Origin
Scotch Plains, NJ
Morning in Scotch Plains on Sunday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scotch Plains, 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
40m
Distance
25 mi
40 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scotch Plains, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Scotch Plains to Union City is 25 miles and takes about 40 minutes via US 22, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive entirely within New Jersey, making it a simple hop between two points in the Northeast region. Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of the trip. With no designated stops and a short duration, this route is ideal for a quick, no-fuss journey, perfect for when you just need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 22 | 7.6 mi | 12m |
| New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Garden State Parkway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| NJ 495 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Westfield Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 30th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 22
— 7.6 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scotch Plains, NJ and Union City, NJ.
1
Start on Westfield Avenue
76 ft
·
5 sec
·
Westfield Avenue
2
Turn right onto Westfield Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Westfield Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 22
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 22
4
Continue on US 22
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
US 22
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on US 22
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
US 22
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward GSP Toll North: Paterson
7
Merge onto GSP
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 142A
Toward I 78 East: Newark Airport, Newark
10
Merge onto I 78
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 78
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
13
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.
14
Merge onto I 78
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95/NJTP North Tolls
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
I 95/NJTP North Tolls
16
Keep straight at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North
17
Continue on this road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
this road
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North
18
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.
19
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 16E
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on NJ 495
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
NJ 495
22
Take the exit
263 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Kennedy Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
23
Continue on 30th Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
30th Street
24
Turn left onto CR 501
296 ft
·
16 sec
·
John F Kennedy Boulevard
25
Continue on CR 501
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
26
Turn right onto 47th Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
47th Street
27
At end of road, turn right onto Bergenline Avenue
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bergenline Avenue
28
Turn right onto 45th Street
64 ft
·
2 sec
·
45th Street
29
Arrive at destination
45th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 9.4 and 16 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
9.4 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 78 East: Newark Airport, Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 142A
Toward I 78 East: Newark Airport, Newark
7
12.1 mi into trip
|
~20m 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
13.2 mi into trip
|
~21m 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
14.6 mi into trip
|
~23m 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
16 mi into trip
|
~25m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.14 one way
$8.29 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.54 | $9.08 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.85 | $9.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.52 | $11.04 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.84
New Jersey Turnpike
(5.6 mi)
$0.79
Garden State Parkway
(0.8 mi)
$0.05
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: 8.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.19 | $1.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10 | 0 | $3.50 | $1.60 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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 City, NJ
Morning in Union City on Sunday
Local time
6:34 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
40m 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 predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 76% of the journey taking place on major roads like US 22 and the New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur. You'll experience a significant stretch of 7.6 miles on US 22, offering a consistent pace. The Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway contributes to the overall fast-paced nature of this trip. Expect smooth sailing for most of the 25 miles, minimizing traffic delays and maximizing your time on the road.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.6 mi on US 22.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 22 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 9.4 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 21 decision points packed into just 25 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.2 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 Scotch Plains, NJ and Union City, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North: Paterson, Newark, New York City, Njtp and Njtp North.
Gsp Toll North: Paterson
8.1 mi in
|
~14m
Newark
9.4 mi in
|
~16m
New York City
12.1 mi in
|
~20m
Njtp
13.2 mi in
|
~21m
Njtp North
14.6 mi in
|
~23m
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 40m. Total distance: 25 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m 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 7.6 miles on US 22. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.84 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 9.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.2 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, 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.
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