Origin
Union City, NJ
Afternoon in Union City on Sunday
Local time
12:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union City, NJ to High Bridge, 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 8m
Distance
54 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
High Bridge, NJ
Trap Typieee
Trip Overview
Union City, NJ to High Bridge, NJ is 54 miles and takes about 1 hour 8 minutes via Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway and NJ 31, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, moving from the Northeast region into the same region. Expect a drive that is heavily focused on the highway, making it a straightforward journey. With a total duration under 1.5 hours, this route is ideal for a quick getaway or a functional commute, offering efficiency for those prioritizing speed. The short distance and minimal travel time mean you can easily fit this into a busy schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | 40.4 mi | 46m |
| New Jersey Turnpike | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| NJ 31 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| West Main Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| NJ 495 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| I 78 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 45th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
— 40.4 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, NJ and High Bridge, 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 right at fork onto NJTP
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Toward I 95 South
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Exit 14-14C
Toward I 78, US 1, US 9: Newark Airport, Holland Tunnel
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 14
Toward I 78 West, US 1, US 9: Newark Airport
12
Merge onto I 78
379 ft
·
4 sec
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway Tolls
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 78
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
I 78
Toward I 78 West: Clinton
Use the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 78
31 mi
·
36 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 17
Toward NJ 31: Clinton, Flemington, Washington
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto NJ 31
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 31
18
Take the exit onto CR 513
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
CR 513
Use the slight right lane.
19
Continue on CR 513
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto CR 513
335 ft
·
5 sec
·
Bridge Street
21
Arrive at destination
CR 513
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 50.5 — 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 right 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
8.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 14-14C
Toward I 78, US 1, US 9: Newark Airport, Hollan...
7
9.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 78 West, US 1, US 9: Newark Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 14
Toward I 78 West, US 1, US 9: Newark Airport
7
19.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
I 78
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78 toward I 78 West: Clinton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 78 West: Clinton
8
50.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward NJ 31: Clinton, Flemington, Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward NJ 31: Clinton, Flemington, Washington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.95 one way
$17.91 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.81 | $19.61 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.47 | $20.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.92 | $23.85 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.86
New Jersey Turnpike
(6.2 mi)
$0.86
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.56 | $3.46 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
High Bridge, NJ
Afternoon in High Bridge on Sunday
Local time
12:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 8m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience stretches of consistent speed, particularly on the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway, where the longest uninterrupted segment spans 40.4 miles. The drive is characterized by its efficiency, keeping you on well-maintained expressways and state highways for most of the journey. While primarily a fast-paced route, the transition to NJ 31 offers a slight shift in character as you approach your destination. Overall, expect a smooth and direct experience behind the wheel, minimizing local traffic delays.
92% 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: 40.4 mi on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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.
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 54 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 8.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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 High Bridge, NJ, road signs point toward Flemington and Washington.
Flemington
50.5 mi in
|
~1h 2m
Washington
50.5 mi in
|
~1h 2m
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 8m. Total distance: 54 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.4 miles on Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.86 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 High Bridge, 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 8.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (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 High Bridge, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From High Bridge, NJ
More trips to High Bridge, NJ
Explore more options from Union City, NJ or browse trips ending in High Bridge, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.