Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 12, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
61.8 mi
100 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Hillsborough, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Toms River to Hillsborough is 61.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 26 minutes via NJ 18 and Garden State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, beginning in the Northeast region and ending in the same area. With the majority of the drive on major roads, this route offers a straightforward path for a quick trip. It's a practical option if you're looking for an efficient way to get from one point to another in the Garden State.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 18 | 22.2 mi | 26m |
| Garden State Parkway | 15 mi | 17m |
| NJ 34 | 7 mi | 9m |
| Amwell Road | 5.3 mi | 9m |
| Memorial Parkway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Hamilton Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Franklin Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Willow Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Toms River, NJ and Hillsborough, NJ.
Start on this road
Turn right onto NJ 166
Turn left onto NJ 37
Take the exit
Merge onto GSP; US 9
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto NJ 138
Take the exit
Merge onto NJ 34
Enter roundabout onto NJ 33; NJ 34
Continue on NJ 33; NJ 34
Take the exit onto NJ 34
Take the ramp
Merge onto NJ 18
Continue on NJ 18
Take the exit
Turn straight onto (672)
Turn left onto CR 609
Continue on CR 617
Turn right onto CR 514
Continue on CR 514
At end of road, turn left onto CR 514
Continue on CR 514
Continue on CR 514
Turn left onto Willow Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 30.9 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 16.3 and 50.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward NJ 138 East, I 195 West, NJ 34: Belmar, Trenton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward GSP North, I 195 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 195 West: Trenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NJ 34 North: Matawan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Easton Avenue, So Bound Brook
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$10.62 one way
$21.24 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.79 | $11.65 | $23.31 |
| premium | $5.13 | $12.47 | $24.95 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $14.52 | $29.04 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.90
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$1
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.49 | $2.97 |
| Efficient EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.41 | $2.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.65 | $3.96 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Late night in Toms River on Saturday
Local time
5:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Hillsborough on Saturday
Local time
5:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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.
This drive is mostly highway, with 77% of the 61.8 miles on major roads. You'll encounter a stretch of 22.2 miles on NJ 18, which is the longest continuous section before transitioning. Expect a significant amount of highway cruising for most of the trip before you eventually move onto surface roads as you approach your destination.
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 16.3 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.8 miles you will encounter 18 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 16.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
391 ft
Total Descent
330 ft
Highest Point
139 ft
~17.7 mi in
Elevation Range
124 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Toms River, NJ and Hillsborough, NJ, road signs point toward Trenton, Gsp North and So Bound Brook.
Trenton
Gsp North
So Bound Brook
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 1771
Hillsborough is a town in Somerset County (New Jersey).
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 61.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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