Origin
Somerset, NJ
Evening in Somerset on Sunday
Local time
8:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Somerset, NJ to Toms River, NJ
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
51.8 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Somerset, NJ
Malcolm Garret
Toms River, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Trip Overview
Traveling from Somerset to Toms River covers 51.8 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes. Since this is a straightforward trek within the Northeast region of New Jersey, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip. You will navigate primarily via Abbott Road, Belmar Street, and Franklin Boulevard rather than relying on major interstates. With an estimated fuel cost of just $8, it is a highly budget-friendly journey. Because the total duration is quite short, you do not need to worry about splitting the trip into multiple days. This route is an ideal choice if you are looking for a practical, direct way to reach the coast without the complexity of long-haul travel.
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
25.9 miles from Somerset, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you make your way south toward Toms River. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route avoids highways entirely, meaning you will experience 0% highway driving throughout the 51.8-mile trip. The path relies on local roads, requiring you to stay alert through various intersections and turns rather than settling into a high-speed cruise. Because the route is composed of local streets, there is no single long, uninterrupted stretch to speak of. You should prepare for a hands-on driving experience where the pace is dictated by local traffic patterns rather than open-road speed limits.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NJ 18 is the longest continuous segment at about 23.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 18 and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near CR 617 / Franklin Boulevard.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 51.8 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 0.7 miles (CR 617 / Franklin Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (NJ 18): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CR 617 / Franklin Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto CR 617 / Franklin Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
NJ 18
Merge onto NJ 18
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
26.4 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward NJ 34 South: Point Pleasant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 19B
Toward NJ 34 South: Point Pleasant
5
35.7 mi into trip
|
~51m 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.
8
50.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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 Along This Route
On the drive from Somerset, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll South along the way.
Gsp Toll South
35 mi in
|
~50m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 18 | 23.8 mi | 31m |
| Garden State Parkway | 14.9 mi | 17m |
| NJ 34 | 8.3 mi | 11m |
| Franklin Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| George Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Belmar Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Route 37 West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 18
— 23.8 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Somerset, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on West Point Avenue
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Point Avenue
2
Turn right onto Abbott Road
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Abbott Road
3
Turn right onto Belmar Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Belmar Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto CR 617
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Franklin Boulevard
Use the none lane.
5
Continue on Landing Lane
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Landing Lane
Use the none lane.
6
Turn right onto (672)
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
George Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward NJ 18 South
8
Merge onto NJ 18
24 mi
·
31 min
·
NJ 18
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19B
Toward NJ 34 South: Point Pleasant
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto NJ 34
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 34
Use the none lane.
11
Take the ramp onto NJ 34
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 34
12
Enter roundabout onto NJ 34
219 ft
·
3 sec
·
NJ 34
13
Continue on NJ 34
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 34
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll South
15
Merge onto GSP
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the none lane.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 82
Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park
Use the right lane.
17
Merge onto NJ 37
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Route 37 West
18
Turn right onto NJ 166
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left
78 ft
·
5 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. However, because you are navigating local streets like Abbott Road and Belmar Street, it is wise to check for local traffic delays before you head out. With no formal stops planned along the way, ensure your fuel tank is ready for the $8 estimated cost before starting your engine. Take advantage of the 1-hour and 5-minute duration by keeping your schedule open, as the lack of highway miles means you can easily adjust your pace. For the smoothest experience, prioritize daytime travel to better navigate the frequent turns inherent to this local-road route.
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 25.9 miles from Somerset, NJ, or about 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.8 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 51.8 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.9 miles or 37m 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 1m
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 Somerset, 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 Somerset, NJ
This is one driving day of about 51.8 miles and 1h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Somerset, 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 NJ 18 for about 23.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.9 mi from Somerset, NJ · 37m 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 51.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.9 miles from Somerset, 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.
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
$8.57 one way
$17.14 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $9.38 | $18.76 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.04 | $20.08 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.51 | $23.02 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.89
Garden State Parkway
(14.9 mi)
$0.89
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
$9
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.44 | $2.49 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.25 | $3.32 |
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
Toms River, NJ
Evening in Toms River on Sunday
Local time
8:29 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
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 11m 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 Somerset, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 51.8 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NJ 18, Garden State Parkway, NJ 34. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.9 miles from Somerset, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.57 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 15 significant decision points across 51.8 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 0.7 miles (CR 617 / Franklin Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (NJ 18): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Somerset, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll South along the way.
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