Origin
Union City, NJ
Afternoon in Union City on Sunday
Local time
1:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union City, NJ to Point Pleasant Beach, 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 22m
Distance
62.3 mi
100 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Mary V
Trip Overview
Union City, NJ to Point Pleasant Beach, NJ is 62.3 miles and takes about 1h 22m via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward trip stays within New Jersey, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a heavily highway-focused drive, making it a quick and efficient option for reaching the shore. Given the short duration and minimal mileage, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing plenty of time at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 30.3 mi | 35m |
| New Jersey Turnpike | 20.4 mi | 26m |
| NJ 34 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| NJ 35 | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| 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 |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 30.3 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, NJ and Point Pleasant Beach, 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
27 mi
·
30 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 98
Toward NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar, Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward NJ 34 South, NJ 34 North, I 195 West: Brielle, Trenton
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 34 South: Brielle
Use the straight lane.
19
Merge onto NJ 34
0.6 mi
·
45 sec
·
NJ 34
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Enter roundabout onto NJ 34
228 ft
·
2 sec
·
NJ 34
21
Continue on NJ 34
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
NJ 34
22
Continue on NJ 35
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 35
23
Turn left onto American Legion Way
416 ft
·
23 sec
·
American Legion Way
24
Turn left onto NJ 35
175 ft
·
2 sec
·
Cincinnati Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
NJ 35
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.2 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 55.2 — 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
55.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar, Trenton
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 98
Toward NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.33 one way
$20.66 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.31 | $22.62 |
| premium | $4.93 | $12.08 | $24.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.76 | $27.51 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.66
New Jersey Turnpike
(20.4 mi)
$2.85
Garden State Parkway
(30.3 mi)
$1.81
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$5
Total
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.54 | $2.99 |
| Efficient EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.45 | $2.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.72 | $3.99 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Afternoon in Point Pleasant Beach on Sunday
Local time
1:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°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
21 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
1h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that is predominantly on highways, with 94% of the journey utilizing them. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 30.3 miles on the Garden State Parkway. This means you'll primarily be on fast-paced roads like the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike, with a brief section on NJ 34. The character of this drive is consistent, prioritizing speed and direct travel over winding scenic byways.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.3 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway 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 62.3 miles you will encounter 19 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.
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 Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South, Perth Amboy and Trenton.
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
Trenton
55.2 mi in
|
~1h 11m
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 22m. Total distance: 62.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.3 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.66 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 Point Pleasant Beach, 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 Point Pleasant Beach, 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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