Origin
Union Beach, NJ
Afternoon in Union Beach on Friday
Local time
3:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union Beach, NJ to Toms River, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
40.9 mi
66 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 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union Beach, NJ
David Kanigan
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Union Beach, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 40.9 miles and takes about 51m 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, Broadway, 1st Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.78 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 40.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 51m highway drive covering 40.9 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and Broadway. The longest continuous stretch is about 36 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 36 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Broadway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near CR 4 / Broad Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.5 miles (CR 4 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (CR 6 / Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CR 4 / Broad Street
At end of road, turn left onto CR 4 / Broad Street
Navigation decision point
4
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
CR 6 / Broadway
Turn left onto CR 6 / Broadway
Navigation decision point
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
39.7 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 82
Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beac...
5
40.3 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
NJ 166 / North Main Street
Turn right onto NJ 166 / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Union Beach, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll South along the way.
Gsp Toll South
3.1 mi in
|
~6m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 36 mi | 41m |
| Broadway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| 1st Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Front Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Florence Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Route 37 West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Lloyd Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 36 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union Beach, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on CR 39
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Florence Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 6
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Broadway
3
Continue on CR 6
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto CR 4
365 ft
·
8 sec
·
Broad Street
5
Turn right onto CR 6
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
West Front Street
6
Turn left onto CR 6
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Broadway
7
Continue on CR 516
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Broadway
8
Turn slight left onto CR 3
365 ft
·
6 sec
·
Nappi Place
9
Turn right onto CR 3
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Broadway
10
Continue on CR 3
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Lloyd Road
11
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll South
12
Merge onto GSP
36 mi
·
41 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 82
Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park
Use the right lane.
14
Merge onto NJ 37
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Route 37 West
15
Turn right onto NJ 166
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left
78 ft
·
5 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.5 mi from Union Beach, NJ · 26m 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 40.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.5 miles from Union Beach, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Toms River, NJ
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Toms River, 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
$6.78 one way
$13.56 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.43 | $14.85 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.93 | $15.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.03 | $18.06 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.16
Garden State Parkway
(36 mi)
$2.16
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: 14.3 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 | 12.3 | 0 | $4.29 | $1.96 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.58 | $1.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.73 | $2.62 |
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
Toms River, NJ
Afternoon in Toms River on Friday
Local time
3:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
51m 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 Union Beach, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 40.9 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Garden State Parkway, Broadway, 1st Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.5 miles from Union Beach, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.78 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 40.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.5 miles (CR 4 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (CR 6 / Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Union Beach, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll South along the way.
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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