Origin
Union City, NJ
Afternoon in Union City on Sunday
Local time
12:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union City, NJ to Piscataway, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
31.3 mi
50 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Piscataway, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 31.3-mile drive from Union City, NJ, to Piscataway, NJ, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 45 minutes. Primarily utilizing the New Jersey Turnpike and NJ 495, this route is heavily highway-focused, making it ideal for a single-day excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of $5, it's an economical option for a quick journey within the Northeast region. You'll experience a consistent driving profile for most of the trip, with minimal need for overnight stops. Consider this a practical and efficient way to get from point A to point B in New Jersey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 23.8 mi | 30m |
| Woodbridge Avenue | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| NJ 495 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 45th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Thomasina Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Germantown Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 23.8 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, NJ and Piscataway, 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
18 mi
·
22 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Toward I 95 South
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 10
Toward I 287 North, NJ 440 North: Metuchen, Perth Amboy
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
this road
Exit 10
Toward I 287, NJ 440: Metuchen, Perth Amboy
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward CR 514 West: Raritan Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on CR 514
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Woodbridge Avenue
14
Continue on CR 514
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Woodbridge Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto Thomasina Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Thomasina Street
16
Arrive at destination
Germantown Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.6 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 27 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward NJ 495 West, NJTP West
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 495 West, NJTP West
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South: Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 95 South: Newark
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
26.2 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward I 287 North, NJ 440 North: Metuchen, Perth Amboy
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 10
Toward I 287 North, NJ 440 North: Metuchen, Per...
7
27 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CR 514 West: Raritan Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CR 514 West: Raritan Center
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.19 one way
$10.38 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.68 | $11.37 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.07 | $12.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.91 | $13.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.33
New Jersey Turnpike
(23.8 mi)
$3.33
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$3
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.29 | $1.50 |
| Efficient EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Piscataway, NJ
Afternoon in Piscataway on Sunday
Local time
12:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Concord, NY
16 mi in
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
24 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
45m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for approximately 78% of this journey. The personality of this drive is largely defined by the New Jersey Turnpike, where you'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 23.8 miles. While Woodbridge Avenue and NJ 495 contribute to the overall route, the dominant feel is one of consistent highway travel. This means you'll likely maintain steady speeds for significant portions of the trip, with fewer opportunities for spontaneous scenic detours. It's a route built for efficient transit rather than leisurely exploration.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.8 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Woodbridge Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 10 decision points packed into just 31.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Piscataway, NJ, road signs point toward Perth Amboy and Cr 514 West: Raritan Center.
Perth Amboy
26.2 mi in
|
~35m
Cr 514 West: Raritan Center
27 mi in
|
~37m
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 45m. Total distance: 31.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.8 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.33 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 Piscataway, 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 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Piscataway, 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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