Origin
Union, NJ
Morning in Union on Friday
Local time
7:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union, NJ to Pompton Lakes, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
38m
Distance
27.4 mi
44 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
Pompton Lakes, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Union, NJ to Pompton Lakes, NJ covers 27.4 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 Garden State Parkway, NJ 23, US 46 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 11.8 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.54 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 27.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 38m highway drive covering 27.4 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and NJ 23. The longest continuous stretch is about 11.8 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 11.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 23. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 27.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 38m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward GSP Toll North
Navigation decision point
Toward GSP Toll North
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
12.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward NJ 3 West: Wayne
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 153B
Toward NJ 3 West: Wayne
5
13.4 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
NJ 3 / State Route 3
Merge onto NJ 3 / State Route 3
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
18 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West, NJ 23 North: Delaware Water Gap, Butler
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West, NJ 23 North: Delaware Water G...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Union, NJ and Pompton Lakes, NJ, road signs point toward Butler and Cr 511 Alt.
Butler
18 mi in
|
~25m
Cr 511 Alt
25.1 mi in
|
~34m
|
via CR 511 ALT
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 11.8 mi | 16m |
| NJ 23 | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| US 46 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| CR 511 ALT | 1 mi | 1m |
| State Route 3 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Wanaque Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 11.8 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, NJ and Pompton Lakes, NJ.
1
Start on Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
17 sec
·
Harding Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 630
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Vauxhall Road
3
Turn slight left
105 ft
·
8 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
5
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
this road
6
Merge onto GSP
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 153B
Toward NJ 3 West: Wayne
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto NJ 3
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Route 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 46
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
US 46
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 80 West, NJ 23 North: Delaware Water Gap, Butler
11
Merge onto NJ 23
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
NJ 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on NJ 23
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 23
Use the right lane.
13
Take the exit onto CR 511 ALT
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
CR 511 ALT
Toward CR 511 Alt
14
Turn slight right
181 ft
·
6 sec
15
Turn slight right onto CR 511 ALT
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike
16
Turn left onto CR 684
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Wanaque Avenue
17
Turn right onto CR 686
235 ft
·
5 sec
·
Colfax Avenue
18
Turn right onto Lakeside Avenue
83 ft
·
4 sec
·
Lakeside Avenue
19
Turn right
39 ft
·
2 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.54 one way
$9.09 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.98 | $9.95 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.31 | $10.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.05 | $12.10 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.76
Garden State Parkway
(11.8 mi)
$0.71
Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike
(0.8 mi)
$0.05
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.88 | $1.32 |
| Efficient EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.40 | $1.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.75 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Pompton Lakes, NJ
Morning in Pompton Lakes on Friday
Local time
7:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
38m 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 Pompton Lakes, NJ covers 27.4 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, NJ 23, 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 13.7 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 $4.54 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 short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 27.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 38m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Union, NJ and Pompton Lakes, NJ, road signs point toward Butler and Cr 511 Alt.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Morristown National Historical Park. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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