Origin
Linden, NJ
Afternoon in Linden on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Linden, 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 10m
Distance
55.2 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Linden, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 55.2-mile drive from Linden, NJ to Toms River, NJ is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 10 minutes. It's primarily a highway-focused experience, making it an ideal day trip with no need for an overnight stay. You'll be spending about 95% of your time on highways, so expect a quick journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $9, which is quite budget-friendly. This route is entirely within the Northeast region and New Jersey, so you won't be crossing any state lines or major regional boundaries. It's a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 46 mi | 53m |
| US 1 | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| US 9 | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| East Edgar Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Route 37 West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Stiles Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 12th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 46 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Linden, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on West 12th Street
268 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 12th Street
2
Turn right onto South Stiles Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
South Stiles Street
3
Turn left onto US 1; US 9
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Edgar Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Continue on US 1; US 9
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
US 1; US 9
5
Continue on US 1; US 9
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 1; US 9
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 9
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US 9
Toward Shore Points
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward GSP: Garden State Parkway South
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Merge onto GSP
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Garden State Parkway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
43 mi
·
50 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 82
Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto NJ 37
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Route 37 West
13
Turn right onto NJ 166
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left
78 ft
·
5 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.6 miles from Linden, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 53.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 9 toward Shore Points
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Shore Points
6
7.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward GSP: Garden State Parkway South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward GSP: Garden State Parkway South
5
8 mi into trip
|
~13m 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 right lanes.
6
11 mi into trip
|
~17m 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
53.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m 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
$9.15 one way
$18.30 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.02 | $20.05 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.71 | $21.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.19 | $24.37 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.76
Garden State Parkway
(46 mi)
$2.76
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$3
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.80 | $2.65 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.73 | $3.53 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
12:30 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
2 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 10m 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-intensive experience on this route, with 95% of your travel occurring on high-speed roads. The primary artery is the Garden State Parkway, where you'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 46 miles. While predominantly highway, the route incorporates US 1 and US 9, which might offer slight variations in speed and environment as you transition. This drive is built for covering distance quickly rather than for leisurely sightseeing, offering a consistent pace for the majority of the journey.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46 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 US 1. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in near US 9.
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 55.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.9 miles (US 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Linden, NJ and Toms River, NJ, road signs point toward Shore Points and Gsp: Garden State Parkway South.
Shore Points
4.9 mi in
|
~8m
|
via US 9
Gsp: Garden State Parkway South
7.7 mi in
|
~12m
About the Cities
Starting in Linden, NJ
Full guide →Linden is a city of 42,000 people (2019) in New Jersey. Linden is a regional hub of Polish immigration and features a significant number of establishments featuring the food and culture of Poland.
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 10m. Total distance: 55.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.76 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 4.9 miles (US 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Gateway National Recreation Area 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.
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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