Origin
Union, NJ
Late night in Union on Sunday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union, NJ to Wayne, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
21 mi
34 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Wayne, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Union, NJ to Wayne, NJ is 21 miles and takes about 30m via Garden State Parkway/US 46/NJ 23, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Northeast region, specifically within New Jersey. Given its limited distance and duration, this drive is best suited for a single-day trip, offering a straightforward journey between two points. You'll find it to be a practical commute rather than a destination in itself, perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 11.8 mi | 16m |
| US 46 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| NJ 23 | 2 mi | 2m |
| State Route 3 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Ryerson Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Newark-Pompton Turnpike | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Harding Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 11.8 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, NJ and Wayne, 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
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 153B
Toward NJ 3 West: Wayne
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto NJ 3
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Route 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 46
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
US 46
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 80 West, NJ 23 North: Delaware Water Gap, Butler
11
Merge onto NJ 23
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward Newark-Pompton Turnpike, Pequannock
13
Keep slight left at fork
385 ft
·
10 sec
14
Continue on CR 683
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Newark-Pompton Turnpike
15
Turn left onto Ryerson Avenue
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
Ryerson Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
Ryerson Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 20.8 — 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
12.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward NJ 3 West: Wayne
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 153B
Toward NJ 3 West: Wayne
5
13.4 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
NJ 3 / State Route 3
Merge onto NJ 3 / State Route 3
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
20.8 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
Ryerson Avenue
Turn left onto Ryerson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.48 one way
$6.96 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.81 | $7.63 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.07 | $8.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.64 | $9.27 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.71
Garden State Parkway
(11.8 mi)
$0.71
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$1
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.20 | $1.01 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.84 | $0.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.94 | $1.34 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Wayne, NJ
Late night in Wayne on Sunday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
30m 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. You'll spend the longest uninterrupted stretch, 11.8 miles, on the Garden State Parkway. Expect a fairly direct and efficient travel experience, primarily utilizing major arteries like US 46 and NJ 23. While not a scenic tour, it offers a consistent pace, allowing you to cover the 21 miles in approximately 30 minutes. The character of the drive remains consistent, emphasizing speed and directness over winding country roads.
89% 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: 11.8 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 US 46. 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
10/10
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 12 decision points packed into just 21 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
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 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Wayne, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Butler along the way.
Butler
18 mi in
|
~25m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 21 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m 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 11.8 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.71 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 Wayne, 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 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls 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 Wayne, 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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