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Trip from Cape May, NJ to Toms River, NJ

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 41m

Distance

84.3 mi

136 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 34m ★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in New Jersey, United States

Cape May, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

township in Ocean County, New Jersey

Toms River, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Cape May, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 84.3 miles and takes about 1h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Garden State Parkway, Lafayette Street, Reading Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 81.2 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.98 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

42.2 miles from Cape May, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 84.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 41m highway drive covering 84.3 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and Lafayette Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 81.2 miles on Garden State Parkway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Garden State Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 81.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Lafayette Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Washington Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.3 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (NJ 109; OD / Washington Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
0.8 mi into trip | ~3m in | Washington Street

Turn right onto Washington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
1 mi into trip | ~3m in | NJ 109; OD / Washington Street

Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 109; OD / Washington Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
55.5 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in | GSP / Garden State Parkway

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
83.6 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in

Take the exit toward Lakehurst Road, Toms River

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 81 Toward Lakehurst Road, Toms River
6
84.1 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in | Irons Street

Turn left onto Irons Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Garden State Parkway 81.2 mi 1h 33m
Lafayette Street 1 mi 1m
Reading Avenue 0.7 mi 2m
Washington Street 0.2 mi <1m
West Water Street 0.2 mi <1m
Irons Street 0.2 mi <1m
Lakehurst Road <0.1 mi <1m
Massachusetts Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 81.2 mi, about 1h 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cape May, NJ and Toms River, NJ.

1

Start on this road

82 ft · 11 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto New York Avenue

104 ft · 6 sec · New York Avenue
3

Turn right onto Reading Avenue

0.7 mi · 2 min · Reading Avenue
4

Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue

324 ft · 19 sec · Massachusetts Avenue
5

Turn left onto East Street

302 ft · 15 sec · East Street
6

Turn right onto Washington Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Washington Street
Use the straight lane.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 109; OD

102 ft · 2 sec · Washington Street
Use the right lane.
8

Turn straight onto NJ 109; OD

1.0 mi · 1 min · Lafayette Street
9

Turn straight onto GSP

19 mi · 22 min · Garden State Parkway
Toward GSP North: Garden State Parkway North Use the slight right lane.
10

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 31 sec
11

Merge onto GSP

34 mi · 39 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

28 mi · 32 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 15 sec
Exit 81 Toward Lakehurst Road, Toms River Use the slight right lane.
14

Continue on Lakehurst Road

469 ft · 10 sec · Lakehurst Road
15

Continue on CR 527

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Water Street
16

Turn left onto Irons Street

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Irons Street
Use the left lane.
17

Continue on Irons Street

268 ft · 16 sec · Irons Street
18

Turn right onto NJ 166

287 ft · 10 sec · North Main Street
19

Turn left

78 ft · 5 sec
20

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.2 miles from Cape May, NJ, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.2 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 19 miles or 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 42.2 miles or 51m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 26m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Toms River, NJ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Cape May, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Cape May, NJ

This is one driving day of about 84.3 miles and 1h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Cape May, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 81.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 42.2 mi from Cape May, NJ · 51m into the drive

city in New Jersey

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Port Republic, NJ

42 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

Wildwood, NJ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Port Republic, NJ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.2 miles from Cape May, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81.2 miles.

Arriving in Toms River, NJ

The final approach into Toms River, NJ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Bagel Time Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Cape May, New Jersey

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: Closed

+16094087596

Visit website

Bella Vida Garden Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

West Cape May, New Jersey

1.3 mi

Cafe Bru

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Northfield, New Jersey

1.6 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Coho Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Cape May Court House, New Jersey

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 12

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+16095362935

Visit website

Magic Brain Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cape May, New Jersey

1 mi

Salty Acres Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rio Grande, New Jersey

0.8 mi

Bagel Time Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Cape May, New Jersey

Hours: Closed

+16094087596

Visit website

Bella Vida Garden Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

West Cape May, New Jersey

Hours: 8 am–2:30 pm

+16098846332

Visit website

Cafe Bru

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 36.1

Northfield, New Jersey

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+16092410147

Visit website

Carangi's Cafe & Deli

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 36.1

Northfield, New Jersey

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

+16093804937

Visit website

Sunnyside Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 12

Cape May Court House, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+16095362376

Sushi Ocean View Japanese Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 18.1

Ocean View, New Jersey

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+16096248886

Visit website

Gregory's Restaurant & Bar

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 30.1

Somers Point, New Jersey

Hours: 11:30 am–11 pm

+16099276665

Visit website

Fai's Chinese Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 18.1

Ocean View, New Jersey

Hours: 11:30 am–2:45 pm

+16096248000

Visit website

Coho Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 12

Cape May Court House, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+16095362935

Visit website

Magic Brain Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Cape May, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Visit website

Salty Acres Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 6

Rio Grande, New Jersey

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+16094258320

Visit website

Beach Plum Bakery & Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Cape May, New Jersey

Hours: Closed

+16097708261

Visit website

Shorebreak Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 18.1

Sea Isle City, New Jersey

Hours: Closed

+16094862137

Visit website

Swell Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 30.1

Ocean City, New Jersey

Hours: Closed

+16098142980

Visit website

agnello's cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 66.3

Manahawkin, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+16095495775

Visit website

Central Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 6

North Wildwood, New Jersey

Hours: Closed

+16098499421

American star inn and suites hotel galloway

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 42.2

Galloway, NJ

The Flanders Hotel

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 30.1

Ocean City, New Jersey

+16093991000

Visit website

Sunset Beach Hotel

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 6

Wildwood, New Jersey

+16095223193

Visit website

gramd hotel

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Cape May, New Jersey

Harriet Tubman Museum of New Jersey

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Cape May, New Jersey

Hours: Closed

Visit website

The Museum of Cape May County

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 12

Cape May Court House, New Jersey

Hours: Closed

+16094653535

Visit website

Garrett Family Preserve at Cape Island Creek

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Cape May, New Jersey

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+19088797262

Visit website

Playland's Castaway Cove

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 30.1

Ocean City, New Jersey

Hours: Closed

+16093994751

Visit website

Mariners Arcade

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 6

Wildwood, New Jersey

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

Visit website

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 6

North Wildwood, New Jersey

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+16096001561

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.98 one way

$27.95 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $15.31 $30.61
premium $4.93 $16.35 $32.70
diesel $5.61 $18.61 $37.22

Estimated Tolls: $4.87

Garden State Parkway (81.2 mi) $4.87

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Tolls

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.3 0 $8.85 $4.05
Efficient EV 21.1 0 $7.38 $3.37
EV Truck/SUV 33.7 0 $11.80 $5.40

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Cape May, NJ

Late night in Cape May on Saturday

Local time

4:39 AM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Toms River, NJ

Late night in Toms River on Saturday

Local time

4:39 AM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

5 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 41m 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 Cape May, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 84.3 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Lafayette Street, Reading Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 42.2 miles from Cape May, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.98 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.3 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (NJ 109; OD / Washington Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Cape May, NJ to Toms River, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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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