Origin
Harrison, NJ
Morning in Harrison on Tuesday
Local time
7:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Harrison, NJ to Toms River, NJ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
66.8 mi
108 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Harrison, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 66.8-mile drive from Harrison, NJ, to Toms River, NJ, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 26 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip with a modest fuel cost estimated at $11. Given its relatively short distance and highway focus, you won't need to break it up overnight. The drive keeps you within the Northeast region, offering a smooth transit between two New Jersey locations. It's a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 46.7 mi | 54m |
| New Jersey Turnpike | 11.9 mi | 14m |
| Exit to GSP and US Route 9 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard South | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Van Buren Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Jackson Street | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| GSP Southbound entrance | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 46.7 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harrison, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on CR 508
22 ft
·
5 sec
·
Harrison Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 697
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard South
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Jackson Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street
261 ft
·
10 sec
·
Lafayette Street
5
Turn right onto Van Buren Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Buren Street
6
At end of road, turn left onto South Street
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
South Street
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward US 1 South, US 9 South, I 78, I 95, NJTP: Newark Airport
8
Merge onto US 1; US 9
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 78 East, I 95, NJTP: New Jersey Turnpike Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 78
47 ft
·
0 sec
·
I 95/NJTP North Tolls
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95/NJTP North Tolls
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
I 95/NJTP North Tolls
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
14
Merge onto I 95
12 mi
·
14 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
15
Take the exit onto Exit 11
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Exit to GSP and US Route 9
Exit 11
Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
Use the slight left lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP Southbound entrance
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
GSP Southbound entrance
Toward GSP South: Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
18
Merge onto GSP
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Garden State Parkway
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 82
Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park
Use 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.4 miles from Harrison, 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 225 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 65.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 78 East, I 95, NJTP: New Jersey Turnpike Toll
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 I 78 East, I 95, NJTP: New Jersey Turnpi...
8
3.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Trenton
8
16.8 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9
Take the exit onto Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9 toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge
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 11
Toward GSP, US 9: Garden State Parkway, Woodbri...
8
18.1 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Parkway, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward GSP South, US 9, NJ 440: Garden State Pa...
8
65.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m 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
$11.07 one way
$22.15 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $12.13 | $24.26 |
| premium | $4.93 | $12.95 | $25.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.75 | $29.50 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.47
Garden State Parkway
(46.7 mi)
$2.80
New Jersey Turnpike
(11.9 mi)
$1.67
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$4
Total
$16
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20 | 0 | $7.01 | $3.21 |
| Efficient EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.85 | $2.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.35 | $4.28 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Morning in Toms River on Tuesday
Local time
7:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 26m 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-focused experience for 91% of this trip. The majority of your journey will be on the Garden State Parkway, with a notable uninterrupted stretch of 46.7 miles. This means you'll encounter mostly high-speed driving with limited turns or changes in road type. The route is designed for steady progress, making it a predictable drive. While not particularly scenic, its efficiency is its main appeal, allowing you to cover ground quickly on well-maintained parkways and turnpikes.
91% 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: 46.7 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 New Jersey Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.8 miles you will encounter 22 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 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.8 miles (Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9): 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Harrison, NJ and Toms River, NJ, road signs point toward Njtp South: Trenton, Gsp, Woodbridge, Gsp South and Perth Amboy.
Njtp South: Trenton
3.7 mi in
|
~8m
Gsp
16.8 mi in
|
~25m
|
via Exit 11
Woodbridge
16.8 mi in
|
~25m
|
via Exit 11
Gsp South
18.1 mi in
|
~27m
Perth Amboy
18.1 mi in
|
~27m
About the Cities
Starting in Harrison, NJ
Full guide →Harrison is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey. This article also covers the town of Kearny.
Arriving in Toms River, NJ
Full guide →Founded 1768
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.
Top landmarks
- • Ocean County Courthouse — county courthouse in Ocean County, New Jersey
- • Stoutenburgh-Minturn House — historic house in Ocean County, New Jersey
- • Captain Amos Birdsall House — historic house in Ocean County, New Jersey
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 26m. Total distance: 66.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m 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 46.7 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.47 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 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.8 miles (Exit 11 / Exit to GSP and US Route 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area (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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