Union City, NJ to Penns Grove, NJ is 115.8 miles and takes about 2h 22m via New Jersey Turnpike and I 295, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Given its mostly highway profile, this route is a straightforward drive. It's a good option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.9 miles from Union City, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New Jersey Turnpike
77.5 mi
1h 32m
I 295
32.5 mi
38m
Harding Highway
1.4 mi
2m
NJ 495
0.7 mi
1m
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
NJ 73
0.5 mi
<1m
East Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
45th Street
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 Penns Grove, 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
0.5 mi·42 sec·NJ 73
Use the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 295 South: Delaware Memorial Bridge
15
Merge onto I 295
23 mi·27 min·I 295
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
9.6 mi·11 min·I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 4Toward NJ 48: Woodstown, Penns GroveUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto NJ 48
1.4 mi·2 min·Harding Highway
19
Continue on CR 675
0.3 mi·46 sec·East Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
CR 675
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 2h 22m drive, you have a lot of flexibility. Leaving Union City in the morning, perhaps after rush hour, will set you up for a smooth start on the New Jersey Turnpike. With only 115.8 miles, there's no need to split this into multiple days. You can easily complete it in one go, making any stops for fuel or a quick break a matter of personal preference rather than necessity. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as the estimated cost is $19, and it’s always wise to top up before hitting longer stretches.
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 57.9 miles from Union City, NJ, or about 1h 11m 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 25 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.9 miles or 1h 11m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Penns Grove, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Union City, NJ
This is one driving day of about 115.8 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 113.8 — 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
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
8
113.8 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward NJ 48: Woodstown, Penns Grove
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 4
Toward NJ 48: Woodstown, Penns Grove
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.20 one way
$38.40 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$21.03
$42.05
premium
$4.93
$22.46
$44.92
diesel
$5.61
$25.57
$51.13
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
$19
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.7
0
$12.16
$5.56
Efficient EV
29
0
$10.13
$4.63
EV Truck/SUV
46.3
0
$16.21
$7.41
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Morning
in Union City on Sunday
Local time
8:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Penns Grove, NJ
Morning
in Penns Grove on Sunday
Local time
8:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Bristol, PA
58 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
2h 22m 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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 96% of the route on major roads like the New Jersey Turnpike and I 295. You'll encounter the longest stretch of uninterrupted driving on the New Jersey Turnpike for 77.5 miles. Expect dense exits and merges as you navigate this primarily highway experience, with the highway portion concluding as you transition to Harding Highway.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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 I 295. 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
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 115.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 Penns Grove, 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 2h 22m. Total distance: 115.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). 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.
Yes — we found about 19 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Penns Grove, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 Penns Grove, NJ before heading back.
