Origin
Toms River, NJ
Night in Toms River on Sunday
Local time
9:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Toms River, NJ to North Wildwood, NJ
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
81.1 mi
130 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Toms River, NJ
Aisling Kerr
Trip Overview
If you are looking to escape the suburbs of Toms River for the shore, this 81.1-mile journey to North Wildwood is a straightforward, efficient trip. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 37 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. You will rely primarily on the Garden State Parkway before transitioning onto North Wildwood Boulevard and West Spruce Avenue to reach your destination. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $13, this route is budget-friendly for a weekend getaway or a quick beach day. Because the trip is relatively short, you likely won't need to plan for overnight stops unless you prefer a relaxed pace. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that connects two iconic points within the Northeast region.
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
40.5 miles from Toms River, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time—specifically 75.1 miles—on the Garden State Parkway, which allows for consistent speeds and steady progress. The personality of the route is defined by this long, uninterrupted stretch that carries you efficiently through the Jersey landscape. As you approach the coast, the character shifts briefly as you exit the parkway to navigate the final local connections. Expect a predictable experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads or technical turns.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 75.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and North Wildwood Boulevard. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NJ 166 / North Main Street.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Toms River, NJ to North Wildwood, NJ is easy. At 1h 37m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 6 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
76.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward NJ 147: North Wildwood, Whitesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6
Toward NJ 147: North Wildwood, Whitesboro
4
80.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
|
East 12th Avenue
Turn left onto East 12th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Toms River, NJ to North Wildwood, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Whitesboro along the way.
Whitesboro
76.1 mi in
|
~1h 29m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 75.1 mi | 1h 27m |
| North Wildwood Boulevard | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| West Spruce Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| New Jersey Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Lakehurst Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Anglesea Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Water Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East 12th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 75.1 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Toms River, NJ and North Wildwood, 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
75 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the none lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 6
Toward NJ 147: North Wildwood, Whitesboro
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto NJ 147
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Wildwood Boulevard
10
Continue on NJ 147; OD
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Spruce Avenue
11
Continue on NJ 147; OD
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
West Anglesea Drive
12
Continue on CR 621; OD
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
New Jersey Avenue
13
Turn left onto East 12th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
East 12th Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
East 12th Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1-hour and 37-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. However, keeping an eye on traffic patterns along the Garden State Parkway is wise, as volume can fluctuate significantly during peak summer travel hours. You won't necessarily need to schedule formal stops given the short duration, though it is always helpful to have your fuel situation sorted before merging onto the parkway to avoid unnecessary exits. A concrete tip for this specific route is to keep your toll payment method ready, as the Garden State Parkway is a toll-heavy road. By staying focused on the transition from the parkway to North Wildwood Boulevard, you will ensure a smooth arrival at the shore.
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 40.5 miles from Toms River, NJ, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.1 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.5 miles or 47m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Wildwood, 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 81.1 miles and 1h 37m.
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 75.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.5 mi from Toms River, NJ · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.5 miles from Toms River, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.1 miles.
Arriving in North Wildwood, NJ
The final approach into North Wildwood, 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 North Wildwood, 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
$13.42 one way
$26.84 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $14.68 | $29.37 |
| premium | $4.92 | $15.72 | $31.43 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.02 | $36.04 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.51
Garden State Parkway
(75.1 mi)
$4.51
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
$13
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.52 | $3.89 |
| Efficient EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.10 | $3.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.4 | 0 | $11.35 | $5.19 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
North Wildwood, NJ
Night in North Wildwood on Sunday
Local time
9:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°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
3 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 37m 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 North Wildwood, NJ covers 81.1 miles and takes about 1h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, North Wildwood Boulevard, West Spruce Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.5 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 $13.42 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.
The drive from Toms River, NJ to North Wildwood, NJ is easy. At 1h 37m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 North Wildwood, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Whitesboro along the way.
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