How far is Union, NJ from Fords, NJ?

The driving distance from Union, NJ to Fords, NJ is about 13.9 miles (22.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 11.9 miles (19.2 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
13.86 mi
00h 22m
Flight
11.96 mi
19.24 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Union.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
11.96 mi
Kilometers
19.24 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
13.86 mi
Kilometers
22.3 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 Fords
Thu, Apr 23, 3:29 AM EDT
Return by in Union
Thu, Apr 23, 3:52 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Union
2026-04-23T03:06
Arrive Fords
Thu, Apr 23, 3:29 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
Rahway
NJ

City in Union County, New Jersey

From Union
7 mi
00h 11m
To Fords
6.9 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
73°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Harding Avenue

    74 m · 12 sec · Harding Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Vauxhall Road

    1087 ft · 42 sec · Vauxhall Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Stuyvesant Avenue

    3120 ft · 2 min · Stuyvesant Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Chestnut Street

    708 ft · 28 sec · Chestnut Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward GSP Toll South

    1588 ft · 39 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

    8.6 mi · 12 min · Garden State Parkway

  7. 7

    Continue on Garden State Parkway Southbound

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Garden State Parkway Southbound

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95, NJTP, US 9, NJ 440, I 287: New York City, Philadelphia, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy

    1754 ft · 43 sec · Exit 129

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on US 9, NJ 440, I 287: Woodbridge, Perth Amboy, Raritan Center

    2062 ft · 51 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on CR 501 West: Fords

    930 ft · 32 sec

  11. 11

    Turn slight right onto King Georges Road

    1.2 km · 2 min · King Georges Road

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Amboy Avenue

    39 m · 5 sec · Amboy Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn right

    50 m · 12 sec

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
14 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
100.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Garden State Parkway
8.63 mi · 62%
Garden State Parkway Southbound
2.25 mi · 16%
King Georges Road
0.74 mi · 5%
Stuyvesant Avenue
0.59 mi · 4%
US 9
0.39 mi · 3%
GSP Toll South
0.3 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Garden State Parkway

Merge slight left onto Garden State Parkway

8.63 mi · 00h 12m

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 mi
11.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rahway
00h 11m from Union
Leave By
7:44 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Union and Mostly Sunny near Fords.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 13.9 miles (22.3 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?

Rahway is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7 miles from Union and 6.9 miles from Fords.

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

The direct path is about 11.9 miles (19.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 2 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 $2.00 one way or $4.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Rahway

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 Rahway and the surrounding midpoint area.
West Orange Town Hall
Scenic stop 12 mi away

West Orange Town Hall

West Orange , NJ
66 Main St, West Orange, NJ 07052
Rating 4.1/5 16 reviews Park
City of Elizabeth
Meeting point 6.3 mi away

City of Elizabeth

Elizabeth , NJ
50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
Rating 4.5/5 65 reviews City Hall
Bloomfield Municipal Building
Nearby stop 13.8 mi away

Bloomfield Municipal Building

Bloomfield , NJ
1 Municipal Plaza, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Rating 4.4/5 17 reviews Municipal hall

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Metropark station

6 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

Newark Liberty International Airport

13 mi away
Newark Liberty International Airport
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

17 mi away
1 Raymond Plaza West
RAIL

New Brunswick station

19 mi away
French and Albany Streets

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Union and Fords. Straight-line distance: 11.96 mi (19.24 km).

Union

#1 Union

A city in Union County, New Jersey.

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

#2 Fords

Town

Population15,187
Coordinates40.5292700, -74.3159800
Altitude35
CountryUnited States
Start: Union (-74.2632, 40.6976)
End: Fords (-74.31598, 40.52927)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 22 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.49 gal
1.85 L · about $2.00
Round trip
$4.00
0.98 gal · 3.7 L
Estimated CO2
4.4 kg one way
Round trip: 8.7 kg / 19 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $2.00 $4.00
Mid-grade $4.60 $2.25 $4.51
Premium $4.95 $2.43 $4.85
Diesel $5.98 $2.93 $5.86

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 Fords. The current time is 03:06:50.

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.