Trip from Union, NJ to Long Beach, NJ

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 56m

Distance

88.5 mi

143 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

1h 48m ★

6 AM

1h 56m

8 AM

2h 13m

10 AM

2h 2m

12 PM

2h 0m

3 PM

2h 3m

5 PM

2h 12m

8 PM

1h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Union, NJ

Arjun Gheewala

township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States

Long Beach, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 88.5-mile drive from Union, NJ, to Long Beach, NJ, is a straightforward 1 hour and 56 minute journey, making it an ideal day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, it's an economical option for a quick getaway. The route primarily uses local roads like Vauxhall Road, Stuyvesant Avenue, and Chestnut Street, offering a more connected feel to the communities you'll pass through. Since it's a single-day adventure with no designated stops, you'll have the flexibility to set your own pace and make spontaneous detours. This trip stays within the Northeast region, keeping the travel experience consistent geographically.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

44.3 miles from Union, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Garden State Parkway	70.3 mi	1h 23m
NJ 72	7.1 mi	10m
Garden State Parkway Southbound	6.2 mi	8m
Long Beach Boulevard	3.1 mi	7m
Stuyvesant Avenue	0.6 mi	1m
Vauxhall Road	0.2 mi	<1m
East Bergen Avenue	0.1 mi	1m
Chestnut Street	0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 70.3 mi, about 1h 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Union, NJ and Long Beach, NJ.

Start on Harding Avenue

243 ft · 11 sec · Harding Avenue

Turn right onto CR 630

0.2 mi · 42 sec · Vauxhall Road

Turn left onto CR 619

0.6 mi · 1 min · Stuyvesant Avenue

Continue on CR 619

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Chestnut Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Toward GSP Toll South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto GSP

8.6 mi · 11 min · Garden State Parkway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on Garden State Parkway

6.2 mi · 8 min · Garden State Parkway Southbound

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Garden State Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto GSP

61 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Garden State Parkway

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 25 sec

Exit 63 Toward NJ 72: Long Beach Island, Pemberton

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 40 sec

Toward NJ 72 East: Long Beach Island

Merge onto NJ 72

7.1 mi · 10 min · NJ 72

Use the right lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 72

190 ft · 11 sec · West 9th Street

Toward North Long Beach Boulevard, Surf City, Barnegat Light Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn left onto CR 607

3.1 mi · 7 min · Long Beach Boulevard

Turn right onto East Bergen Avenue

0.1 mi · 1 min · East Bergen Avenue

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the short 1 hour and 56 minute duration and 88.5-mile length, this trip offers great flexibility. You can depart any time that suits you, and since there are no required stops and the fuel cost is only around $15, you won't need to meticulously plan refueling. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests keeping your navigation readily accessible to avoid missing any of the many required turns. Consider leaving a bit earlier in the day to maximize your time at your destination, especially if you plan on enjoying a full day at Long Beach.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 44.3 miles from Union, NJ, or about 56m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.3 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 19 miles or 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 44.3 miles or 56m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Long Beach, NJ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Union, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Union, NJ

This is one driving day of about 88.5 miles and 1h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Union, NJ.

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Red Bank, New Jersey

1.6 mi

Princess Maria's 2 Pizza & Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Brick Township, New Jersey

1.9 mi

Best coffee break · home stretch

agnello's cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Manahawkin, New Jersey

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 8min to go 1 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+16095495775

Visit website

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately

Union, New Jersey

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+19083966401

Visit website

Filoncino Bakery Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Red Bank, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+17323770404

Visit website

Princess Maria's 2 Pizza & Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Brick Township, New Jersey

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+17327146471

Visit website

Oasis Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $30 to $50

Cranford, New Jersey

Hours: 12–9:30 pm

+19089676161

Visit website

Restaurant Lorena's

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $50 to $10

Maplewood, New Jersey

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19737634460

Visit website

Amsterdam Alley Bar & Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 3 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

Linden, New Jersey

Hours: 12 pm–12 am

+19089254166

Visit website

Fiore Rosso Restaurant & Catering

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 3 mi from route ~8 min detour $30 to $50

Toms River, New Jersey

Hours: 5–9 pm

+17322553323

Visit website

Valenca Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $20 to $30

Elizabeth, New Jersey

Hours: 10:30 am–12 pm

+19083544024

Visit website

agnello's cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 1 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Manahawkin, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+16095495775

Visit website

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

Perth Amboy, New Jersey

+17326979500

Visit website

Mindowaskin Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Westfield, New Jersey

Hours: 5 am–9 pm

+19082330028

Visit website

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

First break 3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour

Staten Island, New York

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+13472367136

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 85.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

16.8 mi into trip | ~24m in | GSP / Garden State Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

77.8 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in

Take the exit toward NJ 72: Long Beach Island, Pemberton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 63 Toward NJ 72: Long Beach Island, Pemberton

78 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in

Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 72 East: Long Beach Island

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward NJ 72 East: Long Beach Island

85.3 mi into trip | ~1h 47m in | NJ 72 / West 9th Street

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 72 / West 9th Street toward North Long Beach Boulevard, Surf City, Barnegat Light

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left / straight lanes. Toward North Long Beach Boulevard, Surf City, B...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.67 one way

$29.34 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$16.07	$32.14
premium	$4.93	$17.16	$34.33
diesel	$5.61	$19.54	$39.08

Estimated Tolls: $4.59

Garden State Parkway (76.5 mi) $4.59

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 31 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	26.6	$9.29	$4.25
Efficient EV	22.1	$7.74	$3.54
EV Truck/SUV	35.4	$12.39	$5.66

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Union, NJ

Late night in Union on Tuesday

Local time

5:24 AM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Long Beach, NJ

Late night in Long Beach on Tuesday

Local time

5:24 AM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

1h 56m 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 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 88.5-mile trip, with zero highway share. This means you'll be navigating through towns and neighborhoods for the entire duration, utilizing roads such as Vauxhall Road, Stuyvesant Avenue, and Chestnut Street. There isn't a 'longest stretch' to speak of, as the route is characterized by frequent turns and transitions rather than long, uninterrupted segments of highway driving. The character of the road will likely shift as you move from one local area to another, offering a varied, ground-level perspective.

94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 70.3 mi on Garden State Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 72. 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 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

On the drive from Union, NJ to Long Beach, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Pemberton along the way.

Pemberton

77.8 mi in | ~1h 35m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 88.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 70.3 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $4.59 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 Long 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Long 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Union, NJ to Long Beach, NJ

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge

agnello's cafe

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge

Filoncino Bakery Cafe

Princess Maria's 2 Pizza & Restaurant

Oasis Restaurant

Restaurant Lorena's

Amsterdam Alley Bar & Restaurant

Fiore Rosso Restaurant & Catering

Valenca Restaurant

agnello's cafe

Tesla Supercharger

EVgo Charging Station

Applegreen Electric Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

EVgo Charging Station

Rivian Adventure Network

Fords Park

Cornucopia Cruise Lines

Mindowaskin Park

Conference House Park

Nomahegan Park

Wild Child Play Space

Just Kidding Playground - Universe (South Shore)

Island Entertainment

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Union, NJ

Long Beach, NJ

Same local time

Very similar conditions

1h 56m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Long Beach, NJ

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