Origin
Union City, NJ
Morning in Union City on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union City, NJ to White Meadow Lake, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
33.4 mi
54 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
White Meadow Lake, NJ
Mohan Nannapaneni
Trip Overview
Union City, NJ to White Meadow Lake, NJ is 33.4 miles and takes about 43m via US 46, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, one-day trip entirely within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its short distance and duration, it's ideal for a quick excursion or as part of a larger journey. The drive primarily utilizes major roadways, making it a practical option for those prioritizing efficiency over a leisurely pace. Consider this route if you need a direct connection between these two locations without extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 46 | 10.8 mi | 12m |
| NJ 3 | 10.2 mi | 12m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| Interstate 80 West | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| White Meadow Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| White Meadow Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Green Pond Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 46
— 10.8 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, NJ and White Meadow Lake, 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
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
NJ 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
453 ft
·
7 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto NJ 3
10 mi
·
12 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 46
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US 46
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap
12
Continue on I 80W
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate 80 West
Toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 80 West: Delaware Water Gap
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Merge onto I 80
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 37
Toward CR 513: Hibernia, Rockaway
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
177 ft
·
4 sec
Toward CR 513 South: Main Street, Rockaway
Use the left / right lanes.
17
Turn slight right onto CR 513
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Green Pond Road
Use the right lane.
18
Turn straight onto CR 513
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Hibernia Avenue
19
Turn sharp right onto White Meadow Avenue
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
White Meadow Avenue
20
Continue on White Meadow Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
White Meadow Road
21
Turn right
45 ft
·
5 sec
22
Turn right
214 ft
·
24 sec
23
At end of road, turn right
53 ft
·
3 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 31.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
NJ 495
Merge onto NJ 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus
8
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
8
31.3 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward CR 513: Hibernia, Rockaway
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 37
Toward CR 513: Hibernia, Rockaway
9
31.5 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CR 513 South: Main Street, Rockaway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward CR 513 South: Main Street, Rockaway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.54 one way
$11.07 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.06 | $12.13 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.48 | $12.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.37 | $14.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.7 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 | 0 | $3.51 | $1.60 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.92 | $1.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.68 | $2.14 |
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.
Destination
White Meadow Lake, NJ
Morning in White Meadow Lake on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°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
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
43m 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 highway-focused, with 68% of the drive on major roads. You'll spend a good portion of your time on US 46, NJ 3, and the Christopher Columbus Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.8 miles on US 46, offering a period of consistent travel. Expect a driving experience that balances the speed of highways with the practicality of well-trafficked roads. While not overly complex, the highway segments are the defining characteristic of this journey.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.8 mi on US 46.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 46 and NJ 3. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near NJ 495.
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 18 decision points packed into just 33.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (NJ 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles: 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 White Meadow Lake, NJ, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah, Cr 513: Hibernia and Rockaway.
Del Water Gap
22.6 mi in
|
~28m
Mahwah
22.9 mi in
|
~28m
|
via I 80W
Cr 513: Hibernia
31.3 mi in
|
~38m
Rockaway
31.3 mi in
|
~38m
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 43m. Total distance: 33.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.8 miles on US 46. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 White Meadow Lake, 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 1 miles (NJ 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Morristown National Historical Park (5 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 White Meadow Lake, 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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