Union City, NJ to Ellisburg, NJ is 84.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 46 minutes via New Jersey Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region, connecting two points in New Jersey. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. Given the relatively short duration and minimal stops, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion where you can maximize your time at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.3 miles from Union City, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
77.5 mi
1h 32m
North Kings Highway
1.8 mi
3m
Church Road
1.5 mi
2m
NJ 495
0.7 mi
1m
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
Fellowship Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Brace Road
0.1 mi
<1m
NJ 41
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 77.5 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, NJ and Ellisburg, 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
17 mi·19 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Toward NJTP South: Camden, Wilmington
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·55 sec
Exit 4Toward NJ 73: Mount Laurel, Camden
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward NJ 73 North: CamdenUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto NJ 73
511 ft·17 sec·NJ 73
14
Turn left onto CR 673
0.4 mi·49 sec·Fellowship Road
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto CR 616
1.5 mi·2 min·Church Road
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto NJ 41
1.8 mi·3 min·North Kings Highway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on NJ 41; NJ 154
0.1 mi·14 sec·Brace Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on NJ 41
0.1 mi·18 sec·NJ 41
19
At end of road, turn right onto Kings Highway South
311 ft·10 sec·Kings Highway South
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left
173 ft·13 sec
21
Turn right
195 ft·16 sec
22
At end of road, turn right onto NJ 70
322 ft·4 sec·Marlton Pike
23
Arrive at destination
NJ 70
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 46-minute drive, flexibility is your best friend. You can easily depart at any time of day and complete the trip within daylight hours. With only a $14 fuel cost, you won't need to worry excessively about frequent refueling stops. The longest stretch is 77.5 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike, so plan for a quick break before or after that segment if needed. Keep an eye out for toll plazas on the New Jersey Turnpike, as they are a prominent feature of this highway-focused route.
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 42.3 miles from Union City, NJ, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.5 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.3 miles or 53m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ellisburg, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Union City, NJ
This is one driving day of about 84.7 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 77.5 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 84.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
6
79.9 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward NJ 73: Mount Laurel, Camden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4
Toward NJ 73: Mount Laurel, Camden
7
80.3 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 73 North: Camden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 73 North: Camden
7
84.5 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|Kings Highway South
At end of road, turn right onto Kings Highway South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.04 one way
$28.08 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.38
$30.76
premium
$4.93
$16.43
$32.85
diesel
$5.61
$18.70
$37.40
Estimated Tolls: $10.85
New Jersey Turnpike
(77.5 mi)$10.85
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
$14
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.4
0
$8.89
$4.07
Efficient EV
21.2
0
$7.41
$3.39
EV Truck/SUV
33.9
0
$11.86
$5.42
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
12:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ellisburg, NJ
Late night
in Ellisburg on Sunday
Local time
12:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Manalapan, NJ
42 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
2 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 46m 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 2.9
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...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 11.7
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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 14.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 93% of the drive on major roadways. You'll spend the majority of your time on the New Jersey Turnpike, experiencing a long, uninterrupted stretch of 77.5 miles. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal deviations from high-speed travel. While primarily a highway profile, the final segments on North Kings Highway and Church Road will introduce a slight shift in pace as you approach your destination.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.5 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 North Kings Highway. 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.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.7 miles you will encounter 17 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 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; at 79.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Ellisburg, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp South: Camden, Wilmington and Camden.
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 1h 46m. Total distance: 84.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.5 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $10.85 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 Ellisburg, 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 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; at 79.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Ellisburg, NJ before heading back.
