Origin
Union Beach, NJ
Late night in Union Beach on Sunday
Local time
4:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union Beach, NJ to Edison, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
18 mi
29 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union Beach, NJ
David Kanigan
Edison, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 18-mile trip from Union Beach, NJ, to Edison, NJ, is a quick 30-minute drive that's perfect for a single day. You'll primarily be on NJ 35 and I-287, with a segment on Lincoln Highway, covering about 63% on highways. Given the short distance and duration, an overnight stay isn't necessary, and with a fuel cost estimated at just $3, it's an economical option. This route stays within the Northeast region, offering a straightforward journey between two New Jersey locations. It's a practical choice for a short, focused drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 35 | 7.6 mi | 10m |
| I 287 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Lincoln Highway | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| NJ 440 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| 1st Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Front Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Amboy Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Plainfield Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 35
— 7.6 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union Beach, NJ and Edison, NJ.
1
Start on CR 39
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Florence Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 6
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Broadway
3
Continue on CR 6
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto CR 4
365 ft
·
8 sec
·
Broad Street
5
Turn right onto CR 6
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Front Street
6
Continue on CR 6
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Amboy Road
7
Keep slight left at fork onto CR 6
380 ft
·
10 sec
·
Amboy Road
8
Turn right onto NJ 35
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
NJ 35
Use the right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward NJ 440: Raritan Center, Perth Amboy, Staten Island
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
420 ft
·
10 sec
Toward NJ 440 South: Raritan Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Toward NJ 440 South: Raritan Center
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 440
13
Merge onto NJ 440
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 440
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 287
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 2B
Toward NJ 27 South: New Brunswick
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn slight right onto NJ 27
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Lincoln Highway
17
Turn right onto CR 529
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Plainfield Avenue
18
Turn left onto Central Avenue
345 ft
·
17 sec
·
Central Avenue
19
Turn right onto Reed Street
523 ft
·
28 sec
·
Reed Street
20
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 15.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CR 4 / Broad Street
At end of road, turn left onto CR 4 / Broad Street
Navigation decision point
7
10.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward NJ 440: Raritan Center, Perth Amboy, Staten Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 440: Raritan Center, Perth Amboy, Sta...
8
10.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 440 South: Raritan Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 440 South: Raritan Center
7
10.6 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 440 South: Raritan Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 440 South: Raritan Center
7
15.2 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward NJ 27 South: New Brunswick
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2B
Toward NJ 27 South: New Brunswick
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.98 one way
$5.97 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.27 | $6.54 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.49 | $6.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.97 | $7.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.58 | $0.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.52 | $1.15 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Edison, NJ
Late night in Edison on Sunday
Local time
4:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°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
24 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
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this journey, with 63% of the route on faster roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 7.6 miles on NJ 35, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. The profile suggests a blend of highway speeds and potentially some local road transitions as you navigate between NJ 35, I-287, and Lincoln Highway. The character is likely one of efficient travel, prioritizing getting you to your destination smoothly, rather than winding scenic byways.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.6 mi on NJ 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 35 and I 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near CR 4 / Broad Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 14 decision points packed into just 18 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (CR 4 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.5 miles: 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 Union Beach, NJ and Edison, NJ, road signs point toward Perth Amboy and Staten Island.
Perth Amboy
10.3 mi in
|
~16m
Staten Island
10.3 mi in
|
~16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 18 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.6 miles on NJ 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Edison, 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 1.5 miles (CR 4 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway National Recreation Area, Morristown National Historical Park and Thomas Edison 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 Edison, 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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