Origin
Dunellen, NJ
Late night in Dunellen on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dunellen, NJ to Toms River, NJ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
58.6 mi
94 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dunellen, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 58.6-mile drive from Dunellen, NJ, to Toms River, NJ, is a straightforward 1 hour and 15-minute journey. Primarily utilizing the Garden State Parkway, it's an ideal candidate for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stops. With an estimated fuel cost of $10, this highway-focused route offers an efficient way to travel within the Northeast region. You can expect a quick and direct transit, making it a practical option for a day excursion or a simple point-to-point drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 45.4 mi | 53m |
| I 287 | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| South Washington Avenue | 2.2 mi | 5m |
| NJ 440 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Stelton Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Route 37 West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 45.4 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dunellen, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on Dunellen Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Dunellen Avenue
2
Turn right onto Madison Avenue
0.1 mi
·
40 sec
·
Madison Avenue
3
Turn left onto NJ 28
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
North Avenue
4
Turn right onto CR 529
2.2 mi
·
5 min
·
South Washington Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on CR 529; CR 665
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Stelton Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 287 South, NJTP, GSP
7
Merge onto I 287
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
I 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on NJ 440
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
NJ 440
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward GSP South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto GSP
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Garden State Parkway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
43 mi
·
50 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.3 miles from Dunellen, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 57.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Madison Avenue
Turn right onto Madison Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
NJ 28 / North Avenue
Turn left onto NJ 28 / North Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
11.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward GSP South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward GSP South
6
14.5 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
57.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.72 one way
$19.43 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.64 | $21.28 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.36 | $22.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.94 | $25.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.72
Garden State Parkway
(45.4 mi)
$2.72
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$3
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.15 | $2.81 |
| Efficient EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.13 | $2.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.20 | $3.75 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Toms River, NJ
Late night in Toms River on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
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
1h 15m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-centric experience on this 58.6-mile trip, with 91% of the drive taking place on main roads like the Garden State Parkway and I-287. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 45.4 miles on the Garden State Parkway, indicating a consistent, high-speed feel for a significant portion of your journey. You'll primarily be on well-maintained parkways and interstates, offering a smooth and predictable ride for most of the 1 hour and 15-minute duration.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.4 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and I 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Madison Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.2 miles (Madison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (NJ 28 / North Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dunellen, NJ and Toms River, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp, Gsp and Gsp South.
Njtp
3.7 mi in
|
~8m
Gsp
3.7 mi in
|
~8m
Gsp South
11.6 mi in
|
~18m
About the Cities
Arriving in Toms River, NJ
Full guide →Toms River is the county seat of Ocean County, New Jersey. It is a few miles west of the beaches of the Jersey Shore Region, midway between New York and Philadelphia and a short distance from Atlantic City. Toms River is easy to get to by car as the Garden State Parkway bisects the town, and it is served by express bus service to and from New York City.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 58.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.4 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.72 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Toms River, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Madison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (NJ 28 / North Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Morristown National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area and Thomas Edison National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Toms River, NJ before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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