Origin
Long Branch, NJ
Late night in Long Branch on Sunday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Long Branch, NJ to Union, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
41.8 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Long Branch, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
Long Branch, NJ to Union, NJ is 41.8 miles and takes about 58 minutes via Garden State Parkway and Joline Avenue, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, one-day trip primarily within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a drive that's mostly on well-maintained parkways and avenues, making it a practical choice for a quick journey. Given its short duration and minimal stops, this route is ideal for those needing to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 34.5 mi | 44m |
| Joline Avenue | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| Morris Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 7th Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Harding Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Broadway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| US 22 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Vauxhall Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 34.5 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Long Branch, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on Broadway
502 ft
·
15 sec
·
Broadway
2
Turn right onto 7th Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
7th Avenue
3
Turn left onto NJ 36
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Joline Avenue
4
Take the exit
221 ft
·
5 sec
Toward GSP: Garden State Parkway
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward GSP Notrh: Woodbridge
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
7
Merge onto GSP
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Garden State Parkway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Toward Crossover to Express Roadway
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto GSP
24 mi
·
32 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 140
Toward US 22, NJ 82: Hillside
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto US 22
158 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 22
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, Elizabeth
13
Turn slight right onto NJ 82
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Morris Avenue
14
Turn slight right
507 ft
·
44 sec
15
Turn left onto NJ 82
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Morris Avenue
16
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Harding Avenue
17
Turn right onto CR 630
32 ft
·
4 sec
·
Vauxhall Road
18
Turn left onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.9 miles from Long Branch, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 40.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward GSP Notrh: Woodbridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward GSP Notrh: Woodbridge
5
5.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
16.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward Crossover to Express Roadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Crossover to Express Roadway
8
40.5 mi into trip
|
~54m 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
40.8 mi into trip
|
~55m 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
Toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, E...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.93 one way
$13.86 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.59 | $15.18 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.11 | $16.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.23 | $18.46 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.07
Garden State Parkway
(34.5 mi)
$2.07
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.39 | $2.01 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.66 | $1.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.85 | $2.68 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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, NJ
Late night in Union on Sunday
Local time
3:35 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
20 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
58m 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 route is heavily highway-focused, with 83% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Garden State Parkway, including a substantial stretch of 34.5 miles without needing to exit. The initial part of the drive will feel like a typical parkway experience, characterized by consistent speeds and multiple lanes. As you get closer to Union, NJ, the route transitions to local avenues like Joline Avenue and Morris Avenue, offering a change of pace from the highway.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.5 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Joline Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in.
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 15 decision points packed into just 41.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 16.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Long Branch, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Notrh: Woodbridge and Crossover To Express Roadway.
Gsp Notrh: Woodbridge
5.2 mi in
|
~8m
Crossover To Express Roadway
16.1 mi in
|
~21m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 41.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.07 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 5.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 16.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Union, NJ
More trips to Union, NJ
Explore more options from Long Branch, NJ or browse trips ending in Union, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.