Origin
Edison, NJ
Afternoon in Edison on Saturday
Local time
12:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Edison, 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
31m
Distance
17 mi
27 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Edison, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
This quick 17-mile drive from Edison to Union, New Jersey, is easily manageable in about 31 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. Primarily utilizing the Garden State Parkway, Lincoln Highway, and Middlesex Avenue, you'll experience a mixed drive profile. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $3, this route is budget-friendly. Since it's a short journey with no recommended stops and a relatively low highway share at 53%, you won't need to split it into multiple days. This trip keeps you within the Northeast region, offering a straightforward transition between two New Jersey locations.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 17 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a varied driving experience on this route, with 53% of it being highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9 miles on the Garden State Parkway, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. Beyond the parkway, the drive transitions to local roads like Lincoln Highway and Middlesex Avenue, introducing more varied traffic patterns and potential intersections. This blend means you'll experience both faster-paced highway segments and more typical suburban road conditions as you make your way to Union.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 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 9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Central Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 17 miles you will encounter 14 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 (Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (CR 669 / Middlesex Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
CR 669 / Middlesex Avenue
Turn right onto CR 669 / Middlesex Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
6.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
15.7 mi into trip
|
~27m 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
16 mi into trip
|
~28m 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...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Edison, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North, Kean University and Elizabeth.
Gsp Toll North
6.3 mi in
|
~14m
Kean University
16 mi in
|
~28m
Elizabeth
16 mi in
|
~28m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 9 mi | 12m |
| Lincoln Highway | 3.6 mi | 7m |
| Middlesex Avenue | 2 mi | 4m |
| Morris Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Plainfield Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Harding Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Bridge Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Reed Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 9 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Edison, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on this road
175 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on Reed Street
348 ft
·
20 sec
·
Reed Street
3
Turn left onto Central Avenue
345 ft
·
18 sec
·
Central Avenue
4
Turn right onto CR 529
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Plainfield Avenue
5
Turn left onto NJ 27
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Lincoln Highway
6
Turn left onto CR 669
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Bridge Street
7
Turn right onto CR 669
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Middlesex Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on NJ 27
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Lincoln Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the ramp
467 ft
·
11 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
10
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
this road
11
Merge onto GSP
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 140
Toward US 22, NJ 82: Hillside
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto US 22
158 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 22
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, Elizabeth
15
Turn slight right onto NJ 82
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Morris Avenue
16
Turn slight right
507 ft
·
44 sec
17
Turn left onto NJ 82
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Morris Avenue
18
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Harding Avenue
19
Turn right onto CR 630
32 ft
·
4 sec
·
Vauxhall Road
20
Turn left onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.82 one way
$5.64 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.09 | $6.17 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.30 | $6.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.75 | $7.51 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.54
Garden State Parkway
(9 mi)
$0.54
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$1
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.82 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.49 | $0.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.38 | $1.09 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
Union, NJ
Afternoon in Union on Saturday
Local time
12:34 PM
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
24 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
31m 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 Edison, NJ to Union, NJ covers 17 miles and takes about 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Lincoln Highway, Middlesex Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.5 miles from Edison, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.82 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 17 miles you will encounter 14 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 (Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (CR 669 / Middlesex Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Edison, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North, Kean University and Elizabeth.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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