Origin
Union City, NJ
Morning in Union City on Sunday
Local time
6:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union City, NJ to Elizabeth, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
14.8 mi
24 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Elizabeth, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short, 15.7-mile journey from Union City, NJ, to Elizabeth, NJ, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 25 minutes to complete. You'll navigate primarily via John F. Kennedy Boulevard, NJ 495 West, and US 1 South, with no highway driving involved. Expect a budget of around $3 for fuel, making this a very economical trip. The route offers a straightforward drive through the Northeast region, connecting two points within New Jersey. Given its brevity, it's perfect for a quick transfer or a short excursion without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pulaski Skyway | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| US 1 | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Tonnelle Avenue | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| US 1 EXPR | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Spring Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Jersey Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 45th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pulaski Skyway
— 3.3 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, NJ and Elizabeth, 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
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
NJ 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
Toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Jersey City
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto US 1; US 9
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway
10
Take the exit onto US 1; US 9
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 1; US 9
Toward US 1-9 South: Newark
Use the right lane.
11
Merge onto US 1; US 9
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Pulaski Skyway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; US 9
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1; US 9
Toward US 1-9 Local South: Wilson Avenue, Port Newark
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Newark Liberty International Airport, Main Terminals
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Merge onto US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto US 1; US 9
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Spring Street
16
Turn right onto East Jersey Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Jersey Street
17
Turn right
34 ft
·
2 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 10.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
NJ 495
Merge onto NJ 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the exit toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Jersey City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Jersey City
7
4.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 1; US 9
Take the exit onto US 1; US 9 toward US 1-9 South: Newark
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 1-9 South: Newark
8
7.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
US 1; US 9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; US 9 toward US 1-9 Local South: Wilson Avenue, Port Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 1-9 Local South: Wilson Avenue, Port...
7
10.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Newark Liberty International Airport, Main Terminals
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward US 1 South, US 9 South: Newark Liberty I...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.45 one way
$4.91 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.69 | $5.37 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.87 | $5.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.27 | $6.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.23
Pulaski Skyway
(3.3 mi)
$0.23
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$0
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.55 | $0.71 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.30 | $0.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.95 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Elizabeth, NJ
Morning in Elizabeth on Sunday
Local time
6:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
1 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
22m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive on this route, characterized by frequent intersections and city streets rather than open highway. With 0% highway share, you'll be at varying speeds for the entire 15.7 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests you'll be making numerous directional changes. This drive will feel like navigating through urban and suburban New Jersey, with the landscape consistently shaped by local traffic patterns and road layouts.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.3 mi on Pulaski Skyway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near NJ 495.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 14 decision points packed into just 14.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (NJ 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles (US 1; US 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Elizabeth, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp West, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway, Port Newark and Main Terminals.
Njtp West
0.8 mi in
|
~2m
Jersey City
4.1 mi in
|
~7m
|
via US 1; US 9
Pulaski Skyway
4.1 mi in
|
~7m
|
via US 1; US 9
Port Newark
7.7 mi in
|
~13m
|
via US 1; US 9
Main Terminals
10.5 mi in
|
~16m
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.
Arriving in Elizabeth, NJ
Full guide →Elizabeth is the fourth largest city in New Jersey.
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 22m. Total distance: 14.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 3.3 miles on Pulaski Skyway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.23 in tolls one way, starting with Pulaski Skyway. 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 Elizabeth, 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 1 miles (NJ 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles (US 1; US 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Elizabeth, 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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