Origin
Lakewood, NJ
Afternoon in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
12:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakewood, 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
17m
Distance
10.2 mi
16 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 16m
★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 21m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 19m
3 PM
0h 19m
5 PM
0h 21m
8 PM
0h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between Lakewood and Toms River, this 10.2-mile journey is a straightforward commute. Clocking in at approximately 17 minutes, the trip is easily accomplished in a single day, making an overnight stay unnecessary. You will primarily navigate via Lakewood Road, River Avenue, and Madison Avenue. With a fuel budget of just $2, this is an incredibly economical trek within the Northeast region. Because both towns are located in New Jersey, you will remain within the same state throughout the drive. This route is best suited for those needing a practical, no-fuss transit between these two neighboring communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lakewood Road | 6 mi | 9m |
| River Avenue | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Madison Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 8th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Lakewood Road
— 6 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on 8th Street
46 ft
·
7 sec
·
8th Street
2
Turn left onto US 9; CR 547
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 9
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
River Avenue
4
Continue on US 9
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Lakewood Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on NJ 166
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Lakewood Road
6
Continue on NJ 166
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left
78 ft
·
5 sec
8
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
2 of 22 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 10.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue
Turn left onto US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
10.2 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.69 one way
$3.38 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $1.85 | $3.70 |
| premium | $4.93 | $1.98 | $3.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.25 | $4.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.07 | $0.49 |
| Efficient EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.89 | $0.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.43 | $0.65 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Afternoon in Toms River on Sunday
Local time
12:33 PM
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
25 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
17m 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 turn-heavy local drive that keeps your focus engaged throughout the short 10.2-mile distance. Unlike a high-speed interstate haul, this trip features a 0% highway share, meaning you will navigate surface streets for the duration of your travel. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 6-mile segment on Lakewood Road. Because you are avoiding major highways, the pace is dictated by local traffic patterns and intersections. You should prepare for a steady, hands-on driving experience that requires constant attention to turning maneuvers rather than long-distance cruising.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6 mi on Lakewood Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lakewood, NJ to Toms River, NJ is easy. At 17m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Lakewood, NJ
Full guide →Lakewood is a town in Ocean County, New Jersey.
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 17m. Total distance: 10.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6 miles on Lakewood Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (US 9; CR 547 / Madison Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
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.
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