Origin
Nutley, NJ
Morning in Nutley on Tuesday
Local time
6:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nutley, 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 33m
Distance
71.8 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 27m
★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 47m
8 PM
1h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nutley, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 71.8-mile drive from Nutley, NJ, to Toms River, NJ, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 33 minutes. The journey is predominantly highway-focused, with 96% of the route utilizing major roadways like the Garden State Parkway. With an estimated fuel cost of around $12, this is an economical option for a quick getaway within the Northeast region. Given its relatively short duration and highway nature, it offers a direct path without the need for an overnight stop, making it a convenient option for a day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.9 miles from Nutley, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 62.2 mi | 1h 16m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Bloomfield Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Route 37 West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Hoover Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Mountainview Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Hillside Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 62.2 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nutley, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on Hillside Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Hillside Avenue
2
Turn right onto Mountainview Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Mountainview Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto Bloomfield Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Bloomfield Avenue
4
Turn right onto CR 651
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
Hoover Avenue
5
Turn left onto Summit Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Summit Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward GSP Toll South
7
Merge onto GSP
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on Garden State Parkway
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Garden State Parkway Southbound
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
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 33-minute drive, consider leaving early in the morning to avoid potential traffic, especially on the Garden State Parkway. Since the route is only 71.8 miles and primarily highway, you won't need extensive breaks, but there are opportunities to stop if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on the Parkway is quite substantial at 62.2 miles, and plan your refueling accordingly before embarking on longer sections. Your estimated fuel cost is $12, so factor that into your trip budget.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.9 miles from Nutley, NJ, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 16 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.9 miles or 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Toms River, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Nutley, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Nutley, NJ
This is one driving day of about 71.8 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Nutley, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 62.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.9 miles from Nutley, NJ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Garden State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.2 miles.
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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 71.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Bloomfield Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Bloomfield Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~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 right lanes.
6
27.7 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
70.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m 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...
5
71.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
NJ 166 / North Main Street
Turn right onto NJ 166 / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.90 one way
$23.81 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $13.04 | $26.07 |
| premium | $4.93 | $13.92 | $27.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.85 | $31.71 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.10
Garden State Parkway
(68.4 mi)
$4.10
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.54 | $3.45 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.28 | $2.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.7 | 0 | $10.05 | $4.60 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Morning in Toms River on Tuesday
Local time
6:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
1 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 33m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
$10
near mile 5
Park Closure: Glenmont Mansion and Grounds Closed
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
7 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 12.4
View on nps.gov
Gateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 39.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 71.8-mile journey. You'll spend most of your time on the Garden State Parkway, covering a longest stretch of 62.2 miles uninterrupted on this main artery. The route's character is defined by its high highway share at 96%, indicating a consistent pace and limited exposure to local roads. This means you'll likely experience a smooth, albeit potentially monotonous, drive as you head south through New Jersey.
96% 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: 62.2 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 Garden State Parkway Southbound. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Bloomfield Avenue.
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 71.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.4 miles (Bloomfield Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.7 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Nutley, NJ
Full guide →Nutley is a town of 27,000 in Essex County, in Northern New Jersey.
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 33m. Total distance: 71.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.2 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.10 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 0.4 miles (Bloomfield Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.7 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park 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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