Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
35.7 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
East Franklin, NJ
Matt Weissinger
This 35.7-mile journey from Union City, NJ, to East Franklin, NJ, is a straightforward drive, estimated to take about 51 minutes. With 87% of the route on highways, it's a quick trip that’s perfect for a single day. The estimated fuel cost is around $6, making it an economical option for a short excursion within the Northeast region. This route primarily utilizes the New Jersey Turnpike and State Route 18, offering a direct path that bypasses the need for an overnight stay. It's a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 28.3 mi | 35m |
| Hamilton Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| State Route 18 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Route 18 Service Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| NJ 495 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Albany Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Easton Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, NJ and East Franklin, NJ.
Start on 45th Street
Turn left onto CR 501
Turn slight left
Take the ramp
Continue on this road
Merge onto NJ 495
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto NJ 18; CR 527
Take the exit onto CR 527
Turn straight onto Route 18 Service Road
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto NJ 27; CR 514
Turn right onto CR 514; CR 527
Turn left onto CR 514
Turn right onto North Lawrence Avenue
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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.
A short stop after about 35.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.9 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 32.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike toward I 95 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NJ 18 East, US 1 East: New Brunswick
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 18 North: New Brunswick, Rutgers University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto CR 527 toward NJ 172: New Brunswick, Cook/Douglass Campus, Paul Robeson Boulevard, New Street, Highland Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$5.92 one way
$11.84 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.48 | $12.96 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.92 | $13.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.88 | $15.76 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.96
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$4
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.71 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.12 | $1.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Union City on Sunday
Local time
3:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in East Franklin on Sunday
Local time
3:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 87% of the 35.7 miles on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 28.3 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, so be prepared for sustained highway travel. While predominantly a highway experience, you'll transition to local roads like Hamilton Street and State Route 18 closer to your destination. This mix means consistent speed for much of the journey, punctuated by a change in scenery and pace as you approach East Franklin.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Hamilton Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in near NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike.
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 16 decision points packed into just 35.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Union City, NJ and East Franklin, NJ, road signs point toward Rutgers University, Cook/Douglass Campus, Highland Park and Princeton.
Rutgers University
Cook/Douglass Campus
Highland Park
Princeton
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 35.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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