Drive or Fly: Toms River, NJ to Spring Lake Heights, NJ?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for TTN–JFK. At 19 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

27m

Distance

19.2 mi

Total Cost

$39

CO2

8 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$4

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 55m

2m in the air

Air Distance

16 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

4 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Toms River, NJ → TTN 59m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JFK → Spring Lake Heights, NJ 54m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Toms River, NJ TTN — Trenton Mercer Airport 39 mi, ~59m drive

Spring Lake Heights, NJ JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TTN and JFK. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

2h 30m

11m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Keystone Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Toms River, NJ → Princeton Junction Amtrak Station 50m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 11m

Arrival 10m

New Brunswick Amtrak Station → Spring Lake Heights, NJ 49m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Princeton Junction Amtrak Station 34 mi, ~50m drive

To New Brunswick Amtrak Station 32 mi, ~49m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 5 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	27m	3h 55m	2h 30m
Total cost (1 person)	$39	$121	$3
Carbon footprint	8 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	1 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

19.2 mi 27m

via GSP; US 9, NJ 70

Alternative (+3 min)

22.5 mi 30m

via GSP; US 9

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Toms River, NJ to Spring Lake Heights, NJ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.