Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
14m
Distance
8.5 mi
14 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Harrison, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Union, NJ to Harrison, NJ covers 8.5 miles and takes about 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Garden State Parkway, Essex Freeway, Vauxhall Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 4.3 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.46 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| Essex Freeway | 2 mi | 3m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Harrison Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Harding Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Union, NJ and Harrison, NJ.
Start on Harding Avenue
Turn left onto CR 630
Turn slight left
Take the ramp
Continue on this road
Merge onto GSP
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 280
Take the exit
Turn left onto CR 508
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 8.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 280, CR 508: Newark, The Oranges
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 280 West, I 280 East: Orange, West Orange, Newark, Harrison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 280 East: Newark, Harrison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Harrison, Newark, Soccer Arena
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto CR 508 / Harrison Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$1.46 one way
$2.92 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $1.60 | $3.21 |
| premium | $5.13 | $1.72 | $3.43 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $2.00 | $3.99 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.26
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Tolls
$0
Total
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.89 | $0.41 |
| Efficient EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.74 | $0.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.19 | $0.54 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Union on Saturday
Local time
6:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Harrison on Saturday
Local time
6:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
8.5 mi in 14m, mostly highway — 4.3 mi of that is on Garden State Parkway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Essex Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in.
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 11 decision points packed into just 8.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 14m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
99 ft
Total Descent
171 ft
Highest Point
164 ft
~4.8 mi in
Elevation Range
135 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Union, NJ and Harrison, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North, Cr 508: Newark, The Oranges, Orange, Newark and Soccer Arena.
Gsp Toll North
Cr 508: Newark
The Oranges
Orange
Newark
Soccer Arena
Founded 1840
Harrison is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey. This article also covers the town of Kearny.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 14m. Total distance: 8.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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