The drive from Deerfield, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 81.9 miles and takes about 1h 53m 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, Landis Avenue, Harding Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.3 miles on Garden State Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.17 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
41 miles from Deerfield, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 81.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Deerfield, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 81.9 miles and takes about 1h 53m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 25 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 37.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.5 miles in near US 40.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.9 miles you will encounter 15 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 35.5 miles (US 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 53.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
35.5 mi into trip|~53m in|US 40
Keep slight right at fork onto US 40 toward US 40, US 322 East: Atlantic City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 40, US 322 East: Atlantic City
5
43.7 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Take the ramp toward GSP Toll North
Navigation decision point
Toward GSP Toll North
6
53.1 mi into trip|~1h 19m 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
81.3 mi into trip|~1h 52m 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
81.7 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|Irons Street
Turn left onto Irons Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 Deerfield, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll North along the way.
Gsp Toll North
43.7 mi in|~1h 8m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
37.3 mi
43m
Landis Avenue
15.9 mi
24m
Harding Highway
12.9 mi
18m
Pomona Road
4.8 mi
8m
NJ 77
3.4 mi
5m
Wrangleboro Road
2.9 mi
5m
Cedar Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Finley Road
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 37.3 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Deerfield, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on CR 540
36 ft·8 sec·West Deerfield Road
2
Turn right onto NJ 77
3.4 mi·5 min·NJ 77
3
Turn left onto CR 617
1.4 mi·2 min·Finley Road
4
Turn slight left onto NJ 56
16 mi·24 min·Landis Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on CR 540
1.4 mi·2 min·Cedar Avenue
6
Turn right onto US 40
8.6 mi·13 min·Harding Highway
7
Turn right onto CR 617
522 ft·12 sec·Absecon Road
8
Continue on CR 617
0.3 mi·40 sec·Somers Point Road
9
Continue on US 40
4.3 mi·5 min·Harding Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 40
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 40
Toward US 40, US 322 East: Atlantic City
11
Merge onto US 40; US 322
0.2 mi·15 sec·Black Horse Pike
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·23 sec
13
Continue on CR 575
2.9 mi·5 min·Wrangleboro Road
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on CR 575
4.8 mi·8 min·Pomona Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
16
Merge onto GSP
9.1 mi·10 min·Garden State Parkway
17
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
28 mi·32 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 81Toward Lakehurst Road, Toms RiverUse the slight right lane.
19
Continue on Lakehurst Road
469 ft·10 sec·Lakehurst Road
20
Continue on CR 527
0.2 mi·26 sec·West Water Street
21
Turn left onto Irons Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·Irons Street
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on Irons Street
268 ft·16 sec·Irons Street
23
Turn right onto NJ 166
287 ft·10 sec·North Main Street
24
Turn left
78 ft·5 sec
25
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 41 miles from Deerfield, NJ, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.3 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 18 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41 miles or 1h 3m 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 38m
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 Deerfield, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Deerfield, NJ
This is one driving day of about 81.9 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Deerfield, 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 37.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41 mi from Deerfield, NJ
· 1h 3m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.6
0
$8.60
$3.93
Efficient EV
20.5
0
$7.17
$3.28
EV Truck/SUV
32.8
0
$11.47
$5.24
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
Deerfield, NJ
Evening
in Deerfield on Thursday
Local time
7:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Toms River, NJ
Evening
in Toms River on Thursday
Local time
7:36 PM
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
1 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 53m 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 Deerfield, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 81.9 miles and takes about 1h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Landis Avenue, Harding Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41 miles from Deerfield, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.58 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 81.9 miles you will encounter 15 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 35.5 miles (US 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 53.1 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Deerfield, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll North along the way.
