Origin
Wharton, NJ
Night in Wharton on Friday
Local time
10:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wharton, NJ to Union City, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
37.4 mi
60 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wharton, NJ
Alexa V. Mato
Union City, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Wharton, NJ to Union City, NJ covers 37.4 miles and takes about 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Christopher Columbus Highway, NJ 3, US 46 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.6 miles on Christopher Columbus Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.20 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 37.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Wharton, NJ to Union City, NJ covers 37.4 miles and takes about 47m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Christopher Columbus Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 18.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near NJ 15 / West Union Turnpike.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 37.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (NJ 15 / West Union Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
NJ 15 / West Union Turnpike
Turn left onto NJ 15 / West Union Turnpike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway
Merge onto I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
20.8 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
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 53
Toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunn...
7
35.5 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel, Kennedy Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel, Kennedy Bou...
7
36 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward Kennedy Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Kennedy Boulevard
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Wharton, NJ to Union City, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Clifton along the way.
Clifton
20.8 mi in
|
~25m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 18.6 mi | 20m |
| NJ 3 | 10.5 mi | 11m |
| US 46 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| John F. Kennedy Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| NJ 495 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Dewey Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Chegwidden Way | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Christopher Columbus Highway
— 18.6 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wharton, NJ and Union City, NJ.
1
Start on CR 634
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto CR 634 Alt
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Chegwidden Way
3
Turn right onto CR 642
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Dewey Avenue
4
Turn left onto NJ 15
318 ft
·
6 sec
·
West Union Turnpike
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 East: Denville, Paterson
6
Merge onto I 80
19 mi
·
20 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 53
Toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 46
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 46
9
Continue on US 46
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 46
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn slight left onto NJ 3
11 mi
·
11 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel, Kennedy Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Merge onto NJ 495
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
NJ 495
13
Take the exit
263 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Kennedy Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on 30th Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
30th Street
15
Turn left onto CR 501
296 ft
·
16 sec
·
John F Kennedy Boulevard
16
Continue on CR 501
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
17
Turn right onto 47th Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
47th Street
18
At end of road, turn right onto Bergenline Avenue
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bergenline Avenue
19
Turn right onto 45th Street
64 ft
·
2 sec
·
45th Street
20
Arrive at destination
45th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.7 mi from Wharton, NJ · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.7 miles from Wharton, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Union City, NJ
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Union City, NJ if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.20 one way
$12.40 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.79 | $13.58 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.25 | $14.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.26 | $16.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.93 | $1.80 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.27 | $1.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15 | 0 | $5.24 | $2.39 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Union City, NJ
Night in Union City on Friday
Local time
10:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
19 mi in
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
47m 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 Wharton, NJ to Union City, NJ covers 37.4 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Christopher Columbus Highway, NJ 3, US 46. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.7 miles from Wharton, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.20 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 15 decision points packed into just 37.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (NJ 15 / West Union Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Wharton, NJ to Union City, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Clifton along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Morristown National Historical Park. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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