Origin
Union, NJ
Afternoon in Union on Monday
Local time
1:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union, NJ to Bradley Beach, NJ
Drive Time
59m
Distance
44.2 mi
71 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Bradley Beach, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Union, NJ to Bradley Beach, NJ covers 44.2 miles and takes about 59m 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, Garden State Parkway Southbound, NJ 18 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.31 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
22.1 miles from Union, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 59m highway drive covering 44.2 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and Garden State Parkway Southbound. The longest continuous stretch is about 27.5 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 20 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 27.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Garden State Parkway Southbound. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 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 44.2 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 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward GSP Toll South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward GSP Toll South
6
16.8 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
35 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward NJ 36 North, NJ 18: Eatontown, Long Branch, Tinton Falls
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 105
Toward NJ 36 North, NJ 18: Eatontown, Long Bran...
7
35.4 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 18 JCT: Tinton Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 18 JCT: Tinton Falls
7
40.8 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward NJ 66 East: Asbury Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10A
Toward NJ 66 East: Asbury Park
Towns Along This Route
Between Union, NJ and Bradley Beach, NJ, road signs point toward Long Branch, Tinton Falls and Gsp South.
Long Branch
35 mi in
|
~45m
Tinton Falls
35 mi in
|
~45m
Gsp South
36 mi in
|
~47m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 27.5 mi | 33m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| NJ 18 | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| Asbury Park Circle | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Asbury Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Stuyvesant Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 6th Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Brinley Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 27.5 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, NJ and Bradley Beach, NJ.
1
Start on Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
11 sec
·
Harding Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 630
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Vauxhall Road
3
Turn left onto CR 619
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Stuyvesant Avenue
4
Continue on CR 619
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Chestnut Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward GSP Toll South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto GSP
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on Garden State Parkway
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Garden State Parkway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 105
Toward NJ 36 North, NJ 18: Eatontown, Long Branch, Tinton Falls
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
Toward NJ 18 JCT: Tinton Falls
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto CR 38
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Wayside Road
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward GSP South, NJ 18 South, NJ 36 East
14
Merge onto NJ 18
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
NJ 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 10A
Toward NJ 66 East: Asbury Park
Use the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto NJ 66; CR 16
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Asbury Avenue
17
Turn straight onto NJ 35
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Asbury Park Circle
18
Turn left onto CR 2
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
6th Avenue
19
Continue on CR 2
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Brinley Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
CR 2
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 22.1 miles from Union, NJ, or about 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.5 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 44.2 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.1 miles or 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bradley Beach, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Union, 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, NJ
This is one driving day of about 44.2 miles and 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Union, 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 Garden State Parkway for about 27.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.1 mi from Union, NJ · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 44.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.1 miles from Union, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bradley Beach, NJ
The final approach into Bradley Beach, 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 Bradley Beach, NJ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.31 one way
$14.63 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $8.00 | $16.01 |
| premium | $4.92 | $8.57 | $17.13 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $9.82 | $19.64 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.02
Garden State Parkway
(33.7 mi)
$2.02
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
$7
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.64 | $2.12 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.87 | $1.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.19 | $2.83 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Bradley Beach, NJ
Afternoon in Bradley Beach on Monday
Local time
1:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
7 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
59m 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, NJ to Bradley Beach, NJ covers 44.2 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Garden State Parkway Southbound, NJ 18. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.1 miles from Union, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.31 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 44.2 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 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Union, NJ and Bradley Beach, NJ, road signs point toward Long Branch, Tinton Falls and Gsp South.
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