Origin
Fairfield, NJ
Evening in Fairfield on Friday
Local time
5:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield, NJ to Union, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
31m
Distance
21.6 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
Fairfield, NJ to Union, NJ is 21.6 miles and takes about 31 minutes via Garden State Parkway/US 46/NJ 3, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, quick trip primarily within New Jersey, making it an easy option for a single day. You'll be on major roadways for most of the journey, so expect consistent traffic flow, especially during peak hours. This route is ideal if you need to get between these two points efficiently without significant detours.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 21.6 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 (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 89% of the drive taking place on faster roads. You'll spend a good portion of your time navigating the Garden State Parkway and US 46, offering a consistent driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 11.8 miles on the Garden State Parkway. Expect the drive to feel like a typical commute on major arteries, with limited opportunities for scenic pull-offs.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 11.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US 46. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Craig Place.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 21.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 31m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Craig Place): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (US 46): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles (ramp to GSP Southbound): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Craig Place
Turn right onto Craig Place
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 46
Merge onto US 46
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
8.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
ramp to GSP Southbound
Take the exit onto ramp to GSP Southbound toward GSP Toll South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward GSP Toll South
5
9.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
20.9 mi into trip
|
~29m 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.
On the drive from Fairfield, NJ to Union, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll South along the way.
Gsp Toll South
8.9 mi in
|
~12m
|
via ramp to GSP Southbound
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 11.8 mi | 16m |
| US 46 | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| NJ 3 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Hollywood Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| ramp to GSP Southbound | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Craig Place | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Harding Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 11.8 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on Alan Drive
183 ft
·
10 sec
·
Alan Drive
2
Turn right onto Craig Place
355 ft
·
17 sec
·
Craig Place
3
Turn right onto CR 625
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Hollywood Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
5
Merge onto US 46
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 46
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 46
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 46
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn slight left onto NJ 3
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto ramp to GSP Southbound
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
ramp to GSP Southbound
Toward GSP Toll South
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto GSP
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 141
Toward Vauxhall Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto CR 630
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Vauxhall Road
Use the right lane.
12
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.58 one way
$7.16 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.92 | $7.84 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.19 | $8.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.77 | $9.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.71
Garden State Parkway
(11.8 mi)
$0.71
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Evening in Union on Friday
Local time
5:25 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
23 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 Fairfield, NJ to Union, NJ covers 21.6 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, US 46, NJ 3. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.8 miles from Fairfield, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.58 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 10 decision points packed into just 21.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 31m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Craig Place): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (US 46): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles (ramp to GSP Southbound): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Fairfield, NJ to Union, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll South along the way.
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.
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