Origin
Somerset, NJ
Morning in Somerset on Sunday
Local time
6:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Somerset, 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
56m
Distance
38 mi
61 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Somerset, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Somerset, NJ to Union City, NJ is 38 miles and takes about 56 minutes via the New Jersey Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive entirely within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its short duration and focus on major roadways like the New Jersey Turnpike and Eastern Spur, it's a practical choice for a quick transit rather than an extended scenic tour. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained highways, making it an efficient way to cover this distance.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 22.1 mi | 27m |
| New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| NJ 18 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Franklin Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| NJ 495 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| George Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Belmar Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 22.1 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Somerset, NJ and Union City, NJ.
1
Start on West Point Avenue
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Point Avenue
2
Turn right onto Abbott Road
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Abbott Road
3
Turn right onto Belmar Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Belmar Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto CR 617
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Franklin Boulevard
5
Continue on Landing Lane
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Landing Lane
6
Turn right onto (672)
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
George Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward NJ 18 South
8
Merge onto NJ 18
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 18
Use the right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJTP Toll, I 95 Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
Use the right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
12
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
22 mi
·
27 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
13
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 16E
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on NJ 495
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
NJ 495
16
Take the exit
263 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Kennedy Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
17
Continue on 30th Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
30th Street
18
Turn left onto CR 501
296 ft
·
16 sec
·
John F Kennedy Boulevard
19
Continue on CR 501
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
20
Turn right onto 47th Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
47th Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto Bergenline Avenue
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bergenline Avenue
22
Turn right onto 45th Street
64 ft
·
2 sec
·
45th Street
23
Arrive at destination
45th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19 miles from Somerset, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 5.7 and 36.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
5.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward NJTP Toll, I 95 Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward NJTP Toll, I 95 Toll: New Jersey Turnpik...
8
6.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
6
28.8 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
35.1 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
6
36.6 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward Kennedy Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Kennedy Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.30 one way
$12.60 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.90 | $13.80 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.37 | $14.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.39 | $16.78 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.97
New Jersey Turnpike
(28.3 mi)
$3.97
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$4
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
6:26 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
14 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
56m 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 highway-focused, with 84% of the drive taking place on major roads. You'll primarily be on the New Jersey Turnpike and its Eastern Spur, offering a consistent, fast-paced driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.1 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, allowing for extended periods of steady cruising. While NJ 18 is also part of the route, the overall character remains that of a highway drive, designed for efficient travel between points.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.1 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike 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 5.7 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 17 decision points packed into just 38 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.8 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Somerset, NJ and Union City, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll and Njtp North: New York City.
Njtp Toll
5.7 mi in
|
~11m
Njtp North: New York City
6.1 mi in
|
~12m
About the Cities
Starting in Somerset, NJ
Full guide →Somerset is a town in Somerset County, New Jersey.
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 56m. Total distance: 38 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m 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 22.1 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.97 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 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.8 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area (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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