Origin
Laurence Harbor, NJ
Morning in Laurence Harbor on Friday
Local time
11:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Laurence Harbor, 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
20.6 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good 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 34m
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.
Laurence Harbor, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
Laurence Harbor to Union is 20.6 miles and takes about 31 minutes via Garden State Parkway and NJ 35, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, quick drive entirely within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given the short distance and minimal duration, it's an ideal route for a single-day trip. You'll primarily be on well-traveled parkways and highways, making it a practical choice for getting between these locations efficiently.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 20.6 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 drive is heavily highway-focused, with 89% of the route utilizing major roadways. Expect a consistent pace for much of the journey, particularly during the longest stretch of 11.6 miles on the Garden State Parkway. You'll transition from the parkway onto NJ 35 and then Morris Avenue, offering a slight change in scenery and speed as you approach your destination. The overall character is one of efficient travel rather than scenic exploration, designed for direct transit.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 11.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
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 20.6 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: at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
6
6.6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward GSP North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward GSP North
7
7.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
5
7.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
19.3 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
19.6 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 Laurence Harbor, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North, Kean University and Elizabeth.
Gsp North
6.6 mi in
|
~9m
Kean University
19.6 mi in
|
~28m
Elizabeth
19.6 mi in
|
~28m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 11.6 mi | 16m |
| NJ 35 | 6.6 mi | 9m |
| Morris Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Harding Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| US 22 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Vauxhall Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 11.6 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laurence Harbor, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 35
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
NJ 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
2
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward GSP North
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
3
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
this road
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
5
Merge onto GSP
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 140
Toward US 22, NJ 82: Hillside
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto US 22
158 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 22
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, Elizabeth
9
Turn slight right onto NJ 82
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Morris Avenue
10
Turn slight right
507 ft
·
44 sec
11
Turn left onto NJ 82
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Morris Avenue
12
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Harding Avenue
13
Turn right onto CR 630
32 ft
·
4 sec
·
Vauxhall Road
14
Turn left onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.42 one way
$6.83 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.74 | $7.48 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.00 | $7.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.55 | $9.10 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.70
Garden State Parkway
(11.6 mi)
$0.70
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
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.16 | $0.99 |
| Efficient EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.80 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.88 | $1.32 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Morning in Union on Friday
Local time
11:29 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
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 Laurence Harbor, NJ to Union, NJ covers 20.6 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, NJ 35, Morris Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.3 miles from Laurence Harbor, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.42 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 20.6 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: at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Laurence Harbor, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp North, Kean University and Elizabeth.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls 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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