Franklin, NJ to Toms River, NJ is 77.6 miles and takes about 1h 40m via Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays entirely within New Jersey, focusing on efficient travel between two points in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss. If you're looking for a quick trip without much planning, this 1-day journey will get you there comfortably.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.8 miles from Franklin, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
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
2.7 mi
4m
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
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 57 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on this road
41 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn left
56 ft·9 sec
3
Turn left onto CR 614
186 ft·13 sec·Clinton Road
4
Turn left onto CR 613
2.7 mi·4 min·Passaic Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
At end of road, turn right onto CR 611
0.2 mi·27 sec·Eagle Rock Avenue
6
Turn right onto CR 609
0.2 mi·21 sec·Eisenhower Parkway
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·33 sec
Toward I 280 East
8
Merge onto I 280
6.9 mi·8 min·Essex Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 11AToward Harrison Street, Clinton Street, East OrangeUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto Freeway Drive East
0.8 mi·1 min·Freeway Drive East
11
Turn right onto South Oraton Parkway
0.4 mi·42 sec·South Oraton Parkway
12
Continue on Whittlesey Avenue
0.4 mi·38 sec·Whittlesey Avenue
13
Turn straight onto Maybaum Avenue
0.2 mi·27 sec·Maybaum Avenue
14
Continue on Oraton Parkway
0.1 mi·13 sec·Oraton Parkway
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto Oraton Parkway
0.3 mi·33 sec·Oraton Parkway
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward GSP Toll South
17
Merge onto GSP
13 mi·18 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on Garden State Parkway
6.2 mi·8 min·Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi·49 sec·Garden State Parkway
20
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
43 mi·50 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·48 sec
Exit 82Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State ParkUse the right lane.
22
Merge onto NJ 37
0.3 mi·33 sec·Route 37 West
23
Turn right onto NJ 166
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn left
78 ft·5 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 1h 40m duration, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially on weekends. With only 77.6 miles, you won't need many stops, but there are ample opportunities for fuel and rest along the Garden State Parkway if needed. The $13 fuel estimate suggests this is an economical trip. A good tip is to check traffic conditions before you leave, as NJ parkways can get busy.
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 38.8 miles from Franklin, NJ, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.8 miles or 53m 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 25m
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 Franklin, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Franklin, NJ
This is one driving day of about 77.6 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Franklin, 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 57 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 76.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 613 / Passaic Avenue
Turn left onto CR 613 / Passaic Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
10.5 mi into trip|~14m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11A
Toward Harrison Street, Clinton Street, East Or...
6
12.7 mi into trip|~19m in|Oraton Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Oraton Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
33.4 mi into trip|~47m 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
76.3 mi into trip|~1h 37m 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
$12.87 one way
$25.73 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.09
$28.18
premium
$4.93
$15.05
$30.10
diesel
$5.61
$17.13
$34.27
Estimated Tolls: $3.79
Garden State Parkway
(63.2 mi)$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: 27.2 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
23.3
0
$8.15
$3.72
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.79
$3.10
EV Truck/SUV
31
0
$10.86
$4.97
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Franklin, NJ
Morning
in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
10:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Toms River, NJ
Morning
in Toms River on Sunday
Local time
10:03 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 40m 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.
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
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...
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 2.7
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 45.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the 77.6 miles on major roadways. You'll spend the majority of your time on the Garden State Parkway, including a significant stretch of 57 miles without needing to exit. The drive is characterized by its consistent speed and direct path, making it ideal for covering ground efficiently. Expect a smooth, uninterrupted journey primarily on well-maintained parkways.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.1 miles in near CR 613 / Passaic Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.6 miles you will encounter 18 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 0.1 miles (CR 613 / Passaic Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.7 miles (Oraton Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Franklin, NJ and Toms River, NJ, road signs point toward Orange 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 40m. Total distance: 77.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m 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 57 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.79 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 0.1 miles (CR 613 / Passaic Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.7 miles (Oraton Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls 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.
