Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
43.7 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Absecon, NJ
Garrison Gao
The drive from Toms River, NJ to Absecon, NJ covers 43.7 miles and takes about 56m 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, US 9, Lakehurst Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33.1 miles on Garden State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.51 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 33.1 mi | 38m |
| US 9 | 9.6 mi | 15m |
| Lakehurst Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Water Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Faunce Landing Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Toms River, NJ and Absecon, NJ.
Start on this road
Turn left onto NJ 166
Turn right onto NJ 166; CR 527
Continue on CR 527
Continue on Lakehurst Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto GSP; US 9
Take the exit onto US 9
Turn left onto East Faunce Landing Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.8 miles from Toms River, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 43.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto NJ 166 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward GSP South, US 9 South: Atlantic City, Beachwood
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 9 toward US 9 South: Port Republic, Smithville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto East Faunce Landing Road
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$7.51 one way
$15.02 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $8.24 | $16.48 |
| premium | $5.13 | $8.82 | $17.64 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $10.27 | $20.53 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.99
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.12 | $2.80 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Toms River on Saturday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Absecon on Saturday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
43.7 mi in 56m, mostly highway — 33.1 mi of that is on Garden State Parkway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US 9. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NJ 166 / North Main Street.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Toms River, NJ to Absecon, NJ is easy. At 56m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NJ 166 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles (GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
141 ft
Total Descent
141 ft
Highest Point
105 ft
~15.6 mi in
Elevation Range
99 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Toms River, NJ to Absecon, NJ, road signs begin pointing toward Smithville along the way.
Smithville
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
Founded 1872
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 43.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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