Origin
Manasquan, NJ
Evening in Manasquan on Thursday
Local time
7:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Manasquan, NJ to Union, NJ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
49.1 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manasquan, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
The drive from Manasquan, NJ to Union, NJ covers 49.1 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Garden State Parkway, Atlantic Avenue, NJ 34 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.14 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 49.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m 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 is a 1h 6m highway drive covering 49.1 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and Atlantic Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 42.5 miles on Garden State Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 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 42.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Atlantic Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.1 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.8 miles (Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
3.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward GSP Toll North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward GSP Toll North
6
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP North, I 195 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward GSP North, I 195 West
5
4.8 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto Garden State Parkway toward GSP North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward GSP North
8
47.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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
48 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m 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 Manasquan, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North and Gsp North.
Gsp Toll North
3.9 mi in
|
~6m
Gsp North
4.5 mi in
|
~7m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 42.5 mi | 53m |
| Atlantic Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| NJ 34 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Morris Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Harding Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| US 22 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Vauxhall Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Broad Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 42.5 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manasquan, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on CR 20
27 ft
·
7 sec
·
Broad Street
2
Turn left onto CR 524 Spur
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Atlantic Avenue
3
Enter roundabout onto CR 524 Spur
285 ft
·
3 sec
·
Atlantic Avenue
4
Continue on CR 524 Spur
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Atlantic Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward NJ 34 North: Matawan
6
Merge onto NJ 34
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
NJ 34
7
Enter roundabout onto NJ 34
287 ft
·
3 sec
·
NJ 34
8
Continue on NJ 34
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
NJ 34
9
Continue on NJ 34
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
NJ 34
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll North
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward GSP North, I 195 West
12
Keep slight left at fork onto Garden State Parkway
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Toward GSP North
13
Merge onto GSP
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
15
Continue on GSP
37 mi
·
47 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 140
Toward US 22, NJ 82: Hillside
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto US 22
158 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 22
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, Elizabeth
19
Turn slight right onto NJ 82
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Morris Avenue
20
Turn slight right
507 ft
·
44 sec
21
Turn left onto NJ 82
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Morris Avenue
22
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Harding Avenue
23
Turn right onto CR 630
32 ft
·
4 sec
·
Vauxhall Road
24
Turn left onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.5 mi from Manasquan, NJ · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from Manasquan, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.14 one way
$16.28 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.92 | $17.83 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.52 | $19.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.84 | $21.68 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.56
Garden State Parkway
(42.5 mi)
$2.56
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$3
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.16 | $2.36 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.30 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.87 | $3.14 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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 Thursday
Local time
7:23 PM
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
21 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
1h 6m 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 Manasquan, NJ to Union, NJ covers 49.1 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Atlantic Avenue, NJ 34. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.5 miles from Manasquan, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.14 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.1 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.8 miles (Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Manasquan, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp Toll North and Gsp North.
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.
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