Origin
Brookdale, NJ
Night in Brookdale on Tuesday
Local time
9:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brookdale, NJ to Union City, NJ
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
16m
Distance
11.2 mi
18 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 15m
★
6 AM
0h 16m
8 AM
0h 19m
10 AM
0h 17m
12 PM
0h 17m
3 PM
0h 18m
5 PM
0h 19m
8 PM
0h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brookdale, NJ
Joel Zar
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 11.2-mile drive from Brookdale, NJ, to Union City, NJ, is a quick 16-minute trip that's perfect for a single day. You'll primarily be on State Route 3, with portions of West Passaic Avenue and John F. Kennedy Boulevard also part of the journey. With a low fuel cost of around $2, this route is an economical option for getting between these two Northeast locations. The drive is mostly focused on highway travel, making it efficient for transit within the state. Since it's so short, you won't need to worry about overnight stops or splitting the journey.
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
5.6 miles from Brookdale, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for this trip, with 72% of the drive taking place on main roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.8 miles on State Route 3, offering a consistent flow of traffic. While the majority is highway, you'll also navigate sections of West Passaic Avenue and John F. Kennedy Boulevard, which may offer a slightly different driving feel. The personality of this route is efficient and direct, designed for quick travel between points.
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.
State Route 3 is the longest continuous segment at about 7.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 3 and West Passaic Avenue. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR 509 / Broad Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 11.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (CR 509 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (CR 622 / Darling Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 509 / Broad Street
Turn right onto CR 509 / Broad Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Turn left onto CR 622 / Darling Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
7
9.3 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel, Kennedy Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel, Kennedy Bou...
7
9.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward Kennedy Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Kennedy Boulevard
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Route 3 | 7.8 mi | 8m |
| West Passaic Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| NJ 495 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 30th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Bloomfield Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Bergenline Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 47th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
State Route 3
— 7.8 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brookdale, NJ and Union City, NJ.
1
Start on Irwin Place
473 ft
·
24 sec
·
Irwin Place
2
Turn right onto CR 509
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Broad Street
3
Turn left onto CR 622
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Passaic Avenue
4
Turn left onto CR 622
411 ft
·
7 sec
·
Darling Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on CR 622
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
7
Merge onto NJ 3
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
State Route 3
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel, Kennedy Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto NJ 495
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
NJ 495
10
Take the exit
263 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Kennedy Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on 30th Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
30th Street
12
Turn left onto CR 501
296 ft
·
16 sec
·
John F Kennedy Boulevard
13
Continue on CR 501
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
14
Turn right onto 47th Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
47th Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto Bergenline Avenue
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bergenline Avenue
16
Turn right onto 45th Street
64 ft
·
2 sec
·
45th Street
17
Arrive at destination
45th Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 16-minute duration and 11.2-mile distance, this route offers significant flexibility for departure times. You can easily time your drive to avoid peak traffic on State Route 3, which is a key part of the journey. With a minimal fuel cost of $2, refueling isn't a major concern, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Since there are no designated stops mentioned, plan for any necessary breaks before or after your trip. A helpful tip is to check local traffic conditions specifically for State Route 3 before you leave, as this segment constitutes the longest stretch of your drive.
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 5.6 miles from Brookdale, NJ, or about 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.8 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 11.2 miles or 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 5.6 miles or 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union City, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brookdale, 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 Brookdale, NJ
This is one driving day of about 11.2 miles and 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Brookdale, 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 State Route 3 for about 7.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 5.6 mi from Brookdale, NJ · 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
6 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 5.6 miles from Brookdale, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Union City, NJ
The final approach into Union City, 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 City, 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
$1.86 one way
$3.71 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.03 | $4.07 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.17 | $4.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.47 | $4.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.9 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 | 3.4 | 0 | $1.18 | $0.54 |
| Efficient EV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.98 | $0.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.57 | $0.72 |
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 City, NJ
Night in Union City on Tuesday
Local time
9:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
16m 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 Brookdale, NJ to Union City, NJ covers 11.2 miles and takes about 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Route 3, West Passaic Avenue, John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.6 miles from Brookdale, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.86 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 11.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (CR 509 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (CR 622 / Darling Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Brookdale, NJ to Union City, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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