Origin
Union, NJ
Morning in Union on Sunday
Local time
10:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union, NJ to Manasquan, 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 4m
Distance
48.8 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Manasquan, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Trip Overview
Union, NJ to Manasquan, NJ is 48.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 4 minutes via the Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive entirely within New Jersey. You'll spend most of your time on the Garden State Parkway, making it an efficient option for getting from one point to another in the Northeast region. If you're looking for a quick trip with minimal fuss, this route fits the bill. Plan for about an hour of travel time, plus any stops you might make.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 35.9 mi | 43m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Atlantic Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| NJ 34 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Stuyvesant Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Chestnut Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Harding Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 35.9 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, NJ and Manasquan, 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 right at fork onto GSP
27 mi
·
30 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 98
Toward NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar, Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward NJ 34 South, NJ 34 North, I 195 West: Brielle, Trenton
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 34 South: Brielle
Use the straight lane.
13
Merge onto NJ 34
0.6 mi
·
45 sec
·
NJ 34
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Enter roundabout onto NJ 34
228 ft
·
2 sec
·
NJ 34
15
Continue on NJ 34
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
NJ 34
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
17
Keep slight right at fork
115 ft
·
4 sec
18
Turn right onto CR 524 Spur
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Atlantic Avenue
19
Enter roundabout onto CR 524 Spur
289 ft
·
3 sec
·
Atlantic Avenue
20
Continue on CR 524 Spur
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Atlantic Avenue
21
At end of road, turn right onto CR 20
27 ft
·
0 sec
·
Broad Street
22
Arrive at destination
CR 20
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.4 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 1 and 44.1 — 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 right at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
43.4 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar, 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 98
Toward NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar,...
6
43.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 34 South, NJ 34 North, I 195 West: Brielle, Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 34 South, NJ 34 North, I 195 West: Br...
7
44.1 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 34 South: Brielle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward NJ 34 South: Brielle
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.09 one way
$16.18 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.86 | $17.72 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.46 | $18.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.77 | $21.55 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.52
Garden State Parkway
(42.1 mi)
$2.52
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$3
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.83 | $3.12 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Manasquan, NJ
Morning in Manasquan on Sunday
Local time
10:22 AM
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
1h 4m 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 89% of the journey taking place on major roads like the Garden State Parkway. You'll experience a longest stretch of 35.9 miles uninterrupted on the Garden State Parkway Southbound. Expect a consistent driving experience for the majority of the trip, characterized by highway speeds and limited interaction with local traffic. The route transitions to Atlantic Avenue closer to your destination, offering a slight change in scenery as you approach the coast.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.9 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
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.8 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 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.4 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 Manasquan, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Trenton along the way.
Trenton
43.4 mi in
|
~55m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 48.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m 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 35.9 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.52 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 Manasquan, 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 43.4 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, 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 Manasquan, 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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