If you are planning to travel from Marlton to Union City, you are looking at a straightforward 84.2-mile trek through the heart of New Jersey. Expect the drive to take approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes under normal traffic conditions. This route is designed as a single-day trip, making it an efficient choice for those who need to get between the two points without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget about $14 for fuel to complete the journey. Since both locations are situated within the Northeast region, you will remain in a familiar geographic environment throughout your travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.1 miles from Marlton, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
70.9 mi
1h 23m
New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
6.2 mi
8m
NJ 73
2.7 mi
3m
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
NJ 495
0.5 mi
<1m
Marlton Pike
0.2 mi
<1m
30th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Maple Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 70.9 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marlton, NJ and Union City, NJ.
1
Start on this road
28 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto CR 620
113 ft·4 sec·East Main Street
3
Turn right onto CR 607
0.2 mi·19 sec·North Maple Avenue
4
Turn left onto NJ 70
0.2 mi·26 sec·Marlton Pike
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward NJ 73: Palmyra, Tacony BridgeUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto NJ 73
2.7 mi·3 min·NJ 73
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on NJ 73
198 ft·3 sec·NJ 73
Use the right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward NJTPUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJTP North: New YorkUse the straight / right lanes.
10
Merge onto NJTP
15 mi·16 min·New Jersey Turnpike
11
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
56 mi·1 hr 6 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
6.2 mi·8 min·New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 16EToward NJ 495 East: Lincoln TunnelUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on NJ 495
0.5 mi·37 sec·NJ 495
15
Take the exit
263 ft·6 sec
Toward Kennedy BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
16
Continue on 30th Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·30th Street
17
Turn left onto CR 501
296 ft·16 sec·John F Kennedy Boulevard
18
Continue on CR 501
0.8 mi·1 min·John F. Kennedy Boulevard
19
Turn right onto 47th Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·47th Street
20
At end of road, turn right onto Bergenline Avenue
0.1 mi·21 sec·Bergenline Avenue
21
Turn right onto 45th Street
64 ft·2 sec·45th Street
22
Arrive at destination
45th Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it best suits your schedule. However, given the reliance on the New Jersey Turnpike, try to avoid peak rush hours to ensure your travel time stays closer to the 1 hour and 45-minute estimate. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled for this 84.2-mile route, you can easily complete the drive in one push without needing to factor in extra downtime for refueling. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep your E-ZPass ready, as the Turnpike system requires frequent toll payments. Focus on staying alert during the long 70.9-mile stretch to maintain a steady pace toward your destination.
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 42.1 miles from Marlton, NJ, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.9 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.1 miles or 51m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union City, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Marlton, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Marlton, NJ
This is one driving day of about 84.2 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Marlton, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 70.9 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 81.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the exit toward NJ 73: Palmyra, Tacony Bridge
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 NJ 73: Palmyra, Tacony Bridge
7
3.3 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward NJTP
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJTP
7
3.6 mi into trip|~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJTP North: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward NJTP North: New York
6
18.7 mi into trip|~23m in|NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
81.3 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
$13.96 one way
$27.92 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.29
$30.58
premium
$4.93
$16.33
$32.66
diesel
$5.61
$18.59
$37.18
Estimated Tolls: $10.80
New Jersey Turnpike
(77.2 mi)$10.80
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
$14
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.3
0
$8.84
$4.04
Efficient EV
21.1
0
$7.37
$3.37
EV Truck/SUV
33.7
0
$11.79
$5.39
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Marlton, NJ
Late night
in Marlton on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Union City, NJ
Late night
in Union City on Sunday
Local time
12:45 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 45m 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...
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 81.3
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...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 72.6
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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 58.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 95% of your travel taking place on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the New Jersey Turnpike, which accounts for a 70.9-mile stretch of the journey. In addition to the Turnpike and its Eastern Spur, you will navigate a short segment on NJ 73 to bridge the gap between your starting point and the highway. The experience is primarily an interstate grind, prioritizing speed and efficiency over scenic detours or backroad exploration. Expect a consistent, fast-paced rhythm as you transition from South Jersey toward the urban density of the north.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.9 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike 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 0.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.2 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 84.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.9 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $10.80 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 0.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 City, NJ before heading back.
