How far is Highland Park, NJ from Union, NJ?

The driving distance from Highland Park, NJ to Union, NJ is about 19.6 miles (31.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 16.3 miles (26.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 00m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
19.6 mi
00h 30m
Flight
16.3 mi
26.23 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Highland Park.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
16.3 mi
Kilometers
26.23 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
19.6 mi
Kilometers
31.54 km
Drive Time
00h 30m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Union
Sat, Nov 7, 3:59 PM EST
Return by in Highland Park
Sat, Nov 7, 4:30 PM EST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Highland Park
2026-11-07T15:29
Arrive Union
Sat, Nov 7, 3:59 PM EST
Route Timing
00h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:30 AM to 7:30 PM EST

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:30 PM EST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Highland Park
10:00 PM EST
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Iselin
NJ

Unincorporated community in New Jersey, United States

From Highland Park
9.9 mi
00h 15m
To Union
9.8 mi
00h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM EST
Wind
5 to 10 mph W
Destination
Union Weather
NJ
Live fallback forecast
65°F
Saturday
Using Hillside as the closest live forecast in the Union County weather hub.

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM EST
Wind
0 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Highland Park and Union.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Highland Park and Union.

  1. 1

    Start on Harper Place

    18 m · 9 sec · Harper Place

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South 4th Avenue

    566 ft · 21 sec · South 4th Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Benner Street

    1715 ft · 1 min · Benner Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Volkert Street

    623 ft · 25 sec · Volkert Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Woodbridge Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · Woodbridge Avenue

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward US 1 North: Newark

    875 ft · 24 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    120 m · 7 sec

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    5.9 mi · 9 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway

    2305 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

    10.5 mi · 14 min · Garden State Parkway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 22, NJ 82: Hillside

    1526 ft · 39 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    48 m · 3 sec

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward NJ 82: Morris Avenue, Kean University, Elizabeth

    878 ft · 24 sec

  14. 14

    Turn slight right onto Morris Avenue

    690 ft · 15 sec · Morris Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn slight right

    155 m · 44 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Morris Avenue

    2494 ft · 55 sec · Morris Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Harding Avenue

    646 ft · 29 sec · Harding Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Vauxhall Road

    10 m · 5 sec · Vauxhall Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Harding Avenue

    74 m · 11 sec · Harding Avenue

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Harding Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Highland Park and Union.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
20 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
102 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Garden State Parkway
10.5 mi · 54%
US 1 North
6.18 mi · 32%
Woodbridge Avenue
0.69 mi · 4%
Morris Avenue
0.6 mi · 3%
GSP Toll North
0.44 mi · 2%
Benner Street
0.32 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Garden State Parkway

Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

10.5 mi · 00h 14m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 30m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.3 mi
16.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Iselin
00h 15m from Highland Park
Leave By
7:30 PM EST
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Highland Park and Mostly Sunny near Union.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Highland Park to Union?

The road trip is about 19.6 miles (31.5 km) and usually takes 00h 30m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Iselin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 9.9 miles from Highland Park and 9.8 miles from Union.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 16.3 miles (26.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:30 PM EST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.81 one way or $5.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Highland Park and Mostly Sunny near Union.

Stop Ideas Near Iselin

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Iselin and the surrounding midpoint area.
West Orange Town Hall
Scenic stop 14.5 mi away

West Orange Town Hall

West Orange , NJ
66 Main St, West Orange, NJ 07052
Rating 4.1/5 16 reviews Park
City Hall - City of Newark
Meeting point 13.3 mi away

City Hall - City of Newark

Newark , NJ
920 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102
Rating 3.9/5 71 reviews City Hall
City Hall
Nearby stop 13.4 mi away

City Hall

Newark , NJ
Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102
Rating 4.2/5 11 reviews Bus stop

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Iselin.

RAIL

Metropark station

1 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

New Brunswick station

14 mi away
French and Albany Streets
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

18 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

22 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Highland Park and Union. Straight-line distance: 16.3 mi (26.23 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Highland Park

Highland Park is a place in New Jersey, United States.

Population0
Coordinates40.4959400, -74.4243200
Altitude30
CountryUnited States
Union

#2 Union

A city in Union County, New Jersey.

Population67,137
Coordinates40.6976000, -74.2632000
Altitude30
CountryUnited States
Start: Harper Place (-74.424346, 40.496004)
End: Harding Avenue (-74.26348, 40.697581)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 32 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.69 gal
2.62 L · about $2.81
Round trip
$5.63
1.38 gal · 5.24 L
Estimated CO2
6.1 kg one way
Round trip: 12.3 kg / 27 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.08 $2.81 $5.63
Mid-grade $4.71 $3.25 $6.50
Premium $5.02 $3.47 $6.93
Diesel $6.31 $4.36 $8.71

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in New Jersey · Nov 07, 2026

There is no time difference between Highland Park and Union. The current time is 15:29:07.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.