Origin
North Plainfield, NJ
Afternoon in North Plainfield on Sunday
Local time
3:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Plainfield, NJ to Union City, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
42m
Distance
28.9 mi
46 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Plainfield, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 30.6-mile drive from North Plainfield to Union City, NJ, will take you about 43 minutes to complete. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $5, this route primarily sticks to local roads like North Drive, Park Avenue, and New Providence Road, offering a true taste of New Jersey's Northeast region. Expect a turn-heavy journey rather than a high-speed dash, making it a more engaged driving experience. This is a practical option for getting between these two New Jersey locales without the hassle of major highways.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 13.6 mi | 15m |
| New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| US 22 | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| New Providence Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| NJ 495 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Diamond Hill Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 30th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
— 13.6 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Plainfield, NJ and Union City, NJ.
1
Start on Norwood Avenue
100 ft
·
2 sec
·
Norwood Avenue
2
Continue on North Drive
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Drive
3
Turn right onto US 22
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 22
4
Take the exit
242 ft
·
6 sec
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on Park Avenue
151 ft
·
5 sec
·
Park Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Turn right
391 ft
·
18 sec
7
Turn slight right onto New Providence Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
New Providence Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on CR 655
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Diamond Hill Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 78 East: Newark
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 78
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City
Use the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto I 78
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
14
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.
15
Merge onto I 78
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95/NJTP North Tolls
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
I 95/NJTP North Tolls
17
Keep straight at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North
18
Continue on this road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
this road
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North
19
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.
20
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 16E
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on NJ 495
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
NJ 495
23
Take the exit
263 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Kennedy Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
24
Continue on 30th Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
30th Street
25
Turn left onto CR 501
296 ft
·
16 sec
·
John F Kennedy Boulevard
26
Continue on CR 501
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
27
Turn right onto 47th Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
47th Street
28
At end of road, turn right onto Bergenline Avenue
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bergenline Avenue
29
Turn right onto 45th Street
64 ft
·
2 sec
·
45th Street
30
Arrive at destination
45th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 16 and 26 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
16 mi into trip
|
~21m 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
17.1 mi into trip
|
~23m 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
18.5 mi into trip
|
~25m 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
19.9 mi into trip
|
~27m 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
26 mi into trip
|
~36m 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
$4.79 one way
$9.58 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.25 | $10.50 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.60 | $11.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.38 | $12.76 |
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
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.03 | $1.39 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.53 | $1.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.05 | $1.85 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Afternoon in Union City on Sunday
Local time
3:04 PM
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
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
42m 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 characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you’ll be navigating numerous intersections and changes in direction rather than cruising on a highway. With a 0% highway share, you’ll be on surface streets for the entire 30.6 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the profile suggests constant engagement with local traffic patterns and signals. You can anticipate a driving experience that requires your full attention, as you'll be managing city and suburban road conditions for the duration of the 43-minute trip.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.6 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 16 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 22 decision points packed into just 28.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 42m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 North Plainfield, NJ and Union City, NJ, road signs point toward New York City, Njtp and Njtp North.
New York City
16 mi in
|
~21m
Njtp
17.1 mi in
|
~23m
Njtp North
18.5 mi in
|
~25m
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.
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 42m. Total distance: 28.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.6 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 16 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.5 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, 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 City, NJ
More from North Plainfield, NJ
More trips to Union City, NJ
Explore more options from North Plainfield, NJ or browse trips ending in Union City, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.