How far is Union, NJ from Carteret, NJ?

The driving distance from Union, NJ to Carteret, NJ is about 11.1 miles (17.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 8.5 miles (13.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
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
11.11 mi
00h 22m
Flight
8.51 mi
13.7 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Union.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
8.51 mi
Kilometers
13.7 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
11.11 mi
Kilometers
17.88 km
Drive Time
00h 22m

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 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Carteret
Thu, Apr 23, 12:28 AM EDT
Return by in Union
Thu, Apr 23, 12:50 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Union
2026-04-23T00:05
Arrive Carteret
Thu, Apr 23, 12:28 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:23 AM to 7:23 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:44 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Union
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Elizabeth
NJ

The second most populous city in Union County, New Jersey.

From Union
5.5 mi
00h 11m
To Carteret
5.5 mi
00h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Union Weather
NJ
Live fallback forecast
70°F
Thursday
Using Hillside as the closest live forecast in the Union County weather hub.

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW
Destination
72°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Union and Carteret.

  1. 1

    Start on Harding Avenue

    74 m · 12 sec · Harding Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Vauxhall Road

    86 m · 16 sec · Vauxhall Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Adams Avenue

    617 ft · 27 sec · Adams Avenue

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Morris Avenue

    2.4 mi · 5 min · Morris Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn right onto North Avenue

    1924 ft · 47 sec · North Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on Elmora Avenue

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Elmora Avenue

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Bayway Circle

    139 m · 13 sec · Bayway

  8. 8

    Exit the rotary onto Bayway

    1 km · 1 min · Bayway

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Brunswick Avenue

    755 ft · 19 sec · Brunswick Avenue

  10. 10

    Take the ramp left toward I 95 Toll, NJTP Toll: NJ Turnpike

    1506 ft · 46 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton

    750 ft · 12 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right

    1999 ft · 31 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike

    2.6 mi · 3 min · New Jersey Turnpike

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Carteret, Rahway

    1.2 km · 2 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Carteret, West Carteret, Rahway

    72 m · 6 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Carteret

    527 ft · 15 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Roosevelt Avenue

    2244 ft · 1 min · Roosevelt Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on Washington Avenue

    2245 ft · 1 min · Washington Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Matthew Avenue

    147 m · 23 sec · Matthew Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Linden Street

    1092 ft · 50 sec · Linden Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Carteret Avenue

    76 m · 12 sec · Carteret Avenue

  22. 22

    Continue on Carteret Avenue

    29 m · 9 sec · Carteret Avenue

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Carteret Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
207.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
New Jersey Turnpike
3.47 mi · 31%
Morris Avenue
2.43 mi · 22%
Elmora Avenue
1.73 mi · 16%
Bayway
0.69 mi · 6%
I 95 South
0.52 mi · 5%
Roosevelt Avenue
0.43 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

New Jersey Turnpike

Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike

2.61 mi · 00h 03m

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 22m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.6 mi
8.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Elizabeth
00h 11m from Union
Leave By
7:44 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Union and Mostly Sunny near Carteret.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Union to Carteret?

The road trip is about 11.1 miles (17.9 km) and usually takes 00h 22m 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?

Elizabeth is a useful midpoint, sitting about 5.5 miles from Union and 5.5 miles from Carteret.

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

The direct path is about 8.5 miles (13.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.6 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:44 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.59 one way or $3.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Elizabeth

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 Elizabeth and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Hall Parking Lot
Scenic stop 10.3 mi away

City Hall Parking Lot

Jersey City , NJ
280 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Parking lot
The Yard: City Hall Park NYC
Practical stop 11.7 mi away

The Yard: City Hall Park NYC

New York , NY
116 Nassau St, New York, NY 10038
Rating 4.8/5 45 reviews Office space rental agency,Business to business service,Conference center,Coworking space,Event venue,Executive suite rental agency,Virtual office rental
CITY HALL LOBBY
Meeting point 11.5 mi away

CITY HALL LOBBY

Hoboken , NJ
94 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Rating 4.8/5 8 reviews City Hall
Diamond City Hall Photography
Nearby stop 12.1 mi away

Diamond City Hall Photography

New York , NY
141 Worth St, New York, NY 10013
Rating 5.0/5 53 reviews Wedding photographer

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

5 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

9 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West
RAIL

Metropark station

15 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

21 mi away
8th Ave 31st Street / 8th Ave 33rd Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Union and Carteret. Straight-line distance: 8.51 mi (13.7 km).

Union

#1 Union

A city in Union County, New Jersey.

Population67,137
Coordinates40.6976000, -74.2632000
Altitude30
CountryUnited States
Carteret

#2 Carteret

Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States

Population23,383
Coordinates40.5773300, -74.2282000
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Start: Union (-74.2632, 40.6976)
End: Carteret (-74.2282, 40.57733)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 18 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.39 gal
1.48 L · about $1.59
Round trip
$3.19
0.78 gal · 2.96 L
Estimated CO2
3.5 kg one way
Round trip: 6.9 kg / 15 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $1.59 $3.19
Mid-grade $4.60 $1.79 $3.59
Premium $4.95 $1.93 $3.86
Diesel $5.98 $2.33 $4.66

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Union and Carteret. The current time is 00:05:31.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

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