Origin
Belleville, NJ
Morning in Belleville on Saturday
Local time
9:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Belleville, NJ to Union, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
11.8 mi
19 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 17m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 22m
10 AM
0h 20m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 22m
8 PM
0h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Belleville, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
Belleville to Union is 11.8 miles and takes about 18 minutes via the Garden State Parkway and NJ 21, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short journey stays within the Northeast region, specifically New Jersey, making it a quick hop between two points. The drive is primarily highway-focused, suggesting it's designed for efficient travel rather than leisurely sightseeing. Given its brevity and the estimated fuel cost, this trip is ideal for a quick errand or connecting two nearby locations without significant time or expense. It's a straightforward route with minimal complexity, perfect for when you just need to get from point A to point B.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 11.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for about 80% of this 11.8-mile trip. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the Garden State Parkway and the Essex Freeway, experiencing swift travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is about 4.5 miles, allowing for consistent speed. While the primary roads are major highways, the route also incorporates NJ 21, which might offer a slight variation in the driving experience as you transition. Overall, the character is one of efficient transit, with the bulk of the drive being on high-speed parkways and freeways.
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 4.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 21. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 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 14 decision points packed into just 11.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 18m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
3.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 280 West: The Oranges
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 280 West: The Oranges
8
5.7 mi into trip
|
~8m 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
5.9 mi into trip
|
~8m 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
6.2 mi into trip
|
~9m 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
7
11.1 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward Vauxhall Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 141
Toward Vauxhall Road
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Belleville, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Jersey City, The Oranges, Orange and Gsp South.
Jersey City
3.9 mi in
|
~5m
The Oranges
3.9 mi in
|
~5m
Orange
5.7 mi in
|
~8m
Gsp South
6.2 mi in
|
~9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| NJ 21 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Essex Freeway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Joralemon Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Harding Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 4.5 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belleville, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 7
23 ft
·
4 sec
·
Washington Avenue
2
Turn right onto Joralemon Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Joralemon Street
3
Turn left onto Main Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Main Street
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward NJ 21 South: Newark
5
Merge onto NJ 21
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 21
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
50 ft
·
1 sec
Toward I 280 East, I 280 West: Harrison, Jersey City, The Oranges
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 280 West: The Oranges
8
Merge onto I 280
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Essex Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 12A; 12B
Toward GSP: Oraton Parkway, Clinton Street, East Orange
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 12B
Toward GSP: Garden State Parkway, Oraton Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward GSP South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
this road
13
Merge onto GSP
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 141
Toward Vauxhall Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto CR 630
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Vauxhall Road
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.96 one way
$3.91 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.14 | $4.29 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.29 | $4.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.61 | $5.21 |
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
$2
Tolls
$0
Total
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.24 | $0.57 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.03 | $0.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.76 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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 Saturday
Local time
9:30 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
1 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
18m 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 Belleville, NJ to Union, NJ covers 11.8 miles and takes about 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, NJ 21, Essex Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.9 miles from Belleville, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.96 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 is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 11.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 18m.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Belleville, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Jersey City, The Oranges, Orange and Gsp South.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Morristown National Historical Park. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Union, NJ
More trips to Union, NJ
Explore more options from Belleville, NJ or browse trips ending in Union, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.