The drive from Cape May, NJ to Union, NJ covers 144.6 miles and takes about 2h 57m 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, Lafayette Street, Reading Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 140.3 miles on Garden State Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.97 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
72.3 miles from Cape May, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 144.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 57m highway drive covering 144.6 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and Lafayette Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 140.3 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 24 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 140.3 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
101 ft7 ft
Total Climb
183 ft
Total Descent
90 ft
Highest Point
101 ft
~144.6 mi in
Elevation Range
94 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Lafayette Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Washington Street.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 144.6 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 0.8 miles (Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (NJ 109; OD / Washington Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.8 mi into trip|~3m in|Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
1 mi into trip|~3m in|NJ 109; OD / Washington Street
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 109; OD / Washington Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
55.5 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
143.2 mi into trip|~2h 53m 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
143.5 mi into trip|~2h 54m 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
The midpoint is around 72.3 miles from Cape May, 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 140.3 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Union, NJ.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
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
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 144.6
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 144.6
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 144.6
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
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 114.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.97 one way
$47.95 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$26.26
$52.51
premium
$4.93
$28.04
$56.09
diesel
$5.61
$31.93
$63.85
Estimated Tolls: $8.42
Garden State Parkway
(140.3 mi)$8.42
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
$24
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.4
0
$15.18
$6.94
Efficient EV
36.2
0
$12.65
$5.78
EV Truck/SUV
57.8
0
$20.24
$9.25
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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
Cape May, NJ
Late night
in Cape May on Saturday
Local time
4:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Union, NJ
Late night
in Union on Saturday
Local time
4:10 AM
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
3 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
2h 57m 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 Cape May, NJ to Union, NJ covers 144.6 miles and takes about 2h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Lafayette Street, Reading 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 72.3 miles from Cape May, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.97 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 144.6 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 0.8 miles (Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (NJ 109; OD / Washington Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Cape May, NJ to Union, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 7 ft to 101 ft elevation with about 183 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
