Origin
Union City, NJ
Morning in Union City on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union City, NJ to Carteret, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
32m
Distance
20.4 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Carteret, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Union City to Carteret is 20.4 miles and takes about 32 minutes via New Jersey Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, highway-focused trip entirely within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its brevity, it's ideal for a quick transit or a segment of a larger journey. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, so expect efficiency rather than extensive sightseeing.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 16 mi | 21m |
| NJ 495 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Washington Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Roosevelt Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Linden Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 45th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Matthew Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 16 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, NJ and Carteret, 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 right at fork onto NJTP
10 mi
·
13 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Toward I 95 South
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 12
Toward Carteret, Rahway
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
237 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Carteret, West Carteret, Rahway
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
527 ft
·
14 sec
Toward Carteret
13
Turn left onto CR 602
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Roosevelt Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Continue on CR 604
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Avenue
15
Turn left onto Matthew Avenue
483 ft
·
23 sec
·
Matthew Avenue
16
Turn right onto Linden Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
Linden Street
17
Turn right onto Carteret Avenue
250 ft
·
12 sec
·
Carteret Avenue
18
Continue on Carteret Avenue
96 ft
·
8 sec
·
Carteret Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Carteret Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 19.1 — 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 right 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
18.4 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward Carteret, Rahway
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 12
Toward Carteret, Rahway
8
19.1 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Carteret, West Carteret, Rahway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Carteret, West Carteret, Rahway
6
19.1 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Carteret
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Carteret
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.38 one way
$6.76 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.70 | $7.41 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.96 | $7.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.50 | $9.01 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.24
New Jersey Turnpike
(16 mi)
$2.24
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$2
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.86 | $1.31 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Carteret, NJ
Morning in Carteret on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°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
23 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
32m 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 primarily a highway-focused drive, with 82% of the journey utilizing major roadways like the New Jersey Turnpike and NJ 495. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 16 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. The road's personality is largely defined by this high-speed, direct travel, making it efficient for covering distance. Expect a straightforward driving experience with minimal diversions.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16 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 NJ 495. 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 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 13 decision points packed into just 20.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.
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 18.4 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Union City, NJ to Carteret, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Rahway along the way.
Rahway
18.4 mi in
|
~26m
About the Cities
Starting 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 32m. Total distance: 20.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.24 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 Carteret, 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 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 18.4 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 Carteret, 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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