Origin
Union, NJ
Late night in Union on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union, NJ to Lawrence, 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
Distance
40 mi
64 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Lawrence, NJ
James Kampeis
Trip Overview
Union, NJ to Lawrence, NJ is 40 miles and takes about 1 hour via US 1 and Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region and entirely within New Jersey. Given its relatively short distance and highway-focused profile, it's a practical choice for a quick transition between locations or a straightforward commute. You'll mostly be on major roadways, so expect consistent travel speeds and minimal detours. It's a single-day excursion that requires little in the way of extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 25.6 mi | 37m |
| Garden State Parkway | 8.6 mi | 11m |
| Quaker Bridge Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Lawrence Station Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Stuyvesant Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Chestnut Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 25.6 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, NJ and Lawrence, 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
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Garden State Parkway Southbound
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 130B-A
Toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 130B
Toward US 1 South: Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
US 1
11
Continue on US 1
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 1
7.4 mi
·
11 min
·
US 1
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on US 1
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
276 ft
·
4 sec
·
US 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
387 ft
·
6 sec
·
US 1
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 1
17
Continue on US 1
12 mi
·
17 min
·
US 1
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Use the straight lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
Toward CR 533 South: Quaker Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
22
Turn slight right onto CR 533
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Quaker Bridge Road
23
Turn right onto CR 608
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Lawrence Station Road
24
Turn right onto Fountayne Boulevard
145 ft
·
10 sec
·
Fountayne Boulevard
25
Continue on Fountayne Boulevard
116 ft
·
11 sec
·
Fountayne Boulevard
26
Arrive at destination
Fountayne Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 11.2 and 37.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
11.2 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Newark, 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 130B-A
Toward US 1: Newark, Trenton
9
11.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 130B
Toward US 1 South: Trenton
7
21.5 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
37.4 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
37.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CR 533 South: Quaker Bridge Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward CR 533 South: Quaker Bridge Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.63 one way
$13.26 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.26 | $14.53 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.76 | $15.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.83 | $17.66 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.60
Garden State Parkway
(9.9 mi)
$0.60
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.50 | $1.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Lawrence, NJ
Late night in Lawrence on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Edison, NJ
20 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
1 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
1h 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 89% highway-focused drive, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 25.6 miles on US 1, offering a good period of consistent travel. You'll navigate segments of the Garden State Parkway and US 1, which are designed for efficient travel. Expect a driving experience characterized by quick transitions and a focus on reaching your destination rather than leisurely cruising.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.6 mi on US 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.2 miles in.
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 40 miles you will encounter 16 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 11.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles (US 1): 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.
On the drive from Union, NJ to Lawrence, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Trenton along the way.
Trenton
11.2 mi in
|
~17m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 40 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.6 miles on US 1. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.60 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 Lawrence, 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 11.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls 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 Lawrence, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Lawrence, NJ
More trips to Lawrence, NJ
Explore more options from Union, NJ or browse trips ending in Lawrence, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.