Origin
Union, NJ
Late night in Union on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union, NJ to Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
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
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Trip Overview
Union, NJ to Atlantic Highlands, NJ is 33.8 miles and takes about 51 minutes via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within New Jersey, moving you from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a fairly quick drive, mostly on major parkway roads, making it a straightforward option for a short excursion or a segment of a larger journey. Consider this route if you need to get between these two points efficiently without a lot of fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 15.9 mi | 20m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| NJ 35 | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Leonardville Road | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| CR 516 | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Stuyvesant Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Garfield Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| NJ 36 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 15.9 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, NJ and Atlantic Highlands, NJ.
1
Start on Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
11 sec
·
Harding Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 630
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Vauxhall Road
3
Turn left onto CR 619
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Stuyvesant Avenue
4
Continue on CR 619
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Chestnut Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward GSP Toll South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto GSP
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on Garden State Parkway
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Garden State Parkway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 117
Toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, Keyport
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
165 ft
·
4 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward NJ 35: Hazlet
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto NJ 35
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
NJ 35
14
Take the exit onto CR 516
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
CR 516
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on CR 516
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
CR 516
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto CR 516
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Leonardville Road
17
Take the ramp
348 ft
·
9 sec
18
Merge onto NJ 36
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
NJ 36
19
Take the exit
512 ft
·
14 sec
Toward Athlantic Highlands, Business District, Seastreak Ferry
20
Continue on 1st Avenue
451 ft
·
18 sec
·
1st Avenue
21
Turn right onto East Garfield Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Garfield Avenue
22
Turn right onto Central Avenue
380 ft
·
16 sec
·
Central Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 33.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from Union, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 33.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward GSP Toll South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward GSP Toll South
6
16.8 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
23.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, Keyport
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 117
Toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, Keyport
8
24 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 35: Hazlet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 35: Hazlet
7
33.2 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward Athlantic Highlands, Business District, Seastreak Ferry
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Athlantic Highlands, Business District,...
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: $1.33
Garden State Parkway
(22.1 mi)
$1.33
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
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.
Destination
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Late night in Atlantic Highlands on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
51m 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 is an 83% highway-focused drive, meaning you'll spend most of your time on faster-paced roads. The main artery for this journey is the Garden State Parkway, including a longest stretch of 15.9 miles on the Parkway Southbound. Expect a relatively consistent driving experience, characterized by smooth highway travel rather than winding local roads. NJ 35 is also part of the route, offering a brief change of pace before you reach your destination.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.9 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 Garden State Parkway Southbound. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
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 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Union, NJ to Atlantic Highlands, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Keyport along the way.
Keyport
23.4 mi in
|
~32m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 33.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.9 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.33 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. 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 Atlantic Highlands, 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: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area and Morristown National Historical Park (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 Atlantic Highlands, 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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