This 81.6-mile drive from Fair Lawn, NJ, to Toms River, NJ, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 45 minutes. It's an ideal one-day trip, with a modest fuel cost estimated at $14. The route primarily utilizes the Garden State Parkway Southbound, making it a high-speed transit between the Northeast regions of New Jersey. With no planned stops, this trip is all about getting you efficiently from point A to point B. Consider this a practical way to cover ground within the state without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.8 miles from Fair Lawn, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
67.1 mi
1h 23m
Garden State Parkway Southbound
6.2 mi
8m
McLean Boulevard
3.4 mi
5m
US 46
2.4 mi
2m
North Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Fair Lawn Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Route 37 West
0.3 mi
<1m
11th Street
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 67.1 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fair Lawn, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on 11th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·11th Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto CR 76
0.5 mi·1 min·Fair Lawn Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
At end of road, turn left onto NJ 20
2.6 mi·4 min·McLean Boulevard
4
Continue on NJ 20
0.8 mi·51 sec·McLean Boulevard
5
Merge onto US 46
0.4 mi·25 sec·US 46
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 46
2.0 mi·2 min·US 46
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
519 ft·12 sec
Toward NJ 19 North, GSP SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward GSP Toll SouthUse the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto GSP
23 mi·32 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Continue on Garden State Parkway
6.2 mi·8 min·Garden State Parkway Southbound
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 82Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State ParkUse 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
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 45-minute duration, this trip offers great flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, but leaving earlier in the day might help you avoid any potential local traffic as you approach your destination. Since the route is heavily highway-focused and around 81.6 miles, you won't need to plan for many, if any, stops. The estimated fuel cost is $14, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you leave Fair Lawn. A key tip for this drive is to be mindful of potential toll plazas on the Garden State Parkway, as they can sometimes cause brief delays.
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 40.8 miles from Fair Lawn, NJ, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.1 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 18 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.8 miles or 56m 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 29m
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 Fair Lawn, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fair Lawn, NJ
This is one driving day of about 81.6 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Fair Lawn, 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 67.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 80.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|CR 76 / Fair Lawn Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto CR 76 / Fair Lawn Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
4.6 mi into trip|~7m in|US 46
Keep slight right at fork onto US 46
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
6.6 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward NJ 19 North, GSP South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 19 North, GSP South
7
6.7 mi into trip|~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward GSP Toll South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward GSP Toll South
8
80.4 mi into trip|~1h 42m 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
$13.53 one way
$27.06 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.82
$29.63
premium
$4.93
$15.83
$31.65
diesel
$5.61
$18.02
$36.03
Estimated Tolls: $4.40
Garden State Parkway
(73.3 mi)$4.40
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
$14
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: 28.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.5
0
$8.57
$3.92
Efficient EV
20.4
0
$7.14
$3.26
EV Truck/SUV
32.6
0
$11.42
$5.22
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Fair Lawn, NJ
Late night
in Fair Lawn on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Toms River, NJ
Late night
in Toms River on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°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
1 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 45m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
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...
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 22.5
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 47.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 93% of the drive on high-speed roads, primarily the Garden State Parkway Southbound. The longest uninterrupted stretch clocks in at 67.1 miles, meaning you'll be settling into a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. While McLean Boulevard is part of the initial segment, the bulk of your time will be spent on this major parkway. This profile suggests a drive focused on efficiency rather than scenic byways, with limited opportunities for spontaneous roadside exploration.
93% 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: 67.1 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 Garden State Parkway Southbound. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near CR 76 / Fair Lawn Avenue.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.6 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 0.3 miles (CR 76 / Fair Lawn Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (US 46): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fair Lawn, NJ and Toms River, NJ, road signs point toward Gsp South and Gsp Toll South.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 81.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.1 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.40 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 0.3 miles (CR 76 / Fair Lawn Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (US 46): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Morristown 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.
