Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
48 mi
77 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
Highlands, NJ
MINEIA MARTINS
Union City, NJ to Highlands, NJ is 48 miles and takes about 1 hour 10 minutes via New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, moving from the bustling Northeast region toward the coast. With the majority of the drive on major highways, it's a straightforward trip for anyone looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. Plan for a simple, direct transit rather than a scenic exploration.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 20.4 mi | 26m |
| Garden State Parkway | 10.3 mi | 12m |
| NJ 35 | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Leonardville Road | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| NJ 36 | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| CR 516 | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Exit to GSP and US Route 9 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| NJ 495 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, NJ and Highlands, 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 onto Exit 11
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP Southbound entrance
Merge onto GSP
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto NJ 35
Take the exit onto CR 516
Continue on CR 516
Turn left onto CR 516
Take the ramp
Merge onto NJ 36
Take the exit onto CR 8
Turn slight left onto CR 8
Turn right onto CR 8
Turn right onto Sea Drift Avenue
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 24 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 35.8 — 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 onto Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9 toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, Keyport
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 35: Hazlet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$7.96 one way
$15.92 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.72 | $17.43 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.31 | $18.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.60 | $21.20 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.47
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$3
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.04 | $2.30 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.72 | $3.07 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Afternoon in Union City on Sunday
Local time
3:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Highlands on Sunday
Local time
3:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°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.
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 86% of the 48 miles on major roadways like the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. You'll encounter your longest stretch of uninterrupted highway for 20.4 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike. Expect a transition from highway cruising to surface streets as you approach your destination. Keep an eye out for the numerous exits as you navigate the parkway system.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. 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.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48 miles you will encounter 23 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 22.8 miles (Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.2 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 Highlands, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South, Perth Amboy and Keyport.
Gsp
Woodbridge
Gsp South
Perth Amboy
Keyport
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 1h 10m. Total distance: 48 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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