Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
35.2 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Tinton Falls, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Union, NJ to Tinton Falls, NJ is 35.2 miles and takes about 48 minutes via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its short duration and predominantly highway profile, it's ideal for a quick trip, whether you're heading out for the day or just need to get from point A to point B efficiently. You'll spend most of your time on the main parkway, making it a simple navigation experience.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 24.1 mi | 29m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Swimming River Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Newman Springs Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Stuyvesant Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Tinton Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Chestnut Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Union, NJ and Tinton Falls, NJ.
Start on Harding Avenue
Turn right onto CR 630
Turn left onto CR 619
Continue on CR 619
Take the ramp
Merge onto GSP
Continue on Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
Take the exit
Turn right onto CR 520
Turn sharp left onto CR 50
At end of road, turn left onto CR 537
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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.
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.6 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 33 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward GSP Toll South
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CR 520: Red Bank, Lincroft
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn sharp left onto CR 50 / Swimming River Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.05 one way
$12.10 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $6.64 | $13.28 |
| premium | $5.13 | $7.11 | $14.21 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $8.27 | $16.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.82
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.93 | $2.25 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Union on Saturday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Tinton Falls on Saturday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This route is primarily highway driving, with 86% of the 35.2 miles on major parkways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 24.1 miles on the Garden State Parkway Southbound before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a consistent cruising pace for the majority of the trip, with the Garden State Parkway offering a predictable driving environment. The shift to Swimming River Road will mark the end of the highway portion.
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.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 35.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
495 ft
Total Descent
556 ft
Highest Point
233 ft
~27.7 mi in
Elevation Range
221 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Union, NJ and Tinton Falls, NJ, road signs point toward Cr 520: Red Bank and Lincroft.
Cr 520: Red Bank
Lincroft
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 35.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, 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 options from Union, NJ or browse trips ending in Tinton Falls, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.
