Origin
Wood-Ridge, NJ
Morning in Wood-Ridge on Sunday
Local time
7:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wood-Ridge, NJ to Union, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
18.9 mi
30 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wood-Ridge, NJ
Mark Stebnicki
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
This short, 18.9-mile drive from Wood-Ridge, NJ, to Union, NJ, is designed as a single-day trip, taking approximately 28 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via NJ 21, the Garden State Parkway, and NJ 17, with 81% of the journey on highway roads. Given the minimal distance and duration, no overnight stay is necessary. The estimated fuel cost is around $3, making it an economical option for a quick transit. This route stays within the Northeast region and entirely within New Jersey, offering a straightforward connection between two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 21 | 6 mi | 6m |
| Garden State Parkway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| NJ 17 | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Essex Freeway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| NJ 3 | 0.9 mi | <1m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Moonachie Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Hackensack Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 21
— 6 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wood-Ridge, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on Union Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Union Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 55
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Hackensack Street
3
Turn right onto CR 36
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Moonachie Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
5
Merge onto NJ 17
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Newark
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto NJ 3
0.9 mi
·
57 sec
·
NJ 3
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward NJ 21: Paterson, Newark
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward NJ 21 North, NJ 21 South
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward NJ 21 South: Newark
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto NJ 21
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
NJ 21
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the ramp
50 ft
·
1 sec
Toward I 280 East, I 280 West: Harrison, Jersey City, The Oranges
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 280 West: The Oranges
14
Merge onto I 280
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Essex Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 12A; 12B
Toward GSP: Oraton Parkway, Clinton Street, East Orange
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 12B
Toward GSP: Garden State Parkway, Oraton Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward GSP South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
this road
19
Merge onto GSP
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 141
Toward Vauxhall Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn right onto CR 630
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Vauxhall Road
Use the right lane.
22
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 4.2 and 13.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward NJ 21: Paterson, Newark
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 21: Paterson, Newark
8
4.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 21 South: Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 21 South: Newark
8
12.8 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward GSP: Oraton Parkway, Clinton Street, East Orange
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 12A; 12B
Toward GSP: Oraton Parkway, Clinton Street, Eas...
10
13 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP: Garden State Parkway, Oraton Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 12B
Toward GSP: Garden State Parkway, Oraton Parkwa...
8
13.3 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward GSP South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.13 one way
$6.27 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.43 | $6.86 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.67 | $7.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.17 | $8.35 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.27
Garden State Parkway
(4.5 mi)
$0.27
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.6 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 | 5.7 | 0 | $1.98 | $0.91 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.65 | $1.21 |
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
Union, NJ
Morning in Union on Sunday
Local time
7:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
28m 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 drive for the majority of this 18.9-mile trip, with 81% of the route utilizing major roadways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is about 6 miles on NJ 21. This suggests a driving experience characterized by higher speeds and more direct travel for much of the journey. While it's a relatively short distance, the profile indicates a significant portion will feel like a typical highway commute or transit.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6 mi on NJ 21.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 21 and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.2 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 20 decision points packed into just 18.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 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 Wood-Ridge, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Newark, Jersey City, The Oranges, Orange and Gsp South.
Newark
4.2 mi in
|
~6m
Jersey City
11 mi in
|
~15m
The Oranges
11 mi in
|
~15m
Orange
12.8 mi in
|
~17m
Gsp South
13.3 mi in
|
~19m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 18.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6 miles on NJ 21. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.27 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 Union, 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 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 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, 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 Union, 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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