Origin
Orange, NJ
Late night in Orange on Sunday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Orange, 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
15m
Distance
8.7 mi
14 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 16m
8 AM
0h 18m
10 AM
0h 17m
12 PM
0h 16m
3 PM
0h 17m
5 PM
0h 18m
8 PM
0h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Orange, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
Orange, NJ to Union, NJ is 8.7 miles and takes about 15m via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $1 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, highway-focused trip within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its brief duration and minimal fuel cost, it's an ideal route for a quick commute or an easy hop between nearby areas. You'll primarily be on major roadways, making it a straightforward drive for anyone familiar with the area. Consider this a simple point-to-point journey with no need for overnight stays.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Essex Freeway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Freeway Drive East | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Oraton Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Oraton Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Whittlesey Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Maybaum Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 3.3 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orange, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on this road
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
this road
Toward I 280 West
2
Merge onto I 280
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Essex Freeway
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 10
Toward CR 508: West Orange, South Orange, Montclair
Use the slight right lane.
4
Turn left onto CR 508 Spur
324 ft
·
11 sec
·
Northfield Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 280 East
6
Merge onto I 280
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Essex Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 11A
Toward Harrison Street, Clinton Street, East Orange
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto Freeway Drive East
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Freeway Drive East
9
Turn right onto South Oraton Parkway
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Oraton Parkway
10
Continue on Whittlesey Avenue
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Whittlesey Avenue
11
Turn straight onto Maybaum Avenue
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Maybaum Avenue
12
Continue on Oraton Parkway
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Oraton Parkway
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto Oraton Parkway
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Oraton Parkway
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward GSP Toll South
15
Merge onto GSP
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 141
Toward Vauxhall Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto CR 630
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Vauxhall Road
Use the right lane.
18
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 8.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.5 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the exit toward CR 508: West Orange, South Orange, Montclair
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 10
Toward CR 508: West Orange, South Orange, Montc...
7
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 508 Spur / Northfield Avenue
Turn left onto CR 508 Spur / Northfield Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward Harrison Street, Clinton Street, East Orange
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 11A
Toward Harrison Street, Clinton Street, East Or...
6
4.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Oraton Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Oraton Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
8.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward Vauxhall Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 141
Toward Vauxhall Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.44 one way
$2.88 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $1.58 | $3.16 |
| premium | $4.93 | $1.69 | $3.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.92 | $3.84 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.20
Garden State Parkway
(3.3 mi)
$0.20
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Tolls
$0
Total
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.91 | $0.42 |
| Efficient EV | 2.2 | 0 | $0.76 | $0.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.22 | $0.56 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
12:18 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
15m 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 trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 72% of the route utilizing major freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 3.3 miles on the Garden State Parkway. Expect a consistent driving experience characterized by higher speeds and limited access points. The roads involved, including the Garden State Parkway and Essex Freeway, are designed for efficient travel, meaning you'll likely experience a smooth, albeit potentially busy, journey. It’s less about scenic detours and more about getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
72% 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: 3.3 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 Essex Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 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 13 decision points packed into just 8.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 15m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.7 miles (CR 508 Spur / Northfield Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Orange, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Cr 508: West Orange, Montclair and Gsp Toll South.
Cr 508: West Orange
0.5 mi in
|
~0m
Montclair
0.5 mi in
|
~0m
Gsp Toll South
4.6 mi in
|
~8m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 15m. Total distance: 8.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 3.3 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.20 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 0.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.7 miles (CR 508 Spur / Northfield Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Morristown 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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