Traveling from Passaic to South Toms River is a straightforward, 75.9-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 37 minutes. Because this is a compact trip within the Northeast, you can easily complete it as a one-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Garden State Parkway, making this a highly efficient transit rather than a leisurely backroads tour. Budget approximately $13 for fuel to cover the distance. Whether you are heading toward the coast for a quick getaway or commuting between these two New Jersey points, the route is designed for speed and consistency.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38 miles from Passaic, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
65.2 mi
1h 20m
Garden State Parkway Southbound
6.2 mi
8m
Bloomfield Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Broadway
1 mi
1m
West Passaic Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
East Passaic Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
US 9
0.4 mi
<1m
Watchung Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 65.2 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Passaic, NJ and South Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on Passaic Avenue
95 ft·7 sec·Passaic Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 618
0.2 mi·20 sec·Paulison Avenue
3
Turn left onto CR 622
1.0 mi·1 min·Broadway
4
Continue on CR 622
0.2 mi·17 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
5
Continue on CR 622
0.2 mi·20 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
6
Continue on CR 622
0.6 mi·55 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Enter roundabout onto CR 622
160 ft·2 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
8
Continue on CR 622
0.4 mi·37 sec·Bloomfield Avenue
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on CR 622
411 ft·9 sec·Darling Avenue
10
Turn right onto CR 622
0.5 mi·50 sec·West Passaic Avenue
11
Continue on CR 652
0.4 mi·50 sec·East Passaic Avenue
12
Turn right onto CR 655
0.2 mi·31 sec·Watchung Avenue
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward GSP Toll South
14
Merge onto GSP
20 mi·28 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on Garden State Parkway
6.2 mi·8 min·Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi·49 sec·Garden State Parkway
17
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
44 mi·52 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit onto US 9
363 ft·4 sec·US 9
Exit 80Toward CR 619 South, CR 530, US 9 South: South Toms River, BeachwoodUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
461 ft·10 sec
Toward CR 619, GSP South, GSP North: Jakes Branch County Park, WhitingUse the left / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto CR 619
270 ft·8 sec·Double Trouble Road
21
Turn right onto CR 530
367 ft·6 sec·Dover Road
22
Continue on US 9
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 9
23
Arrive at destination
US 9
Trip Plan
Given the heavy reliance on the Garden State Parkway, check local traffic reports before you head out to ensure the highway is flowing smoothly. Since the entire trip is under two hours, you likely won't need to plan for formal rest stops, offering you plenty of flexibility in your schedule. If possible, avoid peak commuting hours to keep your travel time closer to that 1-hour and 37-minute estimate. Keep your E-ZPass handy, as this route is a toll-heavy corridor. Because there are no mandatory stops built into this 75.9-mile stretch, you have the freedom to depart at your convenience and arrive in South Toms River without the need for mid-trip refueling.
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 38 miles from Passaic, NJ, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.2 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38 miles or 52m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Toms River, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Passaic, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Passaic, NJ
This is one driving day of about 75.9 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Passaic, 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 65.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 75.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 618 / Paulison Avenue
Turn right onto CR 618 / Paulison Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
3.8 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward GSP Toll South
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward GSP Toll South
6
30.9 mi into trip|~44m 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
75.4 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|US 9
Take the exit onto US 9 toward CR 619 South, CR 530, US 9 South: South Toms River, Beachwood
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 80
Toward CR 619 South, CR 530, US 9 South: South...
9
75.4 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CR 619, GSP South, GSP North: Jakes Branch County Park, Whiting
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward CR 619, GSP South, GSP North: Jakes Bran...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.58 one way
$25.17 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$13.78
$27.56
premium
$4.93
$14.72
$29.44
diesel
$5.61
$16.76
$33.52
Estimated Tolls: $4.28
Garden State Parkway
(71.4 mi)$4.28
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
$13
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.8
0
$7.97
$3.64
Efficient EV
19
0
$6.64
$3.04
EV Truck/SUV
30.4
0
$10.63
$4.86
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Passaic, NJ
Late night
in Passaic on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Toms River, NJ
Late night
in South Toms River on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph6% chanceLive 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
15 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 37m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
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...
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 15.7
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 41.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a focused, highway-heavy experience as 94% of your travel occurs on major thoroughfares. You will navigate Bloomfield Avenue briefly before merging onto the Garden State Parkway Southbound for the bulk of your journey. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 65.2-mile stretch of uninterrupted highway driving. This creates a predictable, high-speed pace that remains consistent from start to finish. You should be prepared for a utilitarian drive that prioritizes reaching your destination quickly over varied terrain or technical maneuvering.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.2 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 early in the drive near CR 618 / Paulison Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.9 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start (CR 618 / Paulison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 30.9 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
139 ft25 ft
Total Climb
66 ft
Total Descent
180 ft
Highest Point
139 ft
~10.8 mi in
Elevation Range
114 ft
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 Passaic, NJ to South Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll South along the way.
Gsp Toll South
3.8 mi in|~6m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 75.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.2 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.28 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 South 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: near the start (CR 618 / Paulison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 30.9 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 South Toms River, NJ before heading back.
