Springfield, NJ to Union City, NJ is 68.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes via New Jersey Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays entirely within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its relatively short duration and highway-heavy profile, it's a straightforward trip for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. The main challenge will be navigating the urban areas at either end, especially during peak traffic hours. It's a practical choice for a quick transfer or connecting to other major routes.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.4 miles from Springfield, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
51.7 mi
1h 1m
New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
6.2 mi
8m
NJ 68
6 mi
8m
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
US 206
0.5 mi
<1m
NJ 495
0.5 mi
<1m
30th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Bergenline Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 51.7 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, NJ and Union City, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 68
6.0 mi·8 min·NJ 68
2
Turn right onto US 206
0.5 mi·47 sec·US 206
Use the slight right lane.
3
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: New Jersey Turnpike
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
6
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
52 mi·1 hr 1 min·New Jersey Turnpike
7
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
6.2 mi·8 min·New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 16EToward NJ 495 East: Lincoln TunnelUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on NJ 495
0.5 mi·37 sec·NJ 495
10
Take the exit
263 ft·6 sec
Toward Kennedy BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on 30th Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·30th Street
12
Turn left onto CR 501
296 ft·16 sec·John F Kennedy Boulevard
13
Continue on CR 501
0.8 mi·1 min·John F. Kennedy Boulevard
14
Turn right onto 47th Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·47th Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto Bergenline Avenue
0.1 mi·21 sec·Bergenline Avenue
16
Turn right onto 45th Street
64 ft·2 sec·45th Street
17
Arrive at destination
45th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 30 minute estimated duration, this is easily a same-day trip, so you can depart whenever is most convenient. There are no designated stops, but with 68.8 miles, you won't need extensive breaks. Plan to leave either early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the heaviest traffic, especially on the New Jersey Turnpike. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $11 estimate is based on the total distance, and it's always wise to top up before entering dense urban areas. Since the drive is short, you have flexibility, but be aware of potential congestion as you approach Union City.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 34.4 miles from Springfield, NJ, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 15 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.4 miles or 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union City, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Springfield, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Springfield, NJ
This is one driving day of about 68.8 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Springfield, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New Jersey Turnpike for about 51.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.2 and 67.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
7.2 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
6
7.5 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
6
59.7 mi into trip|~1h 15m 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
65.9 mi into trip|~1h 23m 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
67.5 mi into trip|~1h 26m 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
$11.41 one way
$22.81 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$12.49
$24.98
premium
$4.93
$13.34
$26.69
diesel
$5.61
$15.19
$30.38
Estimated Tolls: $8.11
New Jersey Turnpike
(57.9 mi)$8.11
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.6
0
$7.22
$3.30
Efficient EV
17.2
0
$6.02
$2.75
EV Truck/SUV
27.5
0
$9.63
$4.40
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Springfield, NJ
Morning
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
8:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Union City, NJ
Morning
in Union City on Tuesday
Local time
8:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 30m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
11 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 66.4
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 52.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 94% of the 68.8 miles on major roadways. You'll experience a long stretch of 51.7 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, suggesting a consistent cruising experience for most of the trip. The transition to surface roads will occur for about 4.1 miles, likely near your destination. Expect a high volume of exits and potential for merging traffic as you navigate this section.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.7 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 7.2 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.8 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 7.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.7 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.
Between Springfield, NJ and Union City, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll: New Jersey Turnpike and Njtp North: New York City.
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.
Top landmarks
•Monastery and Church of Saint Michael the Archangel — church building in New Jersey, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 68.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.7 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $8.11 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.
Yes — we found about 12 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 7.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.7 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.
