Origin
Toms River, NJ
Night in Toms River on Friday
Local time
11:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Toms River, NJ to Buena, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
63.1 mi
101 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Buena, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Toms River, NJ to Buena, NJ covers 63.1 miles and takes about 1h 25m 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, Harding Highway, US 40 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.4 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.46 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 63.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 25m highway drive covering 63.1 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and Harding Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 37.4 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 17 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 37.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Harding Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 25m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles (GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward GSP South, US 9 South: Atlantic City, Beachwood
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward GSP South, US 9 South: Atlantic City, Be...
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
38.3 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward CR 575, CR 561 ALT: Pomona
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 44
Toward CR 575, CR 561 ALT: Pomona
5
38.7 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
CR 561 Alternate; CR 575 / Pomona Road
Turn right onto CR 561 Alternate; CR 575 / Pomona Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
63 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Toms River, NJ and Buena, NJ, road signs point toward Cr 575 and Cr 561 Alt: Pomona.
Cr 575
38.3 mi in
|
~45m
Cr 561 Alt: Pomona
38.3 mi in
|
~45m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 37.4 mi | 43m |
| Harding Highway | 11.7 mi | 18m |
| US 40 | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Pomona Road | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| Wrangleboro Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Lakehurst Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Water Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Black Horse Pike | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 37.4 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Toms River, NJ and Buena, NJ.
1
Start on this road
78 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto NJ 166
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
North Main Street
3
Turn right onto NJ 166; CR 527
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
West Water Street
4
Continue on CR 527
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Lakehurst Road
5
Continue on Lakehurst Road
328 ft
·
7 sec
·
Lakehurst Road
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
Toward GSP South, US 9 South: Atlantic City, Beachwood
7
Merge onto GSP; US 9
37 mi
·
43 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 44
Toward CR 575, CR 561 ALT: Pomona
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto CR 561 Alternate; CR 575
4.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Pomona Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on CR 575
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Wrangleboro Road
11
Turn right onto US 40; US 322
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Black Horse Pike
12
Take the exit onto US 40
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
US 40
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on CR 617
522 ft
·
19 sec
·
Absecon Road
14
Turn left onto US 40; NJ 50
12 mi
·
18 min
·
Harding Highway
15
Turn right onto NJ 54
260 ft
·
5 sec
·
Blue Anchor Road
16
Turn uturn
189 ft
·
16 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.5 mi from Toms River, NJ · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.5 miles from Toms River, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Buena, NJ
The final approach into Buena, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.46 one way
$20.92 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.46 | $22.91 |
| premium | $4.93 | $12.24 | $24.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.93 | $27.86 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.24
Garden State Parkway
(37.4 mi)
$2.24
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$2
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.63 | $3.03 |
| Efficient EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.2 | 0 | $8.83 | $4.04 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Buena, NJ
Night in Buena on Friday
Local time
11:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Bass River, NJ
32 mi in
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
26 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 25m 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 Toms River, NJ to Buena, NJ covers 63.1 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Harding Highway, US 40. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.5 miles from Toms River, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.46 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 straightforward 1h 25m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles (GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Toms River, NJ and Buena, NJ, road signs point toward Cr 575 and Cr 561 Alt: Pomona.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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