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Trip from Union City, NJ to Kinnelon, NJ

Drive Time

35m

Distance

26.9 mi

43 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 32m ★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 33m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Union City, NJ, NJ

Union City, NJ

Dajana Blakcori

borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States

Kinnelon, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Union City, NJ to Kinnelon, NJ covers 26.9 miles and takes about 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on NJ 23, NJ 3, US 46 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 10.3 miles on NJ 23. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.45 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

13.5 miles from Union City, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 35m highway drive covering 26.9 miles, with most of the trip on NJ 23 and NJ 3. The longest continuous stretch is about 10.3 miles on NJ 23.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NJ 23 is the longest continuous segment at about 10.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 23 and NJ 3. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 26.9 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 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1 miles (NJ 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.8 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward NJ 495 West, NJTP West

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward NJ 495 West, NJTP West
6
1 mi into trip | ~2m in | NJ 495

Merge onto NJ 495

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
1.3 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus
8
1.5 mi into trip | ~3m in

Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 3 West: Clifton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
5
1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in | NJ 3

Merge onto NJ 3

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Union City, NJ to Kinnelon, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Butler along the way.

Butler

15.5 mi in | ~19m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
NJ 23 10.3 mi 12m
NJ 3 10.2 mi 12m
US 46 3.7 mi 4m
John F. Kennedy Boulevard 0.5 mi 1m
Kinnelon Road 0.5 mi 1m
NJ 495 0.2 mi <1m
Maple Lake Road 0.1 mi <1m
45th Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: NJ 23 — 10.3 mi, about 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Union City, NJ and Kinnelon, NJ.

1

Start on 45th Street

0.1 mi · 33 sec · 45th Street
2

Turn left onto CR 501

0.5 mi · 1 min · John F. Kennedy Boulevard
3

Turn slight left

0.1 mi · 26 sec
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward NJ 495 West, NJTP West
5

Continue on this road

374 ft · 11 sec · this road
Toward NJ 495 West
6

Merge onto NJ 495

0.2 mi · 18 sec · NJ 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 29 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Secaucus Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork

453 ft · 7 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto NJ 3

10 mi · 12 min · NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Merge onto US 46

3.7 mi · 4 min · US 46
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward I 80 West, NJ 23 North: Delaware Water Gap, Butler
12

Merge onto NJ 23

4.6 mi · 5 min · NJ 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on NJ 23

5.7 mi · 7 min · NJ 23
Use the right lane.
14

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
15

Keep slight left at fork

121 ft · 10 sec
16

Turn left onto CR 618

450 ft · 10 sec · Kiel Avenue
17

Continue on CR 618

0.5 mi · 1 min · Kinnelon Road
18

Turn left onto Maple Lake Road

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Maple Lake Road
19

Turn right onto Kiel Avenue

103 ft · 2 sec · Kiel Avenue
20

Arrive at destination

Kiel Avenue

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 13.5 miles from Union City, NJ, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.3 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 26.9 miles or 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 13.5 miles or 17m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 29m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kinnelon, NJ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

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 26.9 miles and 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Union City, 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 23 for about 10.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 13.5 mi from Union City, NJ · 17m into the drive

Downtown Ramapo, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Ramapo, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ramapo, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 13.5 miles from Union City, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Kinnelon, NJ

The final approach into Kinnelon, 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 Kinnelon, NJ.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 13.9
Caution: Limited Amphitheater Accessibility
Caution: Overlook Park Parking Lot - Vehicles Must Be Parked in a Designated Spot
View on nps.gov
Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...

6 mi from route ~14 min detour $10 near mile 9.3
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area

Gateway National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...

16 mi from route ~39 min detour Free near mile 0.9
View on nps.gov
Morristown National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...

17 mi from route ~44 min detour Free near mile 16.7
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.45 one way

$8.90 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $4.87 $9.74
premium $4.92 $5.21 $10.43
diesel $5.64 $5.98 $11.95

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.4 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 8.1 0 $2.82 $1.29
Efficient EV 6.7 0 $2.35 $1.08
EV Truck/SUV 10.8 0 $3.77 $1.72

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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Union City, NJ

Morning in Union City on Monday

Local time

11:37 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kinnelon, NJ

Morning in Kinnelon on Monday

Local time

11:37 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

59°F

Ramapo, 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

2 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

35m 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 Union City, NJ to Kinnelon, NJ covers 26.9 miles and takes about 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NJ 23, NJ 3, US 46. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.5 miles from Union City, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.45 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 14 significant decision points across 26.9 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: at 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1 miles (NJ 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Union City, NJ to Kinnelon, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Butler along the way.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Kinnelon, NJ to Union City, NJ

Plan the drive back the other way.

27.3 mi 43m

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