Trip from Wildwood, NJ to Toms River, NJ

Drive Time

1h 38m

Distance

81.3 mi

131 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

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 31m ★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 42m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 34m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Toms River, NJ, NJ

Toms River, NJ

Aisling Kerr

Trip Overview

Driving from Wildwood to Toms River is a straightforward 81.3-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 38 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is short enough that you won't need to worry about an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $13 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly option for a quick getaway within the Northeast. By utilizing North Wildwood Boulevard and New Jersey Avenue to reach the Garden State Parkway, you bypass local congestion to maintain a steady pace. It is an ideal route for travelers who prefer a direct, no-fuss connection between these two New Jersey destinations.

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

40.7 miles from Wildwood, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 91% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will find yourself settling into a long, uninterrupted stretch covering 74.4 miles on the Garden State Parkway, which dominates the vast majority of your time behind the wheel. The experience is efficient and consistent, lacking the technical demands of winding rural backroads or heavy city traffic. Transitioning from the local streets of Wildwood onto the Parkway creates a clear shift in momentum, moving you quickly into the flow of regional transit. Expect a predictable, steady pace that allows you to cover the distance with minimal stress.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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 74.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and North Wildwood Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 81.3 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: near the start (CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 52.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue

Turn left onto CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
7
5.6 mi into trip | ~9m in

Keep slight left at fork toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 6 Toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
6
52.5 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in | GSP / Garden State Parkway

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
80.6 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in

Take the exit toward Lakehurst Road, Toms River

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 81 Toward Lakehurst Road, Toms River
6
81.1 mi into trip | ~1h 37m in | Irons Street

Turn left onto Irons Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Garden State Parkway 74.4 mi 1h 26m
North Wildwood Boulevard 3.1 mi 4m
New Jersey Avenue 1.5 mi 2m
West Spruce Avenue 0.5 mi <1m
West Anglesea Drive 0.3 mi <1m
West Water Street 0.2 mi <1m
Irons Street 0.2 mi <1m
Lakehurst Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 74.4 mi, about 1h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wildwood, NJ and Toms River, NJ.

1

Start on this road

38 ft · 4 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto West Wildwood Avenue

142 ft · 13 sec · West Wildwood Avenue
3

Turn left onto CR 621

1.5 mi · 2 min · New Jersey Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Continue on CR 621; OD

0.3 mi · 36 sec · West Anglesea Drive
5

Continue on NJ 147; OD

0.5 mi · 52 sec · West Spruce Avenue
6

Continue on NJ 147; OD

3.1 mi · 4 min · North Wildwood Boulevard
7

Turn slight right

432 ft · 15 sec
Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 6 Toward GSP Toll North: Garden State Parkway
9

Merge onto GSP

12 mi · 14 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the none lane.
10

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 31 sec
11

Merge onto GSP

34 mi · 39 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

28 mi · 32 min · Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 15 sec
Exit 81 Toward Lakehurst Road, Toms River Use the slight right lane.
14

Continue on Lakehurst Road

469 ft · 10 sec · Lakehurst Road
15

Continue on CR 527

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Water Street
16

Turn left onto Irons Street

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Irons Street
Use the left lane.
17

Continue on Irons Street

268 ft · 16 sec · Irons Street
18

Turn right onto NJ 166

287 ft · 10 sec · North Main Street
19

Turn left

78 ft · 5 sec
20

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Because this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak commuter hours will ensure the smoothest transit. Since there are no mandatory stops required for this 81.3-mile distance, you can easily complete the trip in one go without needing to refuel or stretch your legs. Keep in mind that the Garden State Parkway serves as the backbone of this route, so checking traffic reports before you leave can save you from unexpected delays. As a practical tip, ensure your E-ZPass is ready to go, as the Parkway relies heavily on electronic tolling. Use the simplicity of this short drive to your advantage by planning your arrival in Toms River exactly when you want it.

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 40.7 miles from Wildwood, NJ, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.4 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 40.7 miles or 49m 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 22m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Toms River, NJ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Wildwood, 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 Wildwood, NJ

This is one driving day of about 81.3 miles and 1h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wildwood, 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 74.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 40.7 mi from Wildwood, NJ · 49m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Absecon, NJ

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

Absecon, NJ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Absecon, NJ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 40.7 miles from Wildwood, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.4 miles.

Arriving in Toms River, NJ

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.45 one way

$26.91 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $14.72 $29.44
premium $4.92 $15.75 $31.51
diesel $5.64 $18.06 $36.12

Estimated Tolls: $4.46

Garden State Parkway (74.4 mi) $4.46

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

$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 · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.4 0 $8.54 $3.90
Efficient EV 20.3 0 $7.11 $3.25
EV Truck/SUV 32.5 0 $11.38 $5.20

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 hours ago

Origin

Wildwood, NJ

Night in Wildwood on Sunday

Local time

9:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Toms River, NJ

Night in Toms River on Sunday

Local time

9:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

58°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

5 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 38m 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 Wildwood, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 81.3 miles and takes about 1h 38m 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, New Jersey 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 40.7 miles from Wildwood, NJ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.45 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 demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 81.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 621 / New Jersey Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 52.5 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Wildwood, NJ to Toms River, NJ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Toms River, NJ to Wildwood, NJ

Plan the drive back the other way.

82 mi 1h 38m

Explore more options from Wildwood, NJ or browse trips ending in Toms River, NJ.

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