Origin
South River, NJ
Late night in South River on Saturday
Local time
1:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South River, NJ to Toms River, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
44.3 mi
71 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 44.3-mile drive from South River, NJ, to Toms River, NJ, is a straightforward journey that can be completed in under an hour, making it an ideal day trip. You'll spend about 57 minutes on the road, primarily utilizing State Route 18 and the Garden State Parkway. With a highway share of 93%, this route is predominantly a highway-focused experience, minimizing time spent navigating local streets. The estimated fuel cost is around $7, a modest expense for this relatively short distance. Given its brevity, no overnight stays are necessary, offering flexibility for when you choose to depart and return.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 44.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip. With 93% of the route on highways, you'll encounter mostly high-speed travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 17.8 miles on State Route 18, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. While the primary roads are State Route 18, Garden State Parkway, and NJ 34, the dominant character is that of efficient travel between points.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Route 18 is the longest continuous segment at about 17.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 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 1.2 miles in near NJ 18 / State Route 18.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 44.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (NJ 18 / State Route 18): Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
NJ 18 / State Route 18
At end of road, turn right onto NJ 18 / State Route 18
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
19 mi into trip
|
~23m 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
28.2 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
43.1 mi into trip
|
~54m 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...
5
43.6 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
NJ 166 / North Main Street
Turn right onto NJ 166 / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
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 South River, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll South along the way.
Gsp Toll South
27.5 mi in
|
~35m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Route 18 | 17.8 mi | 21m |
| Garden State Parkway | 14.9 mi | 17m |
| NJ 34 | 8.3 mi | 11m |
| Cranbury Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Route 37 West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Watson Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
State Route 18
— 17.8 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South River, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on CR 535
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Main Street
2
Continue on CR 535
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Cranbury Road
3
Continue on CR 535
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Cranbury Road
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on Watson Street
435 ft
·
9 sec
·
Watson Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto NJ 18
18 mi
·
21 min
·
State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19B
Toward NJ 34 South: Point Pleasant
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn straight onto NJ 34
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 34
8
Take the ramp onto NJ 34
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 34
9
Enter roundabout onto NJ 34
219 ft
·
3 sec
·
NJ 34
10
Continue on NJ 34
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 34
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll South
12
Merge onto GSP
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 82
Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park
Use the right lane.
14
Merge onto NJ 37
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Route 37 West
15
Turn right onto NJ 166
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left
78 ft
·
5 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.2 mi from South River, NJ · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.2 miles from South River, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Toms River, NJ
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Toms River, NJ if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.34 one way
$14.69 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.04 | $16.09 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.59 | $17.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.78 | $19.56 |
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.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.13 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.88 | $1.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.84 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Late night in Toms River on Saturday
Local time
1:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
57m 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 South River, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 44.3 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Route 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 22.2 miles from South River, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.34 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 short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 44.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (NJ 18 / State Route 18): Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from South River, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll South along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Morristown National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area and Thomas Edison National Historical Park.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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