Origin
Matawan, NJ
Morning in Matawan on Tuesday
Local time
6:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Matawan, NJ to Union, 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
36m
Distance
23.7 mi
38 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Matawan, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
Matawan to Union is 23.7 miles and takes about 36m via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, making it a convenient drive for locals or those already in the Northeast region. Expect a primarily highway-focused experience, meaning you'll cover ground efficiently. With just one day recommended and minimal stops, this route is ideal for a quick commute or a short errand run without requiring an overnight stay. The straightforward nature of this drive makes it easy to plan, even on short notice.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 19.9 mi | 27m |
| Ravine Drive | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Morris Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Matawan Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Morristown Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Harding Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Little Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| US 22 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 19.9 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Matawan, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on Little Street
238 ft
·
15 sec
·
Little Street
2
Turn left onto Jackson Street
139 ft
·
9 sec
·
Jackson Street
3
Turn right onto CR 6A
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Ravine Drive
4
Turn left onto Morristown Road
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Morristown Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on CR 626
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Matawan Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
7
Merge onto GSP
20 mi
·
27 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 140
Toward US 22, NJ 82: Hillside
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto US 22
158 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 22
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, Elizabeth
11
Turn slight right onto NJ 82
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Morris Avenue
12
Turn slight right
507 ft
·
44 sec
13
Turn left onto NJ 82
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Morris Avenue
14
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Harding Avenue
15
Turn right onto CR 630
32 ft
·
4 sec
·
Vauxhall Road
16
Turn left onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 22.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Jackson Street
Turn left onto Jackson Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Morristown Road
Turn left onto Morristown Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
22.3 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
22.6 mi into trip
|
~33m 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
$3.93 one way
$7.86 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.30 | $8.61 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.60 | $9.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.23 | $10.47 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.19
Garden State Parkway
(19.9 mi)
$1.19
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| Efficient EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Morning in Union on Tuesday
Local time
6:59 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
1 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
36m 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 influenced by highway driving, with 84% of it taking place on major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your travel time on the Garden State Parkway, including a continuous stretch of 19.9 miles. This means you'll experience a consistent pace, largely free from the stop-and-go traffic often found on local roads. While the majority is highway, the route also incorporates Ravine Drive and Morris Avenue, offering a brief change of scenery before reaching your destination. The overall feel is one of efficient transit between two points within the Northeast.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.9 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 Ravine Drive. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Jackson Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 23.7 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: near the start (Jackson Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (Morristown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 23.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.9 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.19 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: near the start (Jackson Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (Morristown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (GSP / 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.
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.
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