Origin
Maywood, NJ
Afternoon in Maywood on Saturday
Local time
3:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maywood, NJ to Union, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
32m
Distance
21.9 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maywood, NJ
James Kampeis
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Trip Overview
This straightforward 21.9-mile drive from Maywood, NJ, to Union, NJ, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 32 minutes. The route heavily favors highway driving, with 81% of the journey on major roads like the Garden State Parkway and Christopher Columbus Highway. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $4, this is a quick and efficient trip. You'll stay within the Northeast region and the state of New Jersey for the entire duration, making it a convenient local excursion. This drive is best suited for those looking for a direct and uncomplicated transit between these two New Jersey locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 17.8 mi | 25m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Maywood Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Essex Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Harding Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Riverview Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 17.8 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maywood, NJ and Union, NJ.
1
Start on CR 59
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Maywood Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 56
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Essex Street
3
Turn left onto Riverview Avenue
189 ft
·
5 sec
·
Riverview Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
5
Merge onto I 80
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 62
Toward GSP: Midland Avenue, Saddle Brook
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP South
8
Merge onto GSP
18 mi
·
25 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 141
Toward Vauxhall Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto CR 630
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Vauxhall Road
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harding Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Harding Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 21.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Riverview Avenue
Turn left onto Riverview Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
8
2.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward GSP: Midland Avenue, Saddle Brook
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 62
Toward GSP: Midland Avenue, Saddle Brook
5
2.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward GSP South
7
21.2 mi into trip
|
~30m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.63 one way
$7.26 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.98 | $7.95 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.25 | $8.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.84 | $9.67 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.07
Garden State Parkway
(17.8 mi)
$1.07
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.30 | $1.05 |
| Efficient EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Afternoon in Union on Saturday
Local time
3:37 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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
32m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 21.9-mile journey. With 81% of the drive on major roads, you'll spend most of your time on the Garden State Parkway and Christopher Columbus Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 17.8 miles on the Garden State Parkway, offering a consistent pace. While the route is primarily high-speed, you will navigate through Maywood Avenue, which may offer a brief change in scenery and speed before rejoining the main thoroughfares. The overall character is one of efficient, direct travel.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.8 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Christopher Columbus Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near Riverview Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
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 21.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (Riverview Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Maywood, NJ and Union, NJ, road signs point toward Saddle Brook and Gsp South.
Saddle Brook
2.7 mi in
|
~3m
Gsp South
2.9 mi in
|
~4m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 21.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.8 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.07 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Union, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (Riverview Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Morristown National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Union, NJ before heading back.
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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