Origin
Toms River, NJ
Late night in Toms River on Monday
Local time
1:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Toms River, NJ to Margate City, NJ
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
53 mi
85 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 0m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Toms River, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Margate City, NJ
Malcolm Garret
Trip Overview
If you are looking to escape Toms River for the shores of Margate City, you are looking at a straightforward 53-mile journey. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 5 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily utilize the Garden State Parkway before transitioning onto Tilton Road and the Downbeach Express to reach your destination. With a fuel budget of approximately $9, the drive is quite economical for a quick coastal getaway. Since both towns reside within the Northeast, you will experience a consistent regional atmosphere throughout the transit. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that gets you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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
26.5 miles from Toms River, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is heavily focused on highway travel, with 86% of your time spent on high-speed corridors. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the vast majority of the mileage—nearly 45.6 miles—is dedicated to a single, uninterrupted stretch along the Garden State Parkway. As you peel off the main highway, the character of the drive shifts from a fast-paced interstate pace to the more localized flow of Tilton Road and the Downbeach Express. While the route lacks technical complexity, it offers a reliable, efficient flow for drivers who prefer to minimize local navigation. You should prepare for a consistent, highway-dominant experience that prioritizes speed over winding backroads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 45.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Tilton Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NJ 166 / North Main Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 5m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NJ 166 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NJ 166 / North Main Street
Turn left onto NJ 166 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
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 none lane.
8
46.6 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward CR 563: Northfield, Margate City
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 36
Toward CR 563: Northfield, Margate City
6
53 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
CR 629; OD / Ventnor Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto CR 629; OD / Ventnor Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Toms River, NJ to Margate City, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 563: Northfield along the way.
Cr 563: Northfield
46.6 mi in
|
~55m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 45.6 mi | 52m |
| Tilton Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Downbeach Express | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| North Jerome Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Margate Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Mill Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Lakehurst Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Water Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 45.6 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Toms River, NJ and Margate City, 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
46 mi
·
52 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the none lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 36
Toward CR 563: Northfield, Margate City
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto CR 563
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Tilton Road
Use the none lane.
10
Continue on CR 563
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Mill Road
11
Continue on CR 563
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Margate Boulevard
12
Continue on CR 563
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Downbeach Express
13
Continue on CR 563
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Jerome Avenue
Use the none lane.
14
At end of road, turn left onto CR 629; OD
10 ft
·
0 sec
·
Ventnor Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
CR 629; OD
Trip Plan
Because this is a short, 65-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. To avoid the heaviest traffic, try to time your exit from Toms River outside of standard rush hours, though the direct nature of the route makes it manageable at almost any time of day. Since there are zero formal stops scheduled along the 53-mile path, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave to keep your $9 travel budget on track. Keep in mind that the transition from the Garden State Parkway to the local roads requires staying alert for exit signage. Embracing the simplicity of the trip allows you to spend more time enjoying your destination rather than worrying about mid-drive logistics.
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 26.5 miles from Toms River, NJ, or about 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.6 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 53 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 26.5 miles or 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Margate City, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Toms River, 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 Toms River, NJ
This is one driving day of about 53 miles and 1h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Toms River, 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 Garden State Parkway for about 45.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.5 mi from Toms River, NJ · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.5 miles from Toms River, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Margate City, NJ
The final approach into Margate City, 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 Margate City, 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
$8.77 one way
$17.54 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $9.60 | $19.19 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.27 | $20.54 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.77 | $23.55 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.74
Garden State Parkway
(45.6 mi)
$2.74
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
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.56 | $2.54 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.64 | $2.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.42 | $3.39 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Margate City, NJ
Late night in Margate City on Monday
Local time
1:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
11 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 5m 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 Margate City, NJ covers 53 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Tilton Road, Downbeach Express. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.5 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 $8.77 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 5m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NJ 166 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
On the drive from Toms River, NJ to Margate City, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 563: Northfield along the way.
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