Origin
Piscataway, NJ
Morning in Piscataway on Sunday
Local time
8:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Piscataway, 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 6m
Distance
49 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Piscataway, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 49-mile drive from Piscataway, NJ to Toms River, NJ takes about 1 hour and 6 minutes. It's an easy day trip, with no overnight stays recommended. You'll primarily be on State Route 18 and the Garden State Parkway, making it a highly highway-focused experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $8, this trip is quite budget-friendly. The route stays within the Northeast region and the state of New Jersey, offering a familiar journey for locals. It's a quick connection perfect for a short excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Route 18 | 21.4 mi | 27m |
| Garden State Parkway | 14.9 mi | 17m |
| NJ 34 | 8.3 mi | 11m |
| US 1 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Woodbridge Ave Extension | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Route 37 West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| School House Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
State Route 18
— 21.4 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Piscataway, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on Germantown Avenue
193 ft
·
10 sec
·
Germantown Avenue
2
Turn right onto School House Lane
497 ft
·
27 sec
·
School House Lane
3
Turn left onto CR 514
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Woodbridge Ave Extension
4
Turn slight right
394 ft
·
17 sec
Toward US 1 South: New Brunswick, Trenton
5
Turn slight right onto Woodbridge Avenue
329 ft
·
9 sec
·
Woodbridge Avenue
6
Take the ramp
362 ft
·
10 sec
Toward US 1 South: New Brunswick, Trenton
7
Merge onto US 1
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward NJ 18: New Brunswick, East Brunswick
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
Toward NJ 18 South: East Brunswick, Old Bridge
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto NJ 18; CR 527
21 mi
·
27 min
·
State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19B
Toward NJ 34 South: Point Pleasant
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto NJ 34
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 34
13
Take the ramp onto NJ 34
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 34
14
Enter roundabout onto NJ 34
219 ft
·
3 sec
·
NJ 34
15
Continue on NJ 34
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 34
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll South
17
Merge onto GSP
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 82
Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park
Use the right lane.
19
Merge onto NJ 37
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Route 37 West
20
Turn right onto NJ 166
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left
78 ft
·
5 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from Piscataway, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 47.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward US 1 South: New Brunswick, Trenton
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 1 South: New Brunswick, Trenton
7
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward NJ 18: New Brunswick, East Brunswick
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 18: New Brunswick, East Brunswick
9
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 18 South: East Brunswick, Old Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward NJ 18 South: East Brunswick, Old Bridge
7
23.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward NJ 34 South: Point Pleasant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 19B
Toward NJ 34 South: Point Pleasant
8
47.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m 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
$8.12 one way
$16.25 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.90 | $17.79 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.50 | $19.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.82 | $21.64 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.89
Garden State Parkway
(14.9 mi)
$0.89
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.35 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.29 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.86 | $3.14 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
8:00 AM
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
26 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 6m 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-centric journey for 94% of this trip. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained parkways and state routes designed for efficient travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.4 miles on State Route 18. While the overall profile is highway-focused, there might be brief transitions between these main roads. This route prioritizes getting you from point A to point B smoothly and quickly, rather than offering winding scenic detours.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.4 mi on State Route 18.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 18 and Garden State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Piscataway, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll South along the way.
Gsp Toll South
32.2 mi in
|
~44m
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 6m. Total distance: 49 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.4 miles on State Route 18. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.89 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 0.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Morristown National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Gateway National Recreation Area. 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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