Origin
Fair Haven, NJ
Late night in Fair Haven on Friday
Local time
1:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fair Haven, NJ to Toms River, NJ
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
44m
Distance
33.9 mi
55 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fair Haven, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 33.9-mile drive from Fair Haven, NJ, to Toms River, NJ, is easily manageable in about 44 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route is heavily focused on highway driving, with 83% of the journey on major roads like the Garden State Parkway and Newman Springs Road. With a modest fuel cost of around $6, this trip offers an efficient way to travel within the Northeast region. You won't need to break this up overnight; it's a quick hop between two points in New Jersey.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 44m. Total distance: 33.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 33.9-mile journey, as 83% of the drive utilizes major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27.8 miles on the Garden State Parkway, offering a consistent pace. While primarily a highway drive, you'll transition through local roads like East Front Street and Newman Springs Road, providing a brief change of scenery before rejoining faster routes. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than winding scenic exploration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 27.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and East Front Street. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Locust Avenue.
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 33.9 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (Locust Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (CR 13 / Rector Place): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Locust Avenue
Turn right onto Locust Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CR 13 / Rector Place
Turn left onto CR 13 / Rector Place
Navigation decision point
5
4.8 mi into trip
|
~9m 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
32.7 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
33.2 mi into trip
|
~43m 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 Fair Haven, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll South along the way.
Gsp Toll South
4.6 mi in
|
~9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 27.8 mi | 32m |
| East Front Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Newman Springs Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Shrewsbury Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| River Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Route 37 West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Locust Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 27.8 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fair Haven, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on Fisk Street
33 ft
·
3 sec
·
Fisk Street
2
Turn right onto Locust Avenue
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Locust Avenue
3
Turn left onto CR 10
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Front Street
4
Continue on CR 10
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
River Road
5
Continue on CR 10
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Front Street
6
Turn left onto CR 13
216 ft
·
4 sec
·
Rector Place
7
Continue on CR 13
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Shrewsbury Avenue
8
Turn right onto CR 520
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Newman Springs Road
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward GSP Toll South
10
Merge onto GSP
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 82
Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto NJ 37
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Route 37 West
13
Turn right onto NJ 166
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left
78 ft
·
5 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.62 one way
$11.24 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.16 | $12.31 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.57 | $13.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.48 | $14.97 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.67
Garden State Parkway
(27.8 mi)
$1.67
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.56 | $1.63 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Toms River, NJ
Late night in Toms River on Friday
Local time
1:20 AM
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
2 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
44m 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 Fair Haven, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 33.9 miles and takes about 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, East Front Street, Newman Springs Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17 miles from Fair Haven, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.62 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 33.9 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (Locust Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (CR 13 / Rector Place): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Fair Haven, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll South along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Gateway National Recreation Area.
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