Origin
Port Reading, NJ
Late night in Port Reading on Sunday
Local time
5:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Port Reading, 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
27m
Distance
13.4 mi
22 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Port Reading, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Port Reading to Union, New Jersey, expect a quick 16-mile journey that typically takes about 27 minutes. This short trip is entirely localized, relying on surface streets like 2nd Avenue, Port Reading Avenue, and Rahway Avenue rather than major interstates. Because the duration is so brief, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Budgeting about $3 for fuel should be more than sufficient for this transit. It is a straightforward, practical route within the Northeast that favors local maneuvering over highway speed.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Georges Avenue | 4.7 mi | 10m |
| Garden State Parkway | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Stiles Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Port Reading Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Amboy Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Morris Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Stiles Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Green Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Saint Georges Avenue
— 4.7 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Port Reading, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on Langford Avenue
57 ft
·
8 sec
·
Langford Avenue
2
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
2nd Avenue
3
Turn right onto Port Reading Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Port Reading Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto CR 514; CR 604
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Rahway Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto CR 604
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Green Street
Use the right lane.
6
Turn right onto NJ 35
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Amboy Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on NJ 35
4.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Saint Georges Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto CR 615
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
North Stiles Street
9
Turn right onto CR 615
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Stiles Street
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on CR 615
367 ft
·
9 sec
·
Centennial Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto GSP
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 140
Toward US 22, NJ 82: Hillside
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto US 22
158 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 22
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, Elizabeth
16
Turn slight right onto NJ 82
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Morris Avenue
17
Turn slight right
507 ft
·
44 sec
18
Turn left onto NJ 82
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Morris Avenue
19
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Harding Avenue
20
Turn right onto CR 630
32 ft
·
4 sec
·
Vauxhall Road
21
Turn left onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 12.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
2nd Avenue
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR 514; CR 604 / Rahway Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto CR 514; CR 604 / Rahway Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
8.3 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the ramp toward GSP Toll North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward GSP Toll North
8
12.1 mi into trip
|
~23m 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
12.4 mi into trip
|
~24m 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
$2.22 one way
$4.44 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.43 | $4.87 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.60 | $5.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.96 | $5.92 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.21
Garden State Parkway
(3.5 mi)
$0.21
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$0
Total
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4 | 0 | $1.41 | $0.64 |
| Efficient EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.17 | $0.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.88 | $0.86 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
5:57 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
23 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
27m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel from start to finish. Since the highway share is 0%, you won't be dealing with high-speed interstate merging or monotonous cruising. Instead, you will navigate through a series of local turns as you transition between the primary thoroughfares. Because the route consists entirely of local roads, there is no single long, uninterrupted stretch to speak of. Expect a steady, hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention on navigation rather than long-distance highway stamina.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.7 mi on Saint Georges Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 2nd Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 13.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 27m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (CR 514; CR 604 / Rahway Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles: 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 Port Reading, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North, Kean University and Elizabeth.
Gsp Toll North
8.3 mi in
|
~17m
Kean University
12.4 mi in
|
~24m
Elizabeth
12.4 mi in
|
~24m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 27m. Total distance: 13.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.7 miles on Saint Georges Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.21 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 (2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (CR 514; CR 604 / Rahway Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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