Origin
Toms River, NJ
Morning in Toms River on Friday
Local time
11:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Toms River, NJ to Union Beach, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
39.8 mi
64 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 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Union Beach, NJ
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
The drive from Toms River, NJ to Union Beach, NJ covers 39.8 miles and takes about 49m 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, NJ 36, Poole Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.60 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 39.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 49m highway drive covering 39.8 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and NJ 36. The longest continuous stretch is about 35 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 16 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 35 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 36. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 39.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles (GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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 exit toward US 9 Toll North, GSP Toll North: Lakewood, New York, Woodbridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 9 Toll North, GSP Toll North: Lakewoo...
5
1.3 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 right lanes.
8
36.9 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, Keyport
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 117
Toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, Keyport
6
37.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
37.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 36 South: Keyport, Keansburg, Gateway National Recreation Area at Sandy Hook
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 36 South: Keyport, Keansburg, Gateway...
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 Union Beach, NJ, road signs point toward Keyport, Keansburg and Gateway National Recreation Area At Sandy Hook.
Keyport
36.9 mi in
|
~43m
Keansburg
37.3 mi in
|
~44m
Gateway National Recreation Area At Sandy Hook
37.3 mi in
|
~44m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 35 mi | 40m |
| NJ 36 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Poole Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Route 37 West | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Florence Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 35 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Toms River, NJ and Union Beach, NJ.
1
Start on this road
78 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto NJ 166
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
3
Turn left onto NJ 37
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Route 37 West
4
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
Toward US 9 Toll North, GSP Toll North: Lakewood, New York, Woodbridge
5
Merge onto GSP; US 9
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto GSP
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Garden State Parkway
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 117
Toward NJ 35, NJ 36 South: Hazlet, Keyport
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
165 ft
·
4 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward NJ 36 South: Keyport, Keansburg, Gateway National Recreation Area at Sandy Hook
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on NJ 36
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 36
13
Take the exit
346 ft
·
15 sec
Toward Poole Avenue
14
Turn left onto Poole Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Poole Avenue
15
Turn straight onto CR 39
123 ft
·
3 sec
·
Florence Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
CR 39
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.9 mi from Toms River, NJ · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.9 miles from Toms River, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Union Beach, NJ
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Union Beach, 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
$6.60 one way
$13.20 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.23 | $14.45 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.72 | $15.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.79 | $17.57 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.10
Garden State Parkway
(35 mi)
$2.10
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.18 | $1.91 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.48 | $1.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.57 | $2.55 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Union Beach, NJ
Morning in Union Beach on Friday
Local time
11:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°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
2 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
49m 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 Union Beach, NJ covers 39.8 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, NJ 36, Poole 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 19.9 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 $6.60 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 11 decision points packed into just 39.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles (GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.9 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 Union Beach, NJ, road signs point toward Keyport, Keansburg and Gateway National Recreation Area At Sandy Hook.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Gateway National Recreation Area, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Morristown 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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