Origin
Kinnelon, NJ
Evening in Kinnelon on Sunday
Local time
7:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kinnelon, NJ to Union, NJ
Drive Time
39m
Distance
29.1 mi
47 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip from Kinnelon to Union, you will cover 29.1 miles in roughly 39 minutes. This straightforward journey stays entirely within the Northeast region of New Jersey, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Because the route is so efficient, you will not need to worry about overnight logistics or heavy travel fatigue. With a fuel cost of approximately $5, it remains an incredibly budget-friendly commute or weekend jaunt. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares, ensuring a direct connection between these two points.
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
14.5 miles from Kinnelon, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highly focused highway experience, as 93% of this 29.1-mile trek is spent on high-speed roads. You will navigate a combination of NJ 23, US 46, and the Garden State Parkway to reach your destination. The most significant portion of the drive occurs on the Garden State Parkway, where you will encounter an 11.8-mile stretch that serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of the trip. Behind the wheel, this feels like a functional, high-tempo drive rather than a winding scenic tour. The transition between these major arterial roads defines the character of the journey, keeping you moving steadily from start to finish.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 NJ 23. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR 618 / Kinnelon Road.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 29.1 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 0.1 miles (CR 618 / Kinnelon Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles (NJ 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 618 / Kinnelon Road
Turn right onto CR 618 / Kinnelon Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
4.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
NJ 23
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 23
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
11 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 46 East: Clifton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Toward US 46 East: Clifton
6
16.3 mi into trip
|
~20m 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
7
28.4 mi into trip
|
~37m 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 Along This Route
Between Kinnelon, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Clifton and Gsp Toll South.
Clifton
11 mi in
|
~13m
Gsp Toll South
16.3 mi in
|
~20m
|
via ramp to GSP Southbound
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 11.8 mi | 16m |
| NJ 23 | 10.3 mi | 12m |
| US 46 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| NJ 3 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Kinnelon Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| ramp to GSP Southbound | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Maple Lake Road | 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 Kinnelon, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on Kiel Avenue
103 ft
·
6 sec
·
Kiel Avenue
2
Turn left onto Maple Lake Road
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Maple Lake Road
3
Turn right onto CR 618
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Kinnelon Road
Use the none lane.
4
Turn right onto NJ 23
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 23
5
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 23
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
NJ 23
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
297 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 46 East: New York, Clifton
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward US 46 East: Clifton
Use the none lane.
8
Merge onto US 46
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 46
Use the none lane.
9
Continue on US 46
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 46
Use the none lane.
10
Turn slight left onto NJ 3
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 3
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
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.
12
Merge onto GSP
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the none lane.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 141
Toward Vauxhall Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto CR 630
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Vauxhall Road
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 39-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a wise move. Because the route is so compact, there is no need to plan for intermediate stops unless you prefer a break for personal comfort. Keep your fuel gauge in mind before you head out, as the $5 cost estimate assumes a standard efficiency for this relatively short distance. Since this trip is essentially a direct highway run, your primary focus should be on navigating the merges between NJ 23, US 46, and the Parkway. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by planning your arrival to perfectly align with your schedule.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 14.5 miles from Kinnelon, NJ, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.8 miles.
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 29.1 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.5 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kinnelon, 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 Kinnelon, NJ
This is one driving day of about 29.1 miles and 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kinnelon, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 11.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.5 mi from Kinnelon, NJ · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 29.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14.5 miles from Kinnelon, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.82 one way
$9.63 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $5.27 | $10.54 |
| premium | $4.92 | $5.64 | $11.28 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.47 | $12.93 |
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.06 | $1.40 |
| Efficient EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.55 | $1.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.07 | $1.86 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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 Sunday
Local time
7:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
39m 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 Kinnelon, NJ to Union, NJ covers 29.1 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, NJ 23, US 46. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.5 miles from Kinnelon, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.82 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 is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 29.1 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 0.1 miles (CR 618 / Kinnelon Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles (NJ 23): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Kinnelon, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Clifton and Gsp Toll South.
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