 | $21.46 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.79
New Jersey Turnpike
(5.6 mi)
$0.79
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.10 | $2.33 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.25 | $1.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.80 | $3.11 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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 Tuesday
Local time
8:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Concord, NY
24 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 2m 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?
You'll spend about 89% of your time on highways, with a significant 36.8-mile stretch on the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. The bulk of your travel will be on this expressway and the New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur. Expect a high number of exits and merges as you navigate through built-up areas.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.8 mi on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.6 miles you will encounter 19 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 35.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
440 ft
-4 ft
Total Climb
565 ft
Total Descent
658 ft
Highest Point
440 ft
~20.8 mi in
Elevation Range
443 ft
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 Lebanon, NJ and Union City, NJ, road signs point toward New York City, Njtp and Njtp North.
New York City
35.7 mi in
|
~42m
Njtp
36.8 mi in
|
~43m
Njtp North
38.2 mi in
|
~45m
About the Cities
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.
Top landmarks
- • Monastery and Church of Saint Michael the Archangel — church building in New Jersey, United States of America
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 1h 2m. Total distance: 48.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.8 miles on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.79 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. 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 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 35.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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