Origin
Margate City, NJ
Morning in Margate City on Sunday
Local time
9:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Margate City, 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 5m
Distance
52.6 mi
85 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 0m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Margate City, NJ
Malcolm Garret
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Margate City to Toms River, you can expect a straightforward 52.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the modest distance makes an overnight stay unnecessary. You should budget approximately $9 for fuel to complete the trip. Because both the origin and destination are located in the Northeast, the drive maintains a consistent regional feel as you transition between these two Jersey Shore hubs. It is a highly practical connection, ideal for travelers looking for a quick, efficient transit rather than a leisurely scenic tour.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 45.3 mi | 52m |
| Tilton Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Downbeach Express | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| North Jerome Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Margate Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Mill Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Fire Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Black Horse Pike | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 45.3 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Margate City, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on CR 629; OD
10 ft
·
3 sec
·
Ventnor Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 563
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Jerome Avenue
3
Continue on CR 563
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Downbeach Express
4
Continue on CR 563
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Margate Boulevard
5
Continue on CR 563
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
East Mill Road
6
Turn slight right onto CR 563
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Tilton Road
Use the slight right / right lanes.
7
Turn right onto CR 651
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
Fire Road
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto US 40; US 322
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Black Horse Pike
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward GSP Toll North
10
Merge onto GSP
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 81
Toward Lakehurst Road, Toms River
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on Lakehurst Road
469 ft
·
10 sec
·
Lakehurst Road
14
Continue on CR 527
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Water Street
15
Turn left onto Irons Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Irons Street
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on Irons Street
268 ft
·
16 sec
·
Irons Street
17
Turn right onto NJ 166
287 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Main Street
18
Turn left
78 ft
·
5 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 26.3 miles from Margate City, 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 5.8 and 52.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
CR 651 / Fire Road
Turn right onto CR 651 / Fire Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
6.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward GSP Toll North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward GSP Toll North
6
23.7 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
51.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward Lakehurst Road, Toms River
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 81
Toward Lakehurst Road, Toms River
6
52.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
Irons Street
Turn left onto Irons Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.72 one way
$17.44 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.55 | $19.10 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.20 | $20.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.61 | $23.23 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.72
Garden State Parkway
(45.3 mi)
$2.72
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
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 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 | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.60 | $2.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21 | 0 | $7.36 | $3.37 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
9:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Bass River, NJ
26 mi in
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
7 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 5m 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, as 86% of your commute is spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of local connectors like Tilton Road and the Downbeach Express before merging onto the Garden State Parkway. The route hits its stride with a long, uninterrupted 45.3-mile stretch on the Parkway, which serves as the backbone of your drive. While the initial local roads require a bit more attention, the bulk of the trip settles into a steady, fast-paced interstate grind. You will find that the road transitions from suburban local streets into a more uniform high-speed transit environment once you reach the highway.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.3 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Tilton Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near CR 651 / Fire Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.6 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 5.8 miles (CR 651 / Fire Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 23.7 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Margate City, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll North along the way.
Gsp Toll North
6.4 mi in
|
~10m
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 5m. Total distance: 52.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.3 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.72 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 5.8 miles (CR 651 / Fire Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 23.7 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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