Origin
Somerset, NJ
Morning in Somerset on Sunday
Local time
6:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Somerset, 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 11m
Distance
51.8 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Somerset, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Somerset to Toms River covers 51.8 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes. Since this is a straightforward trek within the Northeast region of New Jersey, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip. You will navigate primarily via Abbott Road, Belmar Street, and Franklin Boulevard rather than relying on major interstates. With an estimated fuel cost of just $8, it is a highly budget-friendly journey. Because the total duration is quite short, you do not need to worry about splitting the trip into multiple days. This route is an ideal choice if you are looking for a practical, direct way to reach the coast without the complexity of long-haul travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 18 | 23.8 mi | 31m |
| Garden State Parkway | 14.9 mi | 17m |
| NJ 34 | 8.3 mi | 11m |
| Franklin Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| George Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Belmar Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Route 37 West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 18
— 23.8 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Somerset, NJ and Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on West Point Avenue
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Point Avenue
2
Turn right onto Abbott Road
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Abbott Road
3
Turn right onto Belmar Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Belmar Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto CR 617
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Franklin Boulevard
5
Continue on Landing Lane
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Landing Lane
6
Turn right onto (672)
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
George Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward NJ 18 South
8
Merge onto NJ 18
24 mi
·
31 min
·
NJ 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19B
Toward NJ 34 South: Point Pleasant
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto NJ 34
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 34
11
Take the ramp onto NJ 34
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 34
12
Enter roundabout onto NJ 34
219 ft
·
3 sec
·
NJ 34
13
Continue on NJ 34
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 34
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward GSP Toll South
15
Merge onto GSP
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 82
Toward NJ 37 East: Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park
Use the right lane.
17
Merge onto NJ 37
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Route 37 West
18
Turn right onto NJ 166
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left
78 ft
·
5 sec
20
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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.9 miles from Somerset, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 50.6 — 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
|
~3m in
|
CR 617 / Franklin Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto CR 617 / Franklin Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
NJ 18
Merge onto NJ 18
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
26.4 mi into trip
|
~37m 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
5
35.7 mi into trip
|
~51m 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 left lanes.
8
50.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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
$8.59 one way
$17.18 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.41 | $18.81 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.05 | $20.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.44 | $22.87 |
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
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.44 | $2.49 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.25 | $3.32 |
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
6:13 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
16 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 11m 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 turn-heavy local drive as you make your way south toward Toms River. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route avoids highways entirely, meaning you will experience 0% highway driving throughout the 51.8-mile trip. The path relies on local roads, requiring you to stay alert through various intersections and turns rather than settling into a high-speed cruise. Because the route is composed of local streets, there is no single long, uninterrupted stretch to speak of. You should prepare for a hands-on driving experience where the pace is dictated by local traffic patterns rather than open-road speed limits.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.8 mi on NJ 18.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 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 near CR 617 / Franklin Boulevard.
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 51.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 (CR 617 / Franklin Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (NJ 18): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 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.
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 Somerset, NJ to Toms River, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp Toll South along the way.
Gsp Toll South
35 mi in
|
~50m
About the Cities
Starting in Somerset, NJ
Full guide →Somerset is a town in Somerset County, New Jersey.
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 11m. Total distance: 51.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.8 miles on NJ 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 (CR 617 / Franklin Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (NJ 18): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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