Origin
Garfield, NJ
Late night in Garfield on Saturday
Local time
1:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Garfield, NJ to Union City, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
19m
Distance
12.7 mi
20 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 18m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Garfield, NJ
C. M.
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Garfield, NJ to Union City, NJ is 12.7 miles and takes about 19 minutes via NJ 3, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Northeast region and the state of New Jersey, making it a quick hop between two urban areas. It's a highly focused highway journey, so expect consistent speed and minimal distractions. Given its brevity, this trip is ideal for a quick errand, a commute, or an easy connection to another, longer journey without requiring an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 19m. Total distance: 12.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is primarily a highway-focused experience, with 72% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion on NJ 3, including a continuous stretch of 5.4 miles on this highway. The journey is characterized by its consistent speed and efficient travel, typical of urban interstate driving in New Jersey. Expect a direct and functional drive, designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NJ 3 is the longest continuous segment at about 5.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 3 and NJ 21. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 12.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 19m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
8
4.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward NJ 3: Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9
Toward NJ 3: Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
7
4.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 3 East: Lincoln Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward NJ 3 East: Lincoln Tunnel
7
10.8 mi into trip
|
~14m 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
11.3 mi into trip
|
~15m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 3 | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| NJ 21 | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Outwater Lane | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| NJ 495 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 30th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Ackerman Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Bergenline Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 3
— 5.4 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Garfield, NJ and Union City, NJ.
1
Start on this road
154 ft
·
15 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
403 ft
·
30 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto CR 42
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
Outwater Lane
4
Continue on Ackerman Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Ackerman Avenue
5
Turn left
198 ft
·
5 sec
6
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
this road
Toward NJ 21 South: Newark
7
Merge onto NJ 21
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
NJ 21
8
Take the exit
368 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 9
Toward NJ 3: Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 3 East: Lincoln Tunnel
Use the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward NJ 3 East
11
Merge onto NJ 3
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel, Kennedy Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Merge onto NJ 495
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
NJ 495
14
Take the exit
263 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Kennedy Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on 30th Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
30th Street
16
Turn left onto CR 501
296 ft
·
16 sec
·
John F Kennedy Boulevard
17
Continue on CR 501
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
18
Turn right onto 47th Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
47th Street
19
At end of road, turn right onto Bergenline Avenue
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bergenline Avenue
20
Turn right onto 45th Street
64 ft
·
2 sec
·
45th Street
21
Arrive at destination
45th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.11 one way
$4.21 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.31 | $4.61 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.46 | $4.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.80 | $5.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 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 | 3.8 | 0 | $1.33 | $0.61 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.11 | $0.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.81 |
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
Late night in Union City on Saturday
Local time
1:15 AM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
19m 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 Garfield, NJ to Union City, NJ covers 12.7 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NJ 3, NJ 21, 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 6.3 miles from Garfield, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.11 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 15 decision points packed into just 12.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 19m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Garfield, NJ to Union City, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area. 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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