Drive Time
38m
Distance
22.5 mi
36 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Photo: Dajana Blakcori
The drive from Mountainside, NJ to Union City, NJ covers 22.5 miles and takes about 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on New Providence Road, GSP Toll North, Garden State Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.72 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
11.2 miles from Mountainside, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .
Expect a 38m drive with frequent turns across 22.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Mountainside, NJ to Union City, NJ is easy. At 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mountainside, NJ to Union City, NJ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Providence Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| GSP Toll North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Garden State Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 78 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 95 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 95 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Mountainside, NJ and Union City, NJ.
Start on the route
Turn right
Turn left
Turn left onto New Providence Road
Turn left
Continue straight
Take the exit slight left toward GSP Toll North: Paterson
Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway
Take the exit slight right
Keep slight right to continue on I 78 East: Newark Airport, Newark
Merge slight left onto Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Keep slight right to continue on I 95/NJTP North Tolls
Keep straight to continue on I 95 North, NJTP North
Continue on I 95 North, NJTP North
Keep slight left to continue on I 95, I 80, NJ 3: Lincoln Tunnel
Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike Eastern Spur
Take the exit slight right toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward Kennedy Boulevard
Continue on 30th Street
Turn left onto John F Kennedy Boulevard
Continue on John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Turn right onto 47th Street
At the end of the road, turn right onto Bergenline Avenue
Turn right onto 45th Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 22.5 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11.2 miles or 19m 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 City, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Mountainside, 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 Mountainside, NJ
This is one driving day of about 22.5 miles and 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.2 mi from Mountainside, NJ · 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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.
A short stop after about 22.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 11.2 miles from Mountainside, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$3.72 one way
$7.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $4.07 | $8.15 |
| premium | $4.92 | $4.36 | $8.72 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.00 | $10.00 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
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
$4
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.36 | $1.08 |
| Efficient EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.97 | $0.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9 | 0 | $3.15 | $1.44 |
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Mountainside on Saturday
Local time
8:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Union City on Saturday
Local time
8:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Staten Island, NY
11 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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