Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
43.1 mi
69 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Green Knoll, NJ
Alexa V. Mato
This 43.1-mile drive from Union City, NJ, to Green Knoll, NJ, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in under an hour, making it an ideal day trip. Primarily a highway-focused experience, you'll spend about 87% of your time on major roads like the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, New Jersey Turnpike, and US 202. With an estimated fuel cost of just $7, this route is budget-friendly for a quick getaway within the Northeast region. The drive is designed for efficiency rather than scenic detours, so plan accordingly if you're looking for a leisurely experience. Given its short duration and highway nature, no overnight stops are necessary.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 26.9 mi | 31m |
| New Jersey Turnpike | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| US 202 | 3 mi | 4m |
| Foothill Road | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| NJ 495 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| I 287 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Brian Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,682 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~236 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 39 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, NJ and Green Knoll, 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 right at fork onto NJTP
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 78
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
Merge onto I 78
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 287
Take the exit
Merge onto US 202; US 206
Continue on US 202; US 206
Turn left onto (639)
Turn right onto Brian Drive
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.5 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 38.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike toward I 95 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 78, US 1, US 9: Newark Airport, Holland Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 287: Morristown, Somerville
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 I 287 North, US 202 North, US 206 North: Morristown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 202 South, US 206 South: Pluckemin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$7.62 one way
$15.24 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $8.35 | $16.70 |
| premium | $5.24 | $8.90 | $17.80 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $9.08 | $18.16 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.86
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.03 | $2.76 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Evening in Union City on Wednesday
Local time
5:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Evening in Green Knoll on Wednesday
Local time
5:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Isolated Rain Showers
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-centric experience on this route, with the majority of your travel taking place on high-speed roads. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 26.9 miles on the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, offering a consistent pace. The 87% highway share means you'll be navigating significant stretches of the New Jersey Turnpike and US 202, characterized by typical interstate driving. While not designed for scenic views, this profile ensures a direct and efficient transit between your starting and ending points in New Jersey.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and New Jersey Turnpike. 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 19 decision points packed into just 43.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
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 8.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
458 ft
Total Descent
484 ft
Highest Point
412 ft
~27.7 mi in
Elevation Range
409 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Union City, NJ to Green Knoll, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Somerville along the way.
Somerville
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.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 43.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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