Trip from Colts Neck, NJ to Toms River, NJ

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are Garden State Parkway, NJ 34, North Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 13.1 miles from Colts Neck, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.34 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Q: Are there national parks near the route from Colts Neck, NJ to Toms River, NJ?

Yes. Nearby national parks include Gateway National Recreation Area.

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

34m

Distance

26.2 mi

42 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min

4 AM

0h 32m ★

6 AM

0h 35m

8 AM

0h 41m

10 AM

0h 37m

12 PM

0h 36m

3 PM

0h 37m

5 PM

0h 40m

8 PM

0h 33m

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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Trip Overview

The drive from Colts Neck, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 26.2 miles and takes about 34m 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, NJ 34, North Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.9 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.34 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 26.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

34m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 34m highway drive covering 26.2 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and NJ 34. The longest continuous stretch is about 14.9 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 12 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 14.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 34. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.5 miles in near NJ 34.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.2 miles you will encounter 8 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 5.5 miles (NJ 34): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 10.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

4

5.5 mi into trip | ~8m in | NJ 34

Enter roundabout onto NJ 34

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

4

9.4 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward GSP Toll South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward GSP Toll South

5

10.1 mi into trip | ~14m in | GSP / Garden State Parkway

Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

8

25 mi into trip | ~32m in

Take the exit toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Exit 82 Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beac...

5

25.5 mi into trip | ~33m in | NJ 166 / North Main Street

Turn right onto NJ 166 / North Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Colts Neck, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll South along the way.

Gsp Toll South

9.4 mi in | ~13m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Garden State Parkway	14.9 mi	17m
NJ 34	9.4 mi	13m
North Main Street	0.7 mi	1m
Route 37 West	0.3 mi	<1m
Colts Neck Road	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 14.9 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Colts Neck, NJ and Toms River, NJ.

1

Start on CR 537

212 ft · 8 sec · Colts Neck Road

2

Turn left onto NJ 34

4.3 mi · 6 min · NJ 34

3

Take the ramp onto NJ 34

1.2 mi · 1 min · NJ 34

4

Enter roundabout onto NJ 34

219 ft · 3 sec · NJ 34

5

Continue on NJ 34

3.9 mi · 4 min · NJ 34

6

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Toward GSP Toll South

7

Merge onto GSP

15 mi · 17 min · Garden State Parkway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 48 sec

Exit 82 Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park Use the right lane.

9

Merge onto NJ 37

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Route 37 West

10

Turn right onto NJ 166

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Main Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

11

Turn left

78 ft · 5 sec

12

Arrive at destination

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.34 one way

$8.69 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$4.76	$9.51
premium	$4.93	$5.08	$10.16
diesel	$5.61	$5.78	$11.57

Estimated Tolls: $0.89

Garden State Parkway (14.9 mi) $0.89

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

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Tolls

$1

Total

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	7.9	$2.75	$1.26
Efficient EV	6.6	$2.29	$1.05
EV Truck/SUV	10.5	$3.67	$1.68

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (67% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Colts Neck, NJ

Night in Colts Neck on Thursday

Local time

9:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Toms River, NJ

Night in Toms River on Thursday

Local time

9:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

24 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

34m 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 Colts Neck, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 26.2 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.