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Trip from Union City, NJ to Morristown, NJ

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

48m

Distance

33.8 mi

54 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 44m ★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in the northern part of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States

Union City, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States

Morristown, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Union City, NJ to Morristown, NJ is 33.8 miles and takes about 48 minutes via New Jersey Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip entirely within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its short duration and minimal stops, it's ideal for a quick commute or a brief excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it a practical choice when time is of the essence. Plan for a drive that’s mostly on the highway system.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
New Jersey Turnpike 20.4 mi 26m
Garden State Parkway 7.9 mi 9m
Exit to GSP and US Route 9 1.4 mi 2m
NJ 495 0.7 mi 1m
John F. Kennedy Boulevard 0.5 mi 1m
GSP Southbound entrance 0.5 mi 1m
Balmoral Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Morristown Road 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: New Jersey Turnpike — 20.4 mi, about 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Union City, NJ and Morristown, 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

15 mi · 18 min · New Jersey Turnpike
Toward I 95 South Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit onto Exit 11

1.4 mi · 2 min · Exit to GSP and US Route 9
Exit 11 Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy Use the slight left lane.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP Southbound entrance

0.5 mi · 1 min · GSP Southbound entrance
Toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway Use the slight left lane.
13

Merge onto GSP

3.0 mi · 3 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Garden State Parkway
15

Keep slight right at fork onto GSP

4.1 mi · 4 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 120 Toward Laurence Harbor, Matawan Use the slight right lane.
17

Continue on this road

339 ft · 12 sec · this road
Use the left lane.
18

Turn slight right onto CR 626

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Matawan Road
19

Turn right onto CR 689

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Morristown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Turn left onto Balmoral Avenue

0.2 mi · 59 sec · Balmoral Avenue
21

Turn right onto Hallandale Drive

315 ft · 13 sec · Hallandale Drive
22

Arrive at destination

Hallandale Drive

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

17 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 16.9 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 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 32.8 — 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
8
22.8 mi into trip | ~31m in | Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 11 Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbri...
8
24.2 mi into trip | ~34m in

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

Use the slight left lane. Toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Pa...
7
24.4 mi into trip | ~34m in | GSP Southbound entrance

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP Southbound entrance toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway
8
32.8 mi into trip | ~45m in

Take the exit toward Laurence Harbor, Matawan

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 120 Toward Laurence Harbor, Matawan

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.60 one way

$11.21 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $6.14 $12.27
premium $4.93 $6.56 $13.11
diesel $5.61 $7.46 $14.93

Estimated Tolls: $3.32

New Jersey Turnpike (20.4 mi) $2.85
Garden State Parkway (7.9 mi) $0.47

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Tolls

$3

Total

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.1 0 $3.55 $1.62
Efficient EV 8.5 0 $2.96 $1.35
EV Truck/SUV 13.5 0 $4.73 $2.16

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 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

Afternoon in Union City on Sunday

Local time

2:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Morristown, NJ

Afternoon in Morristown on Sunday

Local time

2:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

70°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

23 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

48m 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 route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 90% of the journey taking place on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 20.4 miles on the New Jersey Turnpike. Expect a consistent driving experience characterized by smooth highway travel. The primary roads involved are the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway, with an exit leading to US Route 9. This means you'll be navigating well-maintained, high-speed roads for the vast majority of your trip.

90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.4 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 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.

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 17 decision points packed into just 33.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.

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.

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 Morristown, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South and Perth Amboy.

Gsp

22.8 mi in | ~31m | via Exit 11

Woodbridge

22.8 mi in | ~31m | via Exit 11

Gsp South

24.2 mi in | ~34m

Perth Amboy

24.2 mi in | ~34m

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 Morristown, NJ

Full guide →

Morristown is a town of 19,000 people (2019) in Morris County, New Jersey. Morristown has been called "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the war for independence from Great Britain. This history is visible in a variety of locations throughout the town that collectively make up Morristown National Historical Park.

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 48m. Total distance: 33.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 20.4 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $3.32 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 Morristown, 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 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.

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 Morristown, 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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Explore More

Return Trip

Morristown, NJ to Union City, NJ

Plan the drive back the other way.

34 mi 50m

Explore more options from Union City, NJ or browse trips ending in Morristown, NJ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.