The drive from Ridgewood, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 84 miles and takes about 1h 51m 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, Garden State Parkway Southbound, Lincoln Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 67.5 miles on Garden State Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.93 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
42 miles from Ridgewood, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 84 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 51m highway drive covering 84 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and Garden State Parkway Southbound. The longest continuous stretch is about 67.5 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 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 67.5 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
171 ft22 ft
Total Climb
308 ft
Total Descent
398 ft
Highest Point
171 ft
~12 mi in
Elevation Range
149 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Garden State Parkway Southbound. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.9 miles in near Memorial Drive.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84 miles you will encounter 18 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 5.9 miles (Memorial Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles (CR 509 / West Broadway): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (NJ 19 / Ward Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5.9 mi into trip|~11m in|Memorial Drive
Turn right onto Memorial Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
5.9 mi into trip|~12m in|CR 509 / West Broadway
Turn left onto CR 509 / West Broadway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
6.4 mi into trip|~12m in|NJ 19 / Ward Street
Turn right onto NJ 19 / Ward Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
8.6 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward GSP South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward GSP South
8
82.7 mi into trip|~1h 48m 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.
On the drive from Ridgewood, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp South along the way.
Gsp South
8.6 mi in|~15m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
67.5 mi
1h 24m
Garden State Parkway Southbound
6.2 mi
8m
Lincoln Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
NJ 19
2 mi
2m
River Street
1.9 mi
3m
North Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Godwin Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 67.5 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgewood, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on East Ridgewood Avenue
0.2 mi·39 sec·East Ridgewood Avenue
2
Turn right onto North Broad Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·North Broad Street
3
Turn left onto CR 80
0.2 mi·17 sec·Garber Square
4
Continue on CR 80
412 ft·14 sec·Wilsey Square
5
Continue on CR 80
0.4 mi·1 min·Godwin Avenue
6
Turn left onto CR 69
2.9 mi·5 min·Lincoln Avenue
7
Continue on CR 504; CR 653
518 ft·9 sec·River Street
8
Keep slight right at fork onto River Street
1.8 mi·2 min·River Street
9
At end of road, turn left onto CR 509
233 ft·7 sec·Main Street
10
Turn right onto Memorial Drive
409 ft·14 sec·Memorial Drive
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto CR 509
0.1 mi·11 sec·West Broadway
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto CR 509
0.3 mi·36 sec·Main Street
13
Turn right onto NJ 19
397 ft·9 sec·Ward Street
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on NJ 19
0.2 mi·17 sec·Oliver Street
15
Turn slight left onto NJ 19
2.0 mi·2 min·NJ 19
Use the slight left lane.
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward GSP SouthUse the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto GSP
24 mi·33 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Continue on Garden State Parkway
6.2 mi·8 min·Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi·49 sec·Garden State Parkway
20
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
43 mi·50 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·48 sec
Exit 82Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State ParkUse the right lane.
22
Merge onto NJ 37
0.3 mi·33 sec·Route 37 West
23
Turn right onto NJ 166
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
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 42 miles from Ridgewood, NJ, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.5 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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42 miles or 1h 1m 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 35m
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 Ridgewood, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ridgewood, NJ
This is one driving day of about 84 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Ridgewood, 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 67.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42 mi from Ridgewood, NJ
· 1h 1m into the drive
The midpoint is around 42 miles from Ridgewood, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.5 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
1 mi from route
~1 min detour
Free
near mile 5.8
Caution: Limited Amphitheater Accessibility
Caution: Overlook Park Parking Lot - Vehicles Must Be Parked in a Designated Spot
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 26.1
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 52.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.93 one way
$27.85 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.25
$30.50
premium
$4.93
$16.29
$32.58
diesel
$5.61
$18.55
$37.09
Estimated Tolls: $4.42
Garden State Parkway
(73.7 mi)$4.42
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
$14
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: 29.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.2
0
$8.82
$4.03
Efficient EV
21
0
$7.35
$3.36
EV Truck/SUV
33.6
0
$11.76
$5.38
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
Ridgewood, NJ
Morning
in Ridgewood on Friday
Local time
10:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Toms River, NJ
Morning
in Toms River on Friday
Local time
10:22 AM
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
16 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 51m 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 Ridgewood, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 84 miles and takes about 1h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Garden State Parkway Southbound, Lincoln 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 42 miles from Ridgewood, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.93 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 84 miles you will encounter 18 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 5.9 miles (Memorial Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles (CR 509 / West Broadway): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (NJ 19 / Ward Street): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Ridgewood, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp South along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 22 ft to 171 ft elevation with about 308 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Morristown National Historical Park. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
