Origin
Union City, NJ
Late night in Union City on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union City, NJ to Dayton, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
44.5 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Dayton, NJ
Tashaud Bullock
Trip Overview
Union City, NJ to Dayton, NJ is 44.5 miles and takes about 1 hour via New Jersey Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that keeps you within the Northeast region and entirely within New Jersey. Given its short duration, this route is ideal for a quick, single-day journey. You'll primarily be on the New Jersey Turnpike, making it a practical choice for efficient travel between these two points without significant detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 38 mi | 46m |
| Georges Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Forsgate Drive | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Exit 8A | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| NJ 495 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| US 130 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Cranbury-South River Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 38 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, NJ and Dayton, 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
32 mi
·
38 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Toward I 95 South
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto Exit 8A
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Exit 8A
Exit 8A
Toward NJ 32: Jamesburg, Cranbury
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward CR 535: Cranbury, South Brunswick
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto CR 535
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Cranbury-South River Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto NJ 32
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Forsgate Drive
14
Turn slight right
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
Toward US 130 North: New Brunswick
15
Merge onto US 130
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
US 130
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Take the exit
312 ft
·
8 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Continue on CR 697
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Georges Road
18
Turn right
45 ft
·
6 sec
19
Turn left
176 ft
·
16 sec
20
Turn left
30 ft
·
2 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.2 miles from Union City, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 41.2 — 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
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South: Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 95 South: Newark
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
40.4 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
Exit 8A
Take the exit onto Exit 8A toward NJ 32: Jamesburg, Cranbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8A
Toward NJ 32: Jamesburg, Cranbury
8
41.2 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CR 535: Cranbury, South Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CR 535: Cranbury, South Brunswick
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.38 one way
$14.76 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.08 | $16.16 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.63 | $17.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.83 | $19.65 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.32
New Jersey Turnpike
(38 mi)
$5.32
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$5
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.89 | $1.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.23 | $2.85 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Dayton, NJ
Late night in Dayton on Sunday
Local time
3:36 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
1h 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 characterized by an 88% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 38 miles, primarily on the New Jersey Turnpike, offering a consistent driving experience. You can expect a profile that is largely highway-focused, with Georges Road and Forsgate Drive appearing as you approach your destination, offering a slight change in pace from the main turnpike.
88% 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: 38 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Georges Road. 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
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): 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 City, NJ and Dayton, NJ, road signs point toward Cranbury, Cr 535: Cranbury and Brunswick.
Cranbury
40.4 mi in
|
~51m
|
via Exit 8A
Cr 535: Cranbury
41.2 mi in
|
~53m
Brunswick
41.2 mi in
|
~53m
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 1h. Total distance: 44.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.32 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 Dayton, 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 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): 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 Dayton, 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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