Drive Time
39m
Distance
26 mi
42 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Photo: Dajana Blakcori
The drive from Fords, NJ to Union City, NJ covers 26 miles and takes about 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on New Jersey Turnpike, New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur, King Georges Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.30 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
13 miles from Fords, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .
This is a 39m highway drive covering 26 miles, with most of the trip on New Jersey Turnpike and New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur. The longest continuous stretch is about 14 miles on New Jersey Turnpike.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 26 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 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Kennedy Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Between Fords, NJ and Union City, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: New York City, Trenton and Njtp North: New York City.
Njtp: New York City
Trenton
Njtp North: New York City
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 14 mi | 17m |
| New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| King Georges Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| NJ 495 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 30th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Bergenline Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 47th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Fords, NJ and Union City, NJ.
Start on this road
Turn left onto CR 501
Turn left onto CR 501
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on this road
Continue on this road
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Keep slight right at fork onto NJTP
Take the exit
Continue on NJ 495
Take the exit
Continue on 30th Street
Turn left onto CR 501
Continue on CR 501
Turn right onto 47th Street
At end of road, turn right onto Bergenline Avenue
Turn right onto 45th Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 26 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13 miles or 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union City, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Fords, 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 Fords, NJ
This is one driving day of about 26 miles and 39m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13 mi from Fords, NJ · 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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.
A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 13 miles from Fords, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$4.30 one way
$8.60 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $4.71 | $9.42 |
| premium | $4.92 | $5.04 | $10.08 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.78 | $11.55 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.83
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
$4
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.73 | $1.25 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.64 | $1.66 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Fords on Saturday
Local time
8:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Union City on Saturday
Local time
8:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
61°F
New York City, NY
13 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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