Origin
South Plainfield, NJ
Afternoon in South Plainfield on Sunday
Local time
1:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Plainfield, 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
26m
Distance
14.2 mi
23 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great 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.
South Plainfield, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
This quick 14.2-mile drive from South Plainfield to Union, New Jersey, is easily manageable in just 26 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. The route primarily utilizes the Garden State Parkway, Inman Avenue, and Raritan Road, offering a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of just $2, this short hop is very budget-friendly. Since there are no recommended stops and the drive is so brief, you'll have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. Both your starting and ending points are within the Northeast region and the state of New Jersey, so you won't be crossing any major geographical boundaries.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Inman Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Raritan Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Maple Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Oak Ridge Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Morris Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Feather Bed Lane | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 4.8 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Plainfield, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on South Plainfield Avenue
122 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Plainfield Avenue
2
Turn left onto Front Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Front Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto CR 602
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Maple Avenue
4
Continue on CR 602
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Maple Street
5
Continue on CR 602
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Old Raritan Road
6
Turn right onto CR 602
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Inman Avenue
7
Turn left onto Feather Bed Lane
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Feather Bed Lane
8
Continue on CR 607
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Oak Ridge Road
9
Continue on CR 607
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Raritan Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto CR 613
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward GSP North
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Merge onto GSP
4.8 mi
·
6 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 13.2 — 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
|
Front Street
Turn left onto Front Street
Navigation decision point
5
7.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
CR 613 / Central Avenue
Turn right onto CR 613 / Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
7.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the ramp toward GSP North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward GSP North
8
12.9 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
13.2 mi into trip
|
~23m 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
$2.35 one way
$4.71 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.58 | $5.16 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.75 | $5.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.14 | $6.27 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.29
Garden State Parkway
(4.8 mi)
$0.29
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
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5 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 | 4.3 | 0 | $1.49 | $0.68 |
| Efficient EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.24 | $0.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
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
Afternoon in Union on Sunday
Local time
1:47 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
26m 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?
Expect a mixed drive on this 14.2-mile journey, with about 34% of the route taking place on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 4.8 miles along the Garden State Parkway. This means you'll experience a blend of faster-paced highway driving and potentially more varied local road conditions as you navigate through different stretches. The character of the drive shifts as you move from the parkway onto surface streets, requiring adjustments in your driving style. It's not a monotonous journey, but rather a transition between different types of roadways.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.8 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Front Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 14.2 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.4 miles (CR 613 / Central Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 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 South Plainfield, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North, Kean University and Elizabeth.
Gsp North
7.8 mi in
|
~16m
Kean University
13.2 mi in
|
~23m
Elizabeth
13.2 mi in
|
~23m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 14.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.8 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.29 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 (Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.4 miles (CR 613 / Central Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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, 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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