Origin
Menlo Park, NJ
Afternoon in Menlo Park on Thursday
Local time
1:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Menlo Park, NJ to South Toms River, NJ
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
52.2 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
36 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Menlo Park, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
South Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Menlo Park, NJ to South Toms River, NJ covers 52.2 miles and takes about 1h 3m 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, US 9, Middlesex-Essex Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50.8 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.65 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 52.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
36 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: excellent.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 3m highway drive covering 52.2 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and US 9. The longest continuous stretch is about 50.8 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 14 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 50.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near CR 657 / Middlesex-Essex Turnpike.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 52.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (CR 657 / Middlesex-Essex Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR 657 / Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
Turn left onto CR 657 / Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward GSP Toll South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward GSP Toll South
6
7.3 mi into trip
|
~10m 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
51.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
US 9
Take the exit onto US 9 toward CR 619 South, CR 530, US 9 South: South Toms River, Beachwood
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 80
Toward CR 619 South, CR 530, US 9 South: South...
9
51.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CR 619, GSP South, GSP North: Jakes Branch County Park, Whiting
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward CR 619, GSP South, GSP North: Jakes Bran...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 50.8 mi | 1h |
| US 9 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Middlesex-Essex Turnpike | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Lincoln Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Philip Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Wood Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Dover Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Double Trouble Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 50.8 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Menlo Park, NJ and South Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on Philip Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Philip Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto NJ 27
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Lincoln Highway
3
Turn right onto CR 649
497 ft
·
21 sec
·
Wood Avenue
4
Turn left onto CR 657
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward GSP Toll South
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto GSP
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Garden State Parkway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
44 mi
·
52 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 9
363 ft
·
4 sec
·
US 9
Exit 80
Toward CR 619 South, CR 530, US 9 South: South Toms River, Beachwood
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
461 ft
·
10 sec
Toward CR 619, GSP South, GSP North: Jakes Branch County Park, Whiting
Use the left / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto CR 619
270 ft
·
8 sec
·
Double Trouble Road
12
Turn right onto CR 530
367 ft
·
6 sec
·
Dover Road
13
Continue on US 9
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
US 9
14
Arrive at destination
US 9
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.1 mi from Menlo Park, NJ · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 52.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.1 miles from Menlo Park, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in South Toms River, NJ
The final approach into South Toms River, NJ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around South Toms River, NJ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.65 one way
$17.31 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.48 | $18.96 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.12 | $20.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.53 | $23.05 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.05
Garden State Parkway
(50.8 mi)
$3.05
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: 18.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
36 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
ChargePoint Charging Station
Lakewood, New Jersey
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Farmingdale, New Jersey
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Old Bridge, New Jersey
Tesla
1 DCFC
Rivian Adventure Network
Tinton Falls, New Jersey
Rivian
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Staten Island, New York
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
EVgo Charging Station
Clark, New Jersey
EVgo
1 DCFC
Electrify America Charging Station
Tinton Falls, NJ
Electrify America
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Red Bank, New Jersey
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 24
EVgo: 5
EV Connect: 2
Other: 2
Tesla: 1
Rivian: 1
Electrify America: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.48 | $2.51 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.57 | $2.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.31 | $3.34 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
South Toms River, NJ
Afternoon in South Toms River on Thursday
Local time
1:24 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 3m 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 Menlo Park, NJ to South Toms River, NJ covers 52.2 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, US 9, Middlesex-Essex Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.1 miles from Menlo Park, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.65 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 is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 52.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (CR 657 / Middlesex-Essex Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Menlo Park, NJ to South Toms River, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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