Trip from Rockaway, 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 48m

Distance

86.8 mi

140 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

13 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

1h 41m ★

6 AM

1h 49m

8 AM

2h 5m

10 AM

1h 54m

12 PM

1h 53m

3 PM

1h 55m

5 PM

2h 4m

8 PM

1h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States

Rockaway, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Toms River, NJ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Rockaway, NJ to Toms River, NJ covers 86.8 miles and takes about 1h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Garden State Parkway, NJ 24, Garden State Parkway Southbound for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.3 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.39 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

43.4 miles from Rockaway, NJ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Garden State Parkway	54.3 mi	1h 5m
NJ 24	9.3 mi	10m
Garden State Parkway Southbound	6.2 mi	8m
Christopher Columbus Highway	5.4 mi	6m
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway	3.4 mi	3m
I 287	3.4 mi	4m
North Main Street	0.7 mi	1m
Route 37 West	0.3 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Garden State Parkway — 54.3 mi, about 1h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rockaway, NJ and Toms River, NJ.

Start on this road

46 ft · 8 sec · this road

Turn left onto CR 513

137 ft · 7 sec · West Main Street

Turn left onto CR 513

337 ft · 5 sec · Wall Street

Turn right onto CR 513

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Church Street

Continue on CR 513

491 ft · 10 sec · Halsey Avenue

Continue on CR 513

0.1 mi · 10 sec · Hibernia Avenue

Keep slight right at fork onto Hibernia Avenue

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Hibernia Avenue

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Toward I 80 East

Merge onto I 80

5.4 mi · 6 min · Christopher Columbus Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec

Exit 43 Toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward I 287 South: Morristown, Somerville Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 287

3.4 mi · 4 min · I 287

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Exit 37 Toward NJ 24 East: Springfield Use the slight right lane.

Continue on NJ 24

9.3 mi · 10 min · NJ 24

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 29 sec

Toward I 78 East: Holland Tunnel, New York City, Newark

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 17 sec

Toward I 78 East Local: Newark Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 78

3.4 mi · 3 min · Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 47 sec

Exit 52 Toward GSP: G.S. Parkway Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward GSP South

Merge onto GSP

11 mi · 14 min · Garden State Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on Garden State Parkway

6.2 mi · 8 min · Garden State Parkway Southbound

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto GSP

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Garden State Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto GSP

43 mi · 50 min · Garden State Parkway

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 48 sec

Exit 82 Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park Use the right lane.

Merge onto NJ 37

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Route 37 West

Turn right onto NJ 166

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Main Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left

78 ft · 5 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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 43.4 miles from Rockaway, NJ, or about 57m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.3 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 19 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 43.4 miles or 57m 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 32m

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 Rockaway, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Rockaway, NJ

This is one driving day of about 86.8 miles and 1h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Rockaway, 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 54.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

43 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.4 miles from Rockaway, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Summit House Restaurant + Bar

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Summit, New Jersey

Early in the drive, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour $40 to $50 mile 18.6

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+19082736000

Visit website

Hapgoods Restaurant & Bar

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Mountain Lakes, New Jersey

1.5 mi

Oasis Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cranford, New Jersey

1.6 mi

Summit House Restaurant + Bar

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour $40 to $50 mile 18.6

Summit, New Jersey

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+19082736000

Visit website

Hapgoods Restaurant & Bar

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 6.2

Mountain Lakes, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+19732993399

Visit website

Oasis Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $30 to $50 mile 31

Cranford, New Jersey

Hours: 12–9:30 pm

+19089676161

Visit website

Restaurant Lorena's

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $50 to $10 mile 24.8

Maplewood, New Jersey

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19737634460

Visit website

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour Moderately mile 24.8

Union, New Jersey

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+19083966401

Visit website

Amsterdam Alley Bar & Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30 mile 31

Linden, New Jersey

Hours: 12 pm–12 am

+19089254166

Visit website

Fiore Rosso Restaurant & Catering

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $30 to $50 mile 80.6

Toms River, New Jersey

Hours: 5–9 pm

+17322553323

Visit website

Azure The Greek Mediterranean

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $40 to $50 mile 12.4

Morristown, New Jersey

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+19739989555

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 24.8

Union, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 12.4

Morristown, New Jersey

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+19739713700

Visit website

Veterans Memorial Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 6.2

Parsippany, New Jersey

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+19732637254

Visit website

Briant Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 18.6

Springfield, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19085274900

Visit website

Fords Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 37.2

Woodbridge, New Jersey

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+17327453900

Visit website

Morristown National Historical Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 12.4

