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Trip from Beach Haven West, NJ to Union, NJ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 44m

Distance

82.3 mi

132 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

47 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 37m ★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 1m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
2h 0m
8 PM
1h 40m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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census designated place in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States

Beach Haven West, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Union, NJ, NJ

Union, NJ

Arjun Gheewala

Trip Overview

The drive from Beach Haven West, NJ to Union, NJ covers 82.3 miles and takes about 1h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Garden State Parkway, NJ 72, Mill Creek Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76.3 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.64 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

41.2 miles from Beach Haven West, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 82.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 44m highway drive covering 82.3 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and NJ 72. The longest continuous stretch is about 76.3 miles on Garden State Parkway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Garden State Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 76.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 72. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
3.8 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the exit toward GSP Toll North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward GSP Toll North
5
4.2 mi into trip | ~7m in | GSP / Garden State Parkway

Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
4
43.4 mi into trip | ~53m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

8
81 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in

Take the exit toward US 22, NJ 82: Hillside

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 140 Toward US 22, NJ 82: Hillside
6
81.3 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in

Take the exit toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, Elizabeth

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, E...

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Garden State Parkway 76.3 mi 1h 33m
NJ 72 2.9 mi 4m
Mill Creek Road 0.9 mi 2m
Morris Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
GSP Northbound entrance ramp 0.2 mi <1m
Harding Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
US 22 <0.1 mi <1m
Vauxhall Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 76.3 mi, about 1h 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Beach Haven West, NJ and Union, NJ.

1

Start on Mill Creek Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · Mill Creek Road
2

Turn left onto NJ 72

2.9 mi · 4 min · NJ 72
3

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 36 sec
Toward GSP Toll North Use the right lane.
4

Continue on GSP Northbound entrance ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec · GSP Northbound entrance ramp
Toward GSP North
5

Merge onto GSP

39 mi · 46 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 31 sec
7

Continue on GSP

37 mi · 47 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Exit 140 Toward US 22, NJ 82: Hillside Use the slight right lane.
9

Merge onto US 22

158 ft · 3 sec · US 22
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, Elizabeth
11

Turn slight right onto NJ 82

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Morris Avenue
12

Turn slight right

507 ft · 44 sec
13

Turn left onto NJ 82

0.5 mi · 55 sec · Morris Avenue
14

Turn right onto Harding Avenue

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Harding Avenue
15

Turn right onto CR 630

32 ft · 4 sec · Vauxhall Road
16

Turn left onto Harding Avenue

243 ft · 10 sec · Harding Avenue
17

Arrive at destination

Harding Avenue

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.2 miles from Beach Haven West, NJ, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.3 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 18 miles or 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 41.2 miles or 50m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union, NJ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Beach Haven West, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Beach Haven West, NJ

This is one driving day of about 82.3 miles and 1h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Beach Haven West, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 76.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 41.2 mi from Beach Haven West, NJ · 50m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

41 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

Toms River, NJ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hamilton, NJ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41.2 miles from Beach Haven West, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.3 miles.

Arriving in Union, NJ

The final approach into Union, NJ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...

6 mi from route ~16 min detour $10 near mile 82.3
View on nps.gov
Morristown National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...

15 mi from route ~37 min detour Free near mile 79.5
View on nps.gov
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...

16 mi from route ~39 min detour Free near mile 82.3
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area

Gateway National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...

18 mi from route ~45 min detour Free near mile 53.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.64 one way

$27.29 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $14.94 $29.89
premium $4.93 $15.96 $31.92
diesel $5.61 $18.17 $36.34

Estimated Tolls: $4.58

Garden State Parkway (76.3 mi) $4.58

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Tolls

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

47 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

ChargePoint Charging Station

Lakewood, New Jersey

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Farmingdale, New Jersey

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Maplewood, New Jersey

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Rivian Adventure Network

Tinton Falls, New Jersey

Rivian

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Staten Island, New York

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Union, New Jersey

Tesla

1 DCFC

Applegreen Electric Charging Station

Union, New Jersey

Other

1 DCFC

EVgo Charging Station

Clark, New Jersey

EVgo

1 DCFC

ChargePoint: 32 EVgo: 6 Other: 4 EV Connect: 2 Rivian: 1 Tesla: 1 Electrify America: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.7 0 $8.64 $3.95
Efficient EV 20.6 0 $7.20 $3.29
EV Truck/SUV 32.9 0 $11.52 $5.27

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Beach Haven West, NJ

Afternoon in Beach Haven West on Thursday

Local time

2:23 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Union, NJ

Afternoon in Union on Thursday

Local time

2:23 PM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

10 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

1h 44m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Beach Haven West, NJ to Union, NJ covers 82.3 miles and takes about 1h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, NJ 72, Mill Creek Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.2 miles from Beach Haven West, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.64 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Beach Haven West, NJ to Union, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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