Origin
North Wildwood, NJ
Night in North Wildwood on Sunday
Local time
9:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Wildwood, NJ to Toms River, NJ
Drive Time
1h 36m
Distance
80.4 mi
129 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 29m
★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Toms River, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Trip Overview
Traveling from North Wildwood to Toms River covers 80.4 miles of New Jersey coastline, typically taking about 1 hour and 36 minutes. This route is designed for efficiency, relying heavily on the Garden State Parkway to move you quickly between these two Northeast destinations. Because the total duration is under two hours, it is a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stay. You should budget roughly $13 for fuel, making this an affordable journey for a quick getaway or a visit to friends. Since the drive is quite short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule rather than worrying about mid-trip lodging.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
40.2 miles from North Wildwood, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a straightforward, highway-focused experience with 92% of your travel spent on high-speed roads. You will transition from local streets like North Wildwood Boulevard and West Spruce Avenue onto the Garden State Parkway, which accounts for your longest stretch of 74.4 miles. This is not a winding backroads excursion, but rather a consistent, steady push north that prioritizes speed over variety. Once you clear the local access roads, the drive settles into a predictable rhythm that allows you to cover significant ground quickly. Be prepared for the characteristic flow of a major arterial highway as you navigate toward your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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 74.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and North Wildwood Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 80.4 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 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.9 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.5 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.
7
4.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 6
Toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
5
4.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
51.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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
79.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m 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
80.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
|
Irons Street
Turn left onto Irons Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 74.4 mi | 1h 26m |
| North Wildwood Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| West Spruce Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| New Jersey Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Anglesea Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Water Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Irons Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 12th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 74.4 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Wildwood, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on East 12th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
East 12th Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 621; OD
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
New Jersey Avenue
3
Continue on CR 621; OD
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
West Anglesea Drive
4
Continue on NJ 147; OD
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Spruce Avenue
5
Continue on NJ 147; OD
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North Wildwood Boulevard
6
Turn slight right
432 ft
·
15 sec
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 6
Toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
8
Merge onto GSP
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
10
Merge onto GSP
34 mi
·
39 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 81
Toward Lakehurst Road, Toms River
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on Lakehurst Road
469 ft
·
10 sec
·
Lakehurst Road
14
Continue on CR 527
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Water Street
15
Turn left onto Irons Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Irons Street
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on Irons Street
268 ft
·
16 sec
·
Irons Street
17
Turn right onto NJ 166
287 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Main Street
18
Turn left
78 ft
·
5 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1-hour and 36-minute sprint, you do not need to worry about planning complex rest stops along the way. Your best strategy is to monitor traffic patterns on the Garden State Parkway before you pull out of North Wildwood, as heavy congestion can quickly inflate your travel time. Because the route is direct and lacks planned stops, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you depart to keep your $13 estimate accurate and avoid unnecessary detours. Take advantage of the trip's short duration to leave during off-peak hours, which will make your time behind the wheel much more relaxed. Keep your navigation system running, as the transition from local roads like West Spruce Avenue to the main highway requires careful attention.
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 40.2 miles from North Wildwood, NJ, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.4 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.2 miles or 48m 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 21m
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 North Wildwood, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North Wildwood, NJ
This is one driving day of about 80.4 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from North Wildwood, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 74.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.2 mi from North Wildwood, NJ · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.2 miles from North Wildwood, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.4 miles.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around 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
$13.30 one way
$26.61 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $14.56 | $29.11 |
| premium | $4.92 | $15.58 | $31.16 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $17.86 | $35.72 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.46
Garden State Parkway
(74.4 mi)
$4.46
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.44 | $3.86 |
| Efficient EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.04 | $3.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.26 | $5.15 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Night in Toms River on Sunday
Local time
9:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 36m 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 North Wildwood, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 80.4 miles and takes about 1h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, North Wildwood Boulevard, West Spruce Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.2 miles from North Wildwood, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.30 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 80.4 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 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.9 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from North Wildwood, NJ to Toms River, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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