Morristown, New Jersey

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+19735392016

Visit website

Escape Room NJ Madison

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 12.4

Madison, New Jersey

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+19735208360

Visit website

Whippany Railway Museum

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 12.4

Whippany, New Jersey

Hours: Closed

+19738878177

Visit website

Nomahegan Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 31

Cranford, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+19085274900

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 21

5 decision points cluster between mile 6.5 and 85.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6.5 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah

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 43 Toward I 287: Morristown, Mahwah

6.7 mi into trip | ~8m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 287 South: Morristown, Somerville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 287 South: Morristown, Somerville

10.2 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward NJ 24 East: Springfield

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 37 Toward NJ 24 East: Springfield

20.6 mi into trip | ~26m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 78 East Local: Newark

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 78 East Local: Newark

85.6 mi into trip | ~1h 46m 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

$14.39 one way

$28.78 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$15.76	$31.52
premium	$4.93	$16.83	$33.67
diesel	$5.61	$19.16	$38.33

Estimated Tolls: $3.63

Garden State Parkway (60.5 mi) $3.63

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

$14

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

13 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Rockaway Town Plaza - Tesla Supercharger

Rockaway, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Dunkin' Donuts - Tesla Supercharger

Rockaway, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Parsippany, NJ

Tesla

12 DCFC

Boonton ACME Shopping Center - Tesla Supercharger

Boonton, NJ

Tesla

10 DCFC

Burger King - Tesla Supercharger

Denville, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Mountain Lakes, NJ Rechargery Relay @ Wawa - US-46

Mountain Lakes, NJ

IONNA

8 DCFC

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Pine Brook, NJ

Tesla

8 DCFC

Lener Denville Square (Denville, NJ)

Denville, NJ

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Tesla: 6 EV Connect: 1 Blink Network: 1 Electrify America: 1 IONNA: 1 ChargePoint Network: 1 CHARGESMART_EV: 1 eVgo Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	26	$9.11	$4.17
Efficient EV	21.7	$7.59	$3.47
EV Truck/SUV	34.7	$12.15	$5.56

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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 16, 2026

Origin

Rockaway, NJ

Morning in Rockaway on Sunday

Local time

10:30 AM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Toms River, NJ

Morning in Toms River on Sunday

Local time

10:30 AM

EDT

Current temp

45°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

3 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 48m 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?

86.8 mi in 1h 48m, mostly highway — 54.3 mi of that is on Garden State Parkway.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 54.3 mi on Garden State Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.5 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 86.8 miles you will encounter 21 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 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

Between Rockaway, NJ and Toms River, NJ, road signs point toward Mahwah, Somerville, New York City, Newark and Gsp South.

Mahwah

6.5 mi in | ~8m

Somerville

6.7 mi in | ~8m

New York City

20.3 mi in | ~25m

Newark

20.3 mi in | ~25m

Gsp South

24.5 mi in | ~31m

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 48m. Total distance: 86.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 54.3 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $3.63 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.

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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Rockaway, NJ or browse trips ending in Toms River, NJ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NJ road trips.

Trip from Rockaway, NJ to Toms River, NJ

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Summit House Restaurant + Bar

Summit House Restaurant + Bar

Hapgoods Restaurant & Bar

Oasis Restaurant

Restaurant Lorena's

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge

Amsterdam Alley Bar & Restaurant

Fiore Rosso Restaurant & Catering

Azure The Greek Mediterranean

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

EVgo Charging Station

Applegreen Electric Charging Station

EVgo Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

Whitney Houston Service Area

Rest Area

Judy Blume Service Area

Jon Bon Jovi Service Area

Rest Area

Morris Museum

Veterans Memorial Park

Briant Park

Fords Park

Morristown National Historical Park

Escape Room NJ Madison

Whippany Railway Museum

Nomahegan Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Rockaway, NJ

Toms River, NJ

Same local time

3 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 48m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Arriving in Toms River, NJ

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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