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Drive Time
1h 38m
Distance
76.7 mi
123 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Caldwell, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from West Caldwell, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 76.7 miles and takes about 1h 38m 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, Essex Freeway, Garden State Parkway Southbound for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.72 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
38.3 miles from West Caldwell, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
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This is a 1h 38m highway drive covering 76.7 miles, with most of the trip on Garden State Parkway and Essex Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 57 miles on Garden State Parkway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Essex Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near CR 611 / Eagle Rock Avenue.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 76.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (CR 611 / Eagle Rock Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles (Oraton Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn right onto CR 611 / Eagle Rock Avenue
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward Harrison Street, Clinton Street, East Orange
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto Oraton Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between West Caldwell, NJ and Toms River, NJ, road signs point toward Orange and Gsp Toll South.
Orange
Gsp Toll South
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 57 mi | 1h 9m |
| Essex Freeway | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Passaic Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Freeway Drive East | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Oraton Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Oraton Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between West Caldwell, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
Start on CR 613
At end of road, turn right onto CR 611
Turn right onto CR 609
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 280
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Freeway Drive East
Turn right onto South Oraton Parkway
Continue on Whittlesey Avenue
Turn straight onto Maybaum Avenue
Continue on Oraton Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Oraton Parkway
Take the ramp
Merge onto GSP
Continue on Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ 37
Turn right onto NJ 166
Turn left
Arrive at destination
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.
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 76.7 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.3 miles or 52m 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 Toms River, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving West Caldwell, 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 West Caldwell, NJ
This is one driving day of about 76.7 miles and 1h 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.3 mi from West Caldwell, NJ · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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.
A short stop after about 76.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 38.3 miles from West Caldwell, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Toms River, 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 Toms River, NJ.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$12.72 one way
$25.43 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $13.93 | $27.85 |
| premium | $4.93 | $14.87 | $29.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.93 | $33.87 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.79
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
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.8 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 | 0 | $8.05 | $3.68 |
| Efficient EV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.71 | $3.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.7 | 0 | $10.74 | $4.91 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in West Caldwell on Tuesday
Local time
7:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Evening in Toms River on Tuesday
Local time
7:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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