Drive Time
38m
Distance
25.7 mi
41 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
The drive from Union City, NJ to Fords, NJ covers 25.7 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 Jersey Turnpike, Exit to GSP and US Route 9, King Georges Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.4 miles on New Jersey Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.25 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
12.9 miles from Union City, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .
This is a 38m highway drive covering 25.7 miles, with most of the trip on New Jersey Turnpike and Exit to GSP and US Route 9. The longest continuous stretch is about 20.4 miles on New Jersey Turnpike.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on New Jersey Turnpike and Exit to GSP and US Route 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 25.7 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: at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles (NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.8 miles (Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South: Newark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP / New Jersey Turnpike toward I 95 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9 toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward US 9, NJ 440: Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Union City, NJ and Fords, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South and Perth Amboy.
Gsp
Woodbridge
Gsp South
Perth Amboy
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike | 20.4 mi | 26m |
| Exit to GSP and US Route 9 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| King Georges Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| NJ 495 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 45th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Amboy Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, NJ and Fords, NJ.
Start on 45th Street
Turn left onto CR 501
Turn slight left
Take the ramp
Continue on this road
Merge onto NJ 495
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto NJTP
Take the exit onto Exit 11
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn slight right onto CR 501
Turn right onto CR 501
Turn right
Arrive at 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 25.7 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.9 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fords, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Union City, 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 Union City, NJ
This is one driving day of about 25.7 miles and 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12.9 mi from Union City, NJ · 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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 25.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 12.9 miles from Union City, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Fords, 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 Fords, NJ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$4.25 one way
$8.51 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $4.65 | $9.31 |
| premium | $4.92 | $4.98 | $9.96 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.71 | $11.42 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.85
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
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.23 |
| Efficient EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.25 | $1.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.60 | $1.64 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Night in Union City on Saturday
Local time
9:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Night in Fords on Saturday
Local time
9:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
61°F
New York City, NY
13 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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