If you are planning a trip from Union City to Buena, expect a straightforward journey covering 107.9 miles. This drive typically takes about 2 hours and 18 minutes, making it a manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize the New Jersey Turnpike, US 206, and 12th Street to navigate between the two points. Budgeting approximately $18 for fuel should cover your travel costs, keeping the trip budget-friendly. Because the entire route remains within the Northeast region of New Jersey, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. It is a practical, efficient route for those looking to reach their destination without unnecessary detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54 miles from Union City, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
58.3 mi
1h 10m
US 206
29.8 mi
38m
12th Street
6.5 mi
8m
Main Street
4.5 mi
6m
Buena-Hammonton Road
2.3 mi
2m
Bellevue Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Blue Anchor Road
1 mi
1m
Hammonton Road
0.7 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 58.3 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, NJ and Buena, NJ.
1
Start on 45th Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·45th Street
2
Turn left onto CR 501
0.5 mi·1 min·John F. Kennedy Boulevard
3
Turn slight left
0.1 mi·26 sec
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward NJ 495 West, NJTP West
5
Continue on this road
374 ft·11 sec·this road
Toward NJ 495 West
6
Merge onto NJ 495
0.7 mi·1 min·NJ 495
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 South: Newark
8
Merge onto I 95
5.6 mi·7 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
53 mi·1 hr 2 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Toward I 95 SouthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 7Toward US 206: Bordentown, TrentonUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 206 South: Joint Base MDLUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto US 206
0.2 mi·12 sec·US 206
13
Continue on US 206
7.5 mi·8 min·US 206
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 206
4.5 mi·5 min·US 206
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 206
4.5 mi·6 min·Main Street
16
Enter roundabout onto US 206
486 ft·6 sec·US 206
Toward US 206 South: Hammonton, Atlantic City
17
Continue on US 206
18 mi·23 min·US 206
Toward US 206 South: Hammonton, Atlantic CityUse the left lane.
18
Continue on NJ 54
501 ft·11 sec·Bellevue Avenue/END Route 54
Use the straight lane.
19
At end of road, turn left onto NJ 54
1.1 mi·2 min·Bellevue Avenue
20
Continue on NJ 54; CR 561
6.5 mi·8 min·12th Street
21
Continue on NJ 54
2.3 mi·2 min·Buena-Hammonton Road
22
Continue on NJ 54
0.7 mi·52 sec·Hammonton Road
23
Continue on NJ 54
1.0 mi·1 min·Blue Anchor Road
24
Turn left
189 ft·16 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 2-hour and 18-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule. You can easily complete the 107.9-mile journey in a single push without needing to plan for overnight stops. However, because the route relies heavily on the New Jersey Turnpike, keep an eye on traffic reports to avoid peak congestion times during your transit. Since you have no mandatory stops scheduled, consider fueling up before you hit the Turnpike to avoid higher service area prices. Having your payment method ready for tolls will ensure a smoother, more efficient experience as you navigate the transition from the heavy highway sections to the local roads of 12th Street.
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 54 miles from Union City, NJ, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.3 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 24 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54 miles or 1h 7m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buena, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Union City, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Union City, NJ
This is one driving day of about 107.9 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Union City, 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 58.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 78.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward NJ 495 West, NJTP West
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 495 West, NJTP West
7
8 mi into trip|~12m in|NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike toward I 95 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South
8
60.7 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward US 206: Bordentown, Trenton
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 7
Toward US 206: Bordentown, Trenton
7
61.4 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 206 South: Joint Base MDL
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 206 South: Joint Base MDL
6
78.4 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|US 206
Enter roundabout onto US 206 toward US 206 South: Hammonton, Atlantic City
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 206 South: Hammonton, Atlantic City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.89 one way
$35.78 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$19.59
$39.18
premium
$4.93
$20.93
$41.85
diesel
$5.61
$23.82
$47.65
Estimated Tolls: $8.16
New Jersey Turnpike
(58.3 mi)$8.16
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
$18
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.4
0
$11.33
$5.18
Efficient EV
27
0
$9.44
$4.32
EV Truck/SUV
43.2
0
$15.11
$6.91
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Union City, NJ
Afternoon
in Union City on Sunday
Local time
1:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Buena, NJ
Afternoon
in Buena on Sunday
Local time
1:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Bristol, PA
54 mi in
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
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
2h 18m 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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 3.7
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...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 11.2
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 14.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 82% of your time spent on major roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm early on, tackling a longest stretch of 58.3 miles directly on the New Jersey Turnpike. Once you transition off the main interstate onto US 206 and eventually 12th Street, the pace shifts from high-speed transit to more standard roadway travel. The personality of the drive is utilitarian, prioritizing speed and connectivity over winding scenic detours. Expect a consistent, focused experience behind the wheel as you move from the urban density near Union City toward the more open, local road segments near Buena.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.3 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and US 206. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 107.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.7 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.
Between Union City, NJ and Buena, NJ, road signs point toward Trenton and Atlantic 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 107.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.3 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $8.16 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 Buena, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.7 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, 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 Buena, NJ before heading back.
