Trip from Brick, NJ to Union, NJ

Drive Time

1h 11m

Distance

54.6 mi

88 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 5m ★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m

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

Downtown Brick, NJ, NJ

Brick, NJ

Garrison Gao

Downtown Union, NJ, NJ

Union, NJ

Arjun Gheewala

Trip Overview

Traveling from Brick to Union, New Jersey, covers 54.6 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 11 minutes. This straightforward trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is manageable without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize the Garden State Parkway, transitioning onto local roads like Cedar Bridge Avenue and Morris Avenue to reach your destination. With an estimated fuel cost of just $9, it is an economical route for a quick commute or visit. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region, you will remain in a familiar environment throughout the transit. This highway-focused drive is designed for efficiency rather than sightseeing, making it a reliable choice for those looking to reach Union quickly.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

27.3 miles from Brick, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a high-speed experience on this route, as 93% of the journey is spent on major highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time—specifically 50.5 miles—cruising along the Garden State Parkway. This creates a consistent, high-tempo flow that defines the character of the trip. After exiting the Parkway, the drive shifts briefly as you transition onto local arteries like Cedar Bridge Avenue and Morris Avenue to navigate toward your final stop. While the stretch on the Parkway is monotonous and fast-paced, the final leg requires more attention as you adjust to local road conditions.

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 50.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Cedar Bridge Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near GSP / Garden State Parkway.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 54.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 53.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

5
2.3 mi into trip | ~4m in | GSP / Garden State Parkway

Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway

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

Use the none lane.
4
15.7 mi into trip | ~19m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

8
53.2 mi into trip | ~1h 7m 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
53.6 mi into trip | ~1h 7m 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...
5
53.9 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in | NJ 82 / Morris Avenue

Turn left onto NJ 82 / Morris Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Garden State Parkway 50.5 mi 1h 2m
Cedar Bridge Avenue 1.1 mi 2m
Morris Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
Brick Boulevard 0.3 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 — 50.5 mi, about 1h 2m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brick, NJ and Union, NJ.

1

Start on (631)

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Brick Boulevard
2

Turn slight right

0.1 mi · 15 sec
3

Turn slight right onto CR 528

1.1 mi · 2 min · Cedar Bridge Avenue
4

Take the ramp

0.8 mi · 1 min
5

Merge onto GSP

13 mi · 15 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the none 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
Use the none lane.
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

Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule, though it is smart to account for potential traffic patterns common on the Garden State Parkway. You should not need any dedicated stops during the 1 hour and 11-minute duration, allowing you to complete the journey in one continuous push. Since the total fuel cost is only $9, you can easily manage your budget by refueling before you head out from Brick. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep a close eye on your GPS as you transition from the high-speed Parkway onto Morris Avenue, as the change in pace can be abrupt. Planning your departure to avoid peak commuter hours will help you maintain the estimated travel time.

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 27.3 miles from Brick, NJ, or about 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.5 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 54.6 miles or 1h 11m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 27.3 miles or 34m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 58m

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 Brick, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Brick, NJ

This is one driving day of about 54.6 miles and 1h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Brick, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 50.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 27.3 mi from Brick, NJ · 34m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

27 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 54.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 27.3 miles from Brick, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Union, NJ.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.03 one way

$18.07 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $9.89 $19.77
premium $4.92 $10.58 $21.16
diesel $5.64 $12.13 $24.26

Estimated Tolls: $3.04

Garden State Parkway (50.5 mi) $3.04

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

$9

Tolls

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.4 0 $5.73 $2.62
Efficient EV 13.7 0 $4.78 $2.18
EV Truck/SUV 21.8 0 $7.64 $3.49

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Brick, NJ

Evening in Brick on Sunday

Local time

8:22 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Union, NJ

Evening in Union on Sunday

Local time

8:22 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°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

5 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 11m 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 Brick, NJ to Union, NJ covers 54.6 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Cedar Bridge Avenue, Morris Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.3 miles from Brick, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.03 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 demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 54.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 53.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Brick, NJ to Union, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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