The drive from Toms River, NJ to Fort Lee, NJ covers 78.4 miles and takes about 1h 41m 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, New Jersey Turnpike, New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.1 miles on Garden State Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.00 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.2 miles from Toms River, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 78.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 41m highway drive covering 78.4 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch is about 46.1 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 23 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 46.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 47.8 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.4 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 47.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
47.8 mi into trip|~58m in
Take the exit toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton
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 129
Toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, Trenton
6
49 mi into trip|~1h in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
7
74.7 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward US 46: The Ridgefields, Palisades Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 46: The Ridgefields, Palisades Park
9
74.9 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 46 East: Ridgefield, Palisades Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 46 East: Ridgefield, Palisades Park
7
78 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward NJ 67: Lemoine Avenue, Fort Lee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 73
Toward NJ 67: Lemoine Avenue, Fort Lee
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 Fort Lee, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: New York City, Trenton and Njtp North: New York City.
Njtp: New York City
47.8 mi in|~58m
Trenton
47.8 mi in|~58m
Njtp North: New York City
48.8 mi in|~1h
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
46.1 mi
55m
New Jersey Turnpike
14 mi
17m
New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur
11.3 mi
15m
US 1
1.9 mi
3m
US 46
0.9 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Lemoine Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Route 37 West
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 46.1 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Toms River, NJ and Fort Lee, 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
Continue on GSP
25 mi·30 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 129Toward I 95, NJTP: New York City, TrentonUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
10
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·1 min·this road
11
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·16 sec·this road
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North, NJTP North: New York City
13
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
14 mi·17 min·New Jersey Turnpike
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; NJTP
11 mi·15 min·New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 46: The Ridgefields, Palisades ParkUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·42 sec
Toward US 46 East: Ridgefield, Palisades ParkUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto US 46
0.9 mi·1 min·US 46
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on US 1; US 9; US 46
1.9 mi·3 min·US 1; US 9; US 46
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 95; US 1; US 9
288 ft·3 sec·George Washington Bridge Plaza
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 73Toward NJ 67: Lemoine Avenue, Fort Lee
21
Continue on Bruce Reynolds Boulevard
0.1 mi·16 sec·Bruce Reynolds Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto NJ 67
0.2 mi·20 sec·Lemoine Avenue
Use the right lane.
23
Arrive at destination
NJ 67
Trip Plan
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 39.2 miles from Toms River, NJ, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.1 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 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.2 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Lee, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Toms River, NJ
This is one driving day of about 78.4 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Toms River, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 46.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.2 mi from Toms River, NJ
· 47m into the drive
The midpoint is around 39.2 miles from Toms River, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fort Lee, NJ
The final approach into Fort Lee, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 70.3
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 59.5
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 56.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.00 one way
$26.00 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.24
$28.47
premium
$4.93
$15.20
$30.41
diesel
$5.61
$17.31
$34.62
Estimated Tolls: $22.30
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
New Jersey Turnpike
(25.3 mi)$3.54
Garden State Parkway
(46.1 mi)$2.76
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
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.5
0
$8.23
$3.76
Efficient EV
19.6
0
$6.86
$3.14
EV Truck/SUV
31.4
0
$10.98
$5.02
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Toms River, NJ
Evening
in Toms River on Friday
Local time
8:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Lee, NJ
Evening
in Fort Lee on Friday
Local time
8:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°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 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 41m 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 Fort Lee, NJ covers 78.4 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.2 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 $13.00 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.4 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 47.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.7 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 Fort Lee, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp: New York City, Trenton and Njtp North: New York City.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.
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.
