Origin
Hillsborough, NJ
Morning in Hillsborough on Sunday
Local time
10:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hillsborough, 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 27m
Distance
60.2 mi
97 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
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.
Hillsborough, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 60.2-mile drive from Hillsborough to Toms River, New Jersey, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 27 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via State Route 18 and the Garden State Parkway, with a portion on NJ 34, making it a highway-focused experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $10, this route is an economical choice for a quick journey within the Northeast region. The drive is efficient and direct, ideal for those looking to reach their destination without extensive detours. Given its short duration and focused road profile, it's perfect for a spontaneous outing or a planned short trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Route 18 | 22 mi | 28m |
| Garden State Parkway | 14.9 mi | 17m |
| NJ 34 | 8.3 mi | 11m |
| Amwell Road | 5.2 mi | 9m |
| Hamilton Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Willow Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| French Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Somerset Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
State Route 18
— 22 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hillsborough, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on Willow Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Willow Road
2
Turn right onto CR 514
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Amwell Road
3
Continue on CR 514
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Millstone Bypass
4
Continue on CR 514
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Amwell Road
5
Turn slight right
405 ft
·
19 sec
6
Turn slight right onto CR 514
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Amwell Road
7
Continue on CR 514
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Hamilton Street
8
Turn right onto CR 617
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Franklin Boulevard
9
Turn left onto NJ 27
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Somerset Street
10
Continue on NJ 27
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
French Street
11
Continue on NJ 27; CR 514; CR 527
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Albany Street
12
Turn right onto Burnet Street
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Burnet Street
Toward NJ 18 South: Burnet Street, to Route 18 South, NJ Turnpike
Use the right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward NJ 18 South
14
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
this road
15
Merge onto NJ 18
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Memorial Parkway
16
Continue on NJ 18; CR 527
22 mi
·
28 min
·
State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19B
Toward NJ 34 South: Point Pleasant
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto NJ 34
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 34
19
Take the ramp onto NJ 34
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 34
20
Enter roundabout onto NJ 34
219 ft
·
3 sec
·
NJ 34
21
Continue on NJ 34
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 34
22
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll South
23
Merge onto GSP
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 82
Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park
Use the right lane.
25
Merge onto NJ 37
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Route 37 West
26
Turn right onto NJ 166
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Turn left
78 ft
·
5 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 30.1 miles from Hillsborough, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 11.8 and 59 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
11.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
Burnet Street
Turn right onto Burnet Street toward NJ 18 South: Burnet Street, to Route 18 South, NJ Turnpike
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward NJ 18 South: Burnet Street, to Route 18...
5
12.3 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 18 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NJ 18 South
7
34.9 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward NJ 34 South: Point Pleasant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 19B
Toward NJ 34 South: Point Pleasant
5
44.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
59 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
$9.98 one way
$19.96 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.93 | $21.86 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.68 | $23.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.29 | $26.58 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.89
Garden State Parkway
(14.9 mi)
$0.89
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$1
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 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 | 18.1 | 0 | $6.32 | $2.89 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.27 | $2.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.43 | $3.85 |
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
Morning in Toms River on Sunday
Local time
10:47 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
11 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 27m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this 60.2-mile journey, with 76% of the drive utilizing faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22 miles along State Route 18, offering a consistent pace. While the route is largely highway, the transition onto and off of the Garden State Parkway and NJ 34 will present the typical road characteristics associated with these types of thoroughfares. Overall, the drive is designed for efficiency rather than scenic exploration, with a steady rhythm that allows for a straightforward transit.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22 mi on State Route 18.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 18 and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.8 miles in near Burnet Street.
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 60.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 11.8 miles (Burnet Street): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 34.9 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 Hillsborough, NJ and Toms River, NJ, road signs point toward To Route 18 South, Nj Turnpike and Gsp Toll South.
To Route 18 South
11.8 mi in
|
~22m
|
via Burnet Street
Nj Turnpike
11.8 mi in
|
~22m
|
via Burnet Street
Gsp Toll South
43.4 mi in
|
~1h 5m
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 27m. Total distance: 60.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22 miles on State Route 18. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.89 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 11.8 miles (Burnet Street): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 34.9 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.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Toms River, NJ
More from Hillsborough, NJ
More trips to Toms River, NJ
Explore more options from Hillsborough, NJ or browse trips ending in Toms River, NJ.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.