Origin
Linden, NJ
Late night in Linden on Saturday
Local time
4:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Linden, 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 10m
Distance
55.2 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Linden, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 55.2-mile drive from Linden, NJ to Toms River, NJ is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 10 minutes. It's primarily a highway-focused experience, making it an ideal day trip with no need for an overnight stay. You'll be spending about 95% of your time on highways, so expect a quick journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $9, which is quite budget-friendly. This route is entirely within the Northeast region and New Jersey, so you won't be crossing any state lines or major regional boundaries. It's a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 55.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-intensive experience on this route, with 95% of your travel occurring on high-speed roads. The primary artery is the Garden State Parkway, where you'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 46 miles. While predominantly highway, the route incorporates US 1 and US 9, which might offer slight variations in speed and environment as you transition. This drive is built for covering distance quickly rather than for leisurely sightseeing, offering a consistent pace for the majority of the journey.
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 46 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US 1. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in near US 9.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.9 miles (US 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
4.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 9 toward Shore Points
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Shore Points
6
7.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward GSP: Garden State Parkway South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward GSP: Garden State Parkway South
5
8 mi into trip
|
~13m 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 right lanes.
6
11 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
53.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m 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...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Linden, NJ and Toms River, NJ, road signs point toward Shore Points and Gsp: Garden State Parkway South.
Shore Points
4.9 mi in
|
~8m
|
via US 9
Gsp: Garden State Parkway South
7.7 mi in
|
~12m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 46 mi | 53m |
| US 1 | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| US 9 | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| East Edgar Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Route 37 West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Stiles Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 12th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 46 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Linden, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on West 12th Street
268 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 12th Street
2
Turn right onto South Stiles Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
South Stiles Street
3
Turn left onto US 1; US 9
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Edgar Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Continue on US 1; US 9
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
US 1; US 9
5
Continue on US 1; US 9
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 9
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US 9
Toward Shore Points
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward GSP: Garden State Parkway South
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Merge onto GSP
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Garden State Parkway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
43 mi
·
50 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.6 mi from Linden, NJ · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.6 miles from Linden, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.15 one way
$18.30 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.02 | $20.05 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.71 | $21.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.19 | $24.37 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.76
Garden State Parkway
(46 mi)
$2.76
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$3
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.80 | $2.65 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.73 | $3.53 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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 Saturday
Local time
4:04 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
1h 10m 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 Linden, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 55.2 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, US 1, US 9. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.6 miles from Linden, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.15 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 55.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.9 miles (US 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Linden, NJ and Toms River, NJ, road signs point toward Shore Points and Gsp: Garden State Parkway South.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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