Origin
Little Ferry, NJ
Morning in Little Ferry on Wednesday
Local time
8:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Little Ferry, NJ to Union City, NJ
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
14m
Distance
8.4 mi
14 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 13m
★
6 AM
0h 14m
8 AM
0h 17m
10 AM
0h 15m
12 PM
0h 15m
3 PM
0h 15m
5 PM
0h 17m
8 PM
0h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Little Ferry, NJ
Garrison Gao
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Little Ferry, NJ to Union City, NJ covers 8.4 miles and takes about 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NJ 3, Washington Avenue, Moonachie Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 2.5 miles on NJ 3. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.39 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
4.2 miles from Little Ferry, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Little Ferry, NJ to Union City, NJ covers 8.4 miles and takes about 14m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 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 2.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 40 / Main Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 8.4 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: near the start (CR 40 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (NJ 120): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles (NJ 3): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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
|
CR 40 / Main Street
Turn right onto CR 40 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
NJ 120
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 120 toward NJ 3 East: Lincoln Tunnel, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 3 East: Lincoln Tunnel, New York City
5
4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
NJ 3
Merge onto NJ 3
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
6.5 mi into trip
|
~9m 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
7.1 mi into trip
|
~10m 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
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 Little Ferry, NJ to Union City, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward New York City along the way.
New York City
3.8 mi in
|
~6m
|
via NJ 120
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 3 | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| Washington Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Moonachie Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Larry Doby Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Liberty Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| NJ 495 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 30th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 3
— 2.5 mi, about 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Little Ferry, NJ and Union City, NJ.
1
Start on Charles Street
190 ft
·
10 sec
·
Charles Street
2
Turn right onto CR 40
327 ft
·
17 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn left onto CR 503
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Liberty Street
4
Continue on CR 503
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Moonachie Road
5
Continue on CR 503
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on NJ 120
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Larry Doby Highway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 120
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
NJ 120
Toward NJ 3 East: Lincoln Tunnel, New York City
8
Merge onto NJ 3
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel, Kennedy Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Merge onto NJ 495
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
NJ 495
11
Take the exit
263 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Kennedy Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on 30th Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
30th Street
13
Turn left onto CR 501
296 ft
·
16 sec
·
John F Kennedy Boulevard
14
Continue on CR 501
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
15
Turn right onto 47th Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
47th Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto Bergenline Avenue
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bergenline Avenue
17
Turn right onto 45th Street
64 ft
·
2 sec
·
45th Street
18
Arrive at destination
45th Street
Trip Plan
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 4.2 miles from Little Ferry, NJ, or about 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 2.5 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 8.4 miles or 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 4.2 miles or 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union City, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Little Ferry, 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 Little Ferry, NJ
This is one driving day of about 8.4 miles and 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Little Ferry, 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 NJ 3 for about 2.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 4.2 mi from Little Ferry, NJ · 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
4 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 8.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 4.2 miles from Little Ferry, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Union City, NJ
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.39 one way
$2.79 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $1.53 | $3.05 |
| premium | $4.93 | $1.63 | $3.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.85 | $3.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.5 | 0 | $0.88 | $0.40 |
| Efficient EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.74 | $0.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.18 | $0.54 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Destination
Union City, NJ
Morning in Union City on Wednesday
Local time
8:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Clear
W 5 to 17 mph
15% chance
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
1 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
14m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Little Ferry, NJ to Union City, NJ covers 8.4 miles and takes about 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NJ 3, Washington Avenue, Moonachie Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.2 miles from Little Ferry, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.39 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 11 significant decision points across 8.4 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: near the start (CR 40 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (NJ 120): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles (NJ 3): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Little Ferry, NJ to Union City, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward New York City along the way.
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