Traveling from Franklin Lakes to Toms River is a straightforward 85.9-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 53 minutes. Because this trip is well within a single day’s reach, you can easily complete it as a one-day outing without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Garden State Parkway, which keeps the drive efficient and direct. Budgeting approximately $14 for fuel should cover your travel costs, making this an affordable excursion within the Northeast region. Since both towns are located in New Jersey, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition from the northern suburbs down toward the shore. It is a practical, no-nonsense route ideal for those looking to reach their destination with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43 miles from Franklin Lakes, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
67.5 mi
1h 24m
Garden State Parkway Southbound
6.2 mi
8m
Belmont Avenue
3.4 mi
6m
Ewing Avenue
2.2 mi
3m
NJ 19
2 mi
2m
High Mountain Road
0.9 mi
1m
Franklin Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 67.5 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin Lakes, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on Shirley Avenue
0.2 mi·59 sec·Shirley Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR S-89
0.8 mi·1 min·Franklin Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 502
2.2 mi·3 min·Ewing Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
At end of road, turn left onto CR 89
0.9 mi·1 min·High Mountain Road
5
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 675
3.4 mi·6 min·Belmont Avenue
6
Turn left onto CR 673
0.5 mi·52 sec·West Broadway
7
Turn right onto CR 509
0.3 mi·36 sec·Main Street
8
Turn right onto NJ 19
397 ft·9 sec·Ward Street
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on NJ 19
0.2 mi·17 sec·Oliver Street
10
Turn slight left onto NJ 19
2.0 mi·2 min·NJ 19
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward GSP SouthUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto GSP
24 mi·33 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Continue on Garden State Parkway
6.2 mi·8 min·Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi·49 sec·Garden State Parkway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
43 mi·50 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·48 sec
Exit 82Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State ParkUse the right lane.
17
Merge onto NJ 37
0.3 mi·33 sec·Route 37 West
18
Turn right onto NJ 166
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left
78 ft·5 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this route is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though keep in mind that the Garden State Parkway can experience varying traffic density throughout the day. With no formal stops required for this 1 hour and 53-minute trek, you can easily handle the drive in one go without needing to plan for breaks. It is wise to check real-time traffic conditions before you head out, as the reliance on the Parkway means any congestion will directly impact your travel time. Ensure your gas tank is prepared for the $14 fuel expense before leaving Franklin Lakes. By staying focused on the Parkway, you will maintain the most efficient path to Toms River while keeping your travel logistics simple and stress-free.
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 43 miles from Franklin Lakes, NJ, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.5 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 19 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43 miles or 1h 2m 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 37m
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 Lakes, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Franklin Lakes, NJ
This is one driving day of about 85.9 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Franklin Lakes, 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 67.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 84.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|CR 502 / Ewing Avenue
Turn right onto CR 502 / Ewing Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
8.3 mi into trip|~15m in|NJ 19 / Ward Street
Turn right onto NJ 19 / Ward Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
10.5 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward GSP South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward GSP South
6
41.8 mi into trip|~1h 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
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 50m 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
$14.24 one way
$28.48 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.60
$31.19
premium
$4.93
$16.66
$33.32
diesel
$5.61
$18.97
$37.93
Estimated Tolls: $4.42
Garden State Parkway
(73.7 mi)$4.42
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
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.8
0
$9.02
$4.12
Efficient EV
21.5
0
$7.52
$3.44
EV Truck/SUV
34.4
0
$12.03
$5.50
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 16, 2026
Origin
Franklin Lakes, NJ
Morning
in Franklin Lakes on Sunday
Local time
10:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Toms River, NJ
Morning
in Toms River on Sunday
Local time
10:54 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
22 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 53m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive, as 88% of your journey is spent on major thoroughfares. The core of your experience involves a significant 67.5-mile stretch along the Garden State Parkway, which allows for steady, consistent speeds. While you will start and end on local roads like Belmont Avenue, the vast majority of your time behind the wheel is dedicated to the primary arterial highway. This makes for a predictable ride that is less about technical maneuvering and more about cruising through the state. You will find that the rhythm of the drive remains largely uniform, providing a reliable and steady pace from start to finish.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.5 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 1 miles in near CR 502 / Ewing 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 85.9 miles you will encounter 16 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 1 miles (CR 502 / Ewing Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles (NJ 19 / Ward Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 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.
On the drive from Franklin Lakes, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp South along the way.
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 53m. Total distance: 85.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.5 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.42 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 1 miles (CR 502 / Ewing Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles (NJ 19 / Ward Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Toms River, NJ before heading back.
