Origin
Union, NJ
Late night in Union on Sunday
Local time
5:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union, NJ to Port Reading, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
13.1 mi
21 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Port Reading, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Union to Port Reading, New Jersey, expect a quick, straightforward journey spanning approximately 13.1 miles. This local transit takes about 26 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. You will navigate entirely on local roads, including Vauxhall Road, Adams Avenue, and Morris Avenue, with zero highway driving involved. Budgeting about $2 for fuel should comfortably cover this short distance. Because the entire route remains within the Northeast, you won't experience any significant regional shifts, ensuring a familiar driving environment from start to finish.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Morris Avenue | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| Elmora Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Blair Road | 1.4 mi | 4m |
| Federal Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Bayway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Minue Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Roosevelt Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New Jersey Turnpike
— 2.6 mi, about 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, NJ and Port Reading, NJ.
1
Start on Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
11 sec
·
Harding Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 630
283 ft
·
16 sec
·
Vauxhall Road
3
Turn left onto Adams Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Adams Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto NJ 82
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Morris Avenue
5
Turn right onto NJ 439
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
North Avenue
6
Continue on NJ 439
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Elmora Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Enter roundabout onto NJ 439
456 ft
·
12 sec
·
Bayway
8
Continue on NJ 439
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bayway
9
Turn right onto Brunswick Avenue
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Brunswick Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: NJ Turnpike
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 12
Toward Carteret, Rahway
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
237 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Carteret, West Carteret, Rahway
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward West Carteret, Rahway
17
Turn straight onto CR 602
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Roosevelt Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto Minue Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Minue Street
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on Federal Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Federal Boulevard
20
Turn left onto Blair Road
1.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Blair Road
21
Turn right onto Langford Avenue
487 ft
·
21 sec
·
Langford Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Langford Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 5.5 and 9.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
Brunswick Avenue
Turn right onto Brunswick Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
9
5.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
8
9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward Carteret, Rahway
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 12
Toward Carteret, Rahway
8
9.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Carteret, West Carteret, Rahway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Carteret, West Carteret, Rahway
7
9.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward West Carteret, Rahway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward West Carteret, Rahway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.17 one way
$4.34 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.38 | $4.76 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.54 | $5.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.89 | $5.78 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.36
New Jersey Turnpike
(2.6 mi)
$0.36
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$0
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.38 | $0.63 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.15 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.83 | $0.84 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Port Reading, NJ
Late night in Port Reading on Sunday
Local time
5:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°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
23 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
26m 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 trip is defined by its turn-heavy, local nature rather than high-speed cruising. Since you are staying off the highways entirely, the drive requires your full attention as you navigate through local intersections and residential or commercial corridors. You will not encounter any long, uninterrupted stretches, as the route relies on a series of connected local streets. Expect a steady, rhythmic pace that contrasts sharply with the typical interstate grind found elsewhere in New Jersey. It is a practical, utilitarian drive that keeps you close to the local landscape for the duration of the 26-minute trip.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 2.6 mi on New Jersey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.5 miles in near Brunswick Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 17 decision points packed into just 13.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.5 miles (Brunswick Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9 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.
Between Union, NJ and Port Reading, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp Toll: Nj Turnpike, Njtp South: Trenton, Carteret and Rahway.
Njtp Toll: Nj Turnpike
5.6 mi in
|
~12m
Njtp South: Trenton
5.9 mi in
|
~12m
Carteret
9 mi in
|
~16m
Rahway
9 mi in
|
~16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 13.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 2.6 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.36 in tolls one way, starting with New Jersey Turnpike. 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 Port Reading, 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 5.5 miles (Brunswick Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9 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 Gateway National Recreation Area (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 Port Reading, 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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