Traveling from Union City to Clayton covers a 103.6-mile stretch that typically takes about 2 hours and 13 minutes to complete. Because this is a straightforward trek within New Jersey, you can easily manage the journey as a one-day trip without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $17 for fuel to get you from the Northeast region to your destination. The route is highly efficient, relying primarily on major thoroughfares to move you south. Since the drive is relatively short, it offers the flexibility to head out early or late depending on your schedule. It is a practical, no-nonsense path for anyone looking to bridge the distance between these two points efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.8 miles from Union City, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
85.9 mi
1h 41m
Delsea Drive
6.6 mi
10m
Hurffville Road
3.8 mi
6m
North Delsea Drive
1.3 mi
1m
West Clements Bridge Road
1.1 mi
2m
Black Horse Pike
0.9 mi
2m
North Delsea South
0.9 mi
1m
NJ 495
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 85.9 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, NJ and Clayton, 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
55 mi·1 hr 5 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Toward I 95 SouthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
25 mi·29 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Toward NJTP South: Camden, Wilmington
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 3Toward NJ 168: Camden, Atlantic City ExpresswayUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward NJ 168 South: Woodbury, Atlantic CityUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto NJ 168
0.9 mi·2 min·Black Horse Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto NJ 41
1.1 mi·2 min·West Clements Bridge Road
15
Continue on NJ 41; CR 544
256 ft·8 sec·Clements Bridge Road
16
Turn straight onto NJ 41
3.8 mi·6 min·Hurffville Road
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on NJ 47
6.6 mi·10 min·Delsea Drive
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on NJ 47
0.9 mi·1 min·North Delsea South
19
Continue on NJ 47
1.3 mi·1 min·North Delsea Drive
20
Turn left onto CR 610
58 ft·1 sec·East Academy Street
21
Arrive at destination
CR 610
Trip Plan
To ensure a smooth trip, aim to depart during off-peak hours to avoid the heaviest congestion on the New Jersey Turnpike. Since the entire 103.6-mile route is designed to be completed in one go, you do not need to worry about planning formal stops unless you require a quick break for fuel or snacks. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will hover around $17, so filling up before you hit the highway can save you time later. Because the majority of your travel occurs on major highways, stay alert for variable speed limits and lane merges. This route’s greatest advantage is its simplicity, allowing you to focus on the road ahead without the stress of complex navigation.
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 51.8 miles from Union City, NJ, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.9 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 23 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.8 miles or 1h 4m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clayton, 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 103.6 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 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 85.9 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 88.7 — 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
6
63 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike toward NJTP South: Camden, Wilmington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJTP South: Camden, Wilmington
8
88.3 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward NJ 168: Camden, Atlantic City Expressway
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 3
Toward NJ 168: Camden, Atlantic City Expressway
8
88.7 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 168 South: Woodbury, Atlantic City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 168 South: Woodbury, Atlantic City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.18 one way
$34.35 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$18.81
$37.62
premium
$4.93
$20.09
$40.18
diesel
$5.61
$22.87
$45.75
Estimated Tolls: $12.03
New Jersey Turnpike
(85.9 mi)$12.03
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
$17
Tolls
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.1
0
$10.88
$4.97
Efficient EV
25.9
0
$9.07
$4.14
EV Truck/SUV
41.4
0
$14.50
$6.63
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 16, 2026
Origin
Union City, NJ
Late night
in Union City on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clayton, NJ
Late night
in Clayton on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Bristol, PA
52 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
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
2h 13m 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 3.6
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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 10.7
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its highway-focused nature, with 84% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm on the New Jersey Turnpike, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 85.9 miles. Once you exit the turnpike, the character of the drive shifts as you transition onto Hurffville Road and Delsea Drive. While the bulk of your journey is a fast-paced interstate grind, the final segments introduce you to local road conditions as you approach Clayton. Expect a consistent, functional driving experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.9 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 Delsea Drive. 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 103.6 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 63 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Clayton, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp South: Camden, Wilmington 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 13m. Total distance: 103.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.9 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $12.03 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 Clayton, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 63 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Clayton, NJ before heading back.
