Origin
Union, NJ
Evening in Union on Sunday
Local time
5:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union, NJ to Mahwah, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
33 mi
53 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Mahwah, NJ
Dajana Blakcori
Trip Overview
This straightforward 33-mile drive from Union, NJ to Mahwah, NJ should take about 47 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route is heavily focused on highway driving, with 95% of the journey on major roads like the Garden State Parkway and NJ 17. You'll spend most of your time on the Garden State Parkway, with a longest stretch of 20.6 miles. With a fuel cost estimated at just $5, this is an economical and efficient trip within the Northeast region. Since it’s a short drive with minimal stops recommended, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 20.6 mi | 28m |
| NJ 17 | 9.5 mi | 12m |
| Franklin Turnpike | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Harding Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Airmount Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 20.6 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, NJ and Mahwah, NJ.
1
Start on Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
17 sec
·
Harding Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 630
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Vauxhall Road
3
Turn slight left
105 ft
·
8 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
5
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
this road
6
Merge onto GSP
21 mi
·
28 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 163
Toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto NJ 17
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on NJ 17
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on NJ 17
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
·
NJ 17
11
Take the exit
474 ft
·
13 sec
Toward Franklin Turnpike, Suffern
12
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
this road
Toward Franklin Turnpike, Suffern
13
Keep slight right at fork
428 ft
·
11 sec
Toward Franklin Turnpike, Suffern
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Turn straight onto CR 507
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Franklin Turnpike
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto West Airmount Road
167 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Airmount Road
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
West Airmount Road
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 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.5 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 31.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward GSP Toll North
Navigation decision point
Toward GSP Toll North
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
21.4 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 163
Toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
6
31.4 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward Franklin Turnpike, Suffern
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Franklin Turnpike, Suffern
9
31.6 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Franklin Turnpike, Suffern
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Franklin Turnpike, Suffern
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.47 one way
$10.94 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.99 | $11.98 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.40 | $12.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.29 | $14.57 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.32
Garden State Parkway
(20.6 mi)
$1.23
Franklin Turnpike
(1.3 mi)
$0.09
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.47 | $1.58 |
| Efficient EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.89 | $1.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.62 | $2.11 |
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
Mahwah, NJ
Evening in Mahwah on Sunday
Local time
5:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°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
21 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
47m 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 highway-focused experience for this trip, as 95% of the 33 miles are spent on major roadways. The primary arteries guiding you north are the Garden State Parkway and NJ 17, with Franklin Turnpike also playing a role. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a substantial 20.6 miles on the Garden State Parkway, offering a consistent driving pace. This route is designed for efficient travel, minimizing local road detours and maximizing time on the open highway.
95% 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: 20.6 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 33 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 33 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.6 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.32 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 Mahwah, 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 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park 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 Mahwah, 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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