The drive from Salem, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 86.7 miles and takes about 1h 59m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CR 551, Marlton Pike, NJ 70 East for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33.2 miles on CR 551.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.37 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
43.3 miles from Salem, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 86.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 59m highway drive covering 86.7 miles, with most of the trip on CR 551 and Marlton Pike. The longest continuous stretch is about 33.2 miles on CR 551.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CR 551 is the longest continuous segment at about 33.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CR 551 and Marlton Pike. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in near CR 551.
Driving Effort6/10
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 86.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 8 miles (CR 551): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.5 miles (NJ 70 / Marlton Pike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
8 mi into trip|~11m in|CR 551
Take the ramp onto CR 551 toward I 295, US 40, US 130, CR 551 North: Delaware Memorial Bridge, Deepwater
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 295, US 40, US 130, CR 551 North: Dela...
7
41.2 mi into trip|~51m in
Take the exit toward NJ 70 East: Marlton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 34A
Toward NJ 70 East: Marlton
6
44.5 mi into trip|~56m in|NJ 70 / Marlton Pike
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 70 / Marlton Pike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
54.8 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|NJ 70
Enter roundabout onto NJ 70 toward NJ 70 East: Lakehurst, Long Beach Island
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 70 East: Lakehurst, Long Beach Island
6
74.7 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|CR 530; CR 539
Turn right onto CR 530; CR 539
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Salem, NJ and Toms River, NJ, road signs point toward Deepwater and Long Beach Island.
Deepwater
8 mi in|~11m|via CR 551
Long Beach Island
54.8 mi in|~1h 12m|via NJ 70
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CR 551
33.2 mi
39m
Marlton Pike
13.2 mi
20m
NJ 70 East
11.1 mi
15m
NJ 70
8.8 mi
12m
CR 530
7.9 mi
12m
South Hook Road
4.4 mi
7m
Dover Road
3.4 mi
5m
South Broadway
2.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
CR 551
— 33.2 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on NJ 49
0.5 mi·42 sec·West Broadway
2
Turn right onto NJ 49
0.2 mi·13 sec·Front Street
3
Continue on NJ 49
2.6 mi·2 min·South Broadway
4
Continue on NJ 49
0.3 mi·24 sec·Broadway Road
5
Turn right onto CR 551
4.4 mi·7 min·South Hook Road
6
Take the ramp onto CR 551
33 mi·39 min·CR 551
Toward I 295, US 40, US 130, CR 551 North: Delaware Memorial Bridge, DeepwaterUse the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·1 min
Exit 34AToward NJ 70 East: MarltonUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto NJ 70
3.0 mi·3 min·Marlton Pike
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 70
10 mi·16 min·Marlton Pike
Use the straight lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto NJ 70
481 ft·6 sec·NJ 70
Toward NJ 70 East: Lakehurst, Long Beach Island
11
Continue on NJ 70
7.8 mi·10 min·NJ 70
Toward NJ 70 East: Lakehurst, Long Beach IslandUse the straight lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto NJ 70 East
441 ft·5 sec·NJ 70 East
Toward NJ 70 East: Lakehurst
13
Continue on NJ 70 East
11 mi·15 min·NJ 70 East
Toward NJ 70 East: LakehurstUse the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on NJ 70; CR 530
0.9 mi·1 min·NJ 70; CR 530
15
Turn right onto CR 530; CR 539
7.9 mi·12 min·CR 530; CR 539
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto CR 530
3.0 mi·4 min·Dover Road
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on CR 530
0.4 mi·50 sec·Dover Road
18
Turn left onto CR 530
0.5 mi·56 sec·South Main Street
19
At end of road, turn left onto NJ 166
336 ft·7 sec·Atlantic City Boulevard
20
Continue on NJ 166
0.1 mi·15 sec·North Main Street
21
Turn right
78 ft·5 sec
22
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 43.3 miles from Salem, NJ, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.2 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.3 miles or 55m 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 38m
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 Salem, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Salem, NJ
This is one driving day of about 86.7 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Salem, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on CR 551 for about 33.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.37 one way
$28.75 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.74
$31.49
premium
$4.93
$16.81
$33.63
diesel
$5.61
$19.14
$38.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
3 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Supercharger
New Castle, Delaware
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Carneys Point, New Jersey
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
New Castle, Delaware
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 2
Tesla: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26
0
$9.10
$4.16
Efficient EV
21.7
0
$7.59
$3.47
EV Truck/SUV
34.7
0
$12.14
$5.55
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Salem, NJ
Afternoon
in Salem on Saturday
Local time
1:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Toms River, NJ
Afternoon
in Toms River on Saturday
Local time
1:04 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
4 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 59m 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 Salem, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 86.7 miles and takes about 1h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CR 551, Marlton Pike, NJ 70 East. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.3 miles from Salem, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.37 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 86.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 8 miles (CR 551): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.5 miles (NJ 70 / Marlton Pike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Salem, NJ and Toms River, NJ, road signs point toward Deepwater and Long Beach Island.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
