Toms River to Mine Hill is 87.5 miles and takes about 1h 54m via Garden State Parkway and NJ 24, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, connecting the Northeast region from one point to another. Given its relatively short duration and straightforward highway profile, it's a manageable drive for a single day. You'll be spending most of your time on well-maintained parkways and highways, making it a practical transit route rather than a destination in itself. Consider this a good option when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.7 miles from Toms River, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
59.6 mi
1h 13m
NJ 24
9.4 mi
11m
NJ 10
6.3 mi
9m
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
3.6 mi
4m
US 46
1.3 mi
2m
South Morris Street
1.1 mi
2m
I 287
0.9 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 59.6 mi, about 1h 13m
Traffic on I-287
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
8 AM
~5,466 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,290
Quietest
3 AM
~301 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Toms River, NJ and Mine Hill, NJ.
1
Start on this road
78 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto NJ 166
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
3
Turn left onto NJ 37
0.1 mi·21 sec·Route 37 West
4
Take the exit
0.5 mi·47 sec
Toward US 9 Toll North, GSP Toll North: Lakewood, New York, Woodbridge
5
Merge onto GSP; US 9
21 mi·24 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
7
Continue on GSP
39 mi·49 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 142BToward I 78 West: SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 78
3.6 mi·4 min·Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 48Toward NJ 24 West: Springfield, Morristown
11
Continue on NJ 24
9.4 mi·11 min·NJ 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Toward I 287 North: MahwahUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 287
0.9 mi·1 min·I 287
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 39Toward NJ 10: Dover, WhippanyUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 10 West: DoverUse the slight left lane.
16
Continue on NJ 10
6.3 mi·9 min·NJ 10
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Take the exit
201 ft·5 sec
18
Continue on (643)
1.1 mi·2 min·South Morris Street
19
Turn left onto CR 513
0.4 mi·45 sec·East Blackwell Street
20
Continue on CR 659
0.2 mi·15 sec·West Blackwell Street
21
Turn slight right onto US 46
1.3 mi·2 min·US 46
22
Turn left onto CR 640
0.3 mi·48 sec·Randolph Avenue
23
Turn left onto Clover Place
149 ft·6 sec·Clover Place
24
Arrive at destination
Clover Place
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 54-minute drive, leaving in the morning or mid-afternoon should help you avoid the worst of any commuter traffic. Since it's a short, single-day trip with a fuel cost around $16, you have flexibility in your departure time. You won't need to plan for extensive stops, but there are plenty of service areas along the Garden State Parkway if you need a break. Keep an eye on exit numbers as you transition from the Parkway to NJ 24 and then NJ 10 to ensure you're on the correct path for Mine Hill.
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 43.7 miles from Toms River, NJ, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.6 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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.7 miles or 54m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mine Hill, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Toms River, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Toms River, NJ
This is one driving day of about 87.5 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Toms River, 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 59.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 61.4 and 77.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
61.4 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 78 West: Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 142B
Toward I 78 West: Springfield
7
65.8 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 24 West: Springfield, Morristown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 287 North: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 287 North: Mahwah
8
76.9 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward NJ 10: Dover, Whippany
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 39
Toward NJ 10: Dover, Whippany
7
77.1 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 10 West: Dover
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward NJ 10 West: Dover
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.47 one way
$30.95 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$16.95
$33.90
premium
$5.24
$18.06
$36.13
diesel
$5.35
$18.43
$36.86
Estimated Tolls: $3.58
Garden State Parkway
(59.6 mi)$3.58
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
$15
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.3
0
$9.19
$4.20
Efficient EV
21.9
0
$7.66
$3.50
EV Truck/SUV
35
0
$12.25
$5.60
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of May 31, 2026
Origin
Toms River, NJ
Evening
in Toms River on Wednesday
Local time
5:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
N 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Mine Hill, NJ
Evening
in Mine Hill on Wednesday
Local time
5:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive 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 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 54m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental Army’s winter encampment from December 1779 to June 1780, where soldiers survived the coldest winte...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 75.4
Park Closure: Partial Reopening: Cross Estate Gardens
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thoma...
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 17...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 63.3
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 33.2
Situated within the most densely populated region of the United States, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides a unique opportunity to experience tranquil landscapes, rich human history,...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$10
near mile 87.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 93% of the 87.5-mile route on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 59.6 miles on the Garden State Parkway. After leaving the Parkway, you'll transition to NJ 24 and then NJ 10, which will likely involve more frequent exits and potentially denser traffic as you approach your destination. This section is mainly about covering ground efficiently on established roadways.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.6 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 61.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.5 miles you will encounter 15 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 61.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
813 ft18 ft
Total Climb
1,001 ft
Total Descent
210 ft
Highest Point
813 ft
~87.5 mi in
Elevation Range
795 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Toms River, NJ and Mine Hill, NJ, road signs point toward Morristown and Whippany.
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
•Ocean County Courthouse — county courthouse in Ocean County, New Jersey
•Stoutenburgh-Minturn House — historic house in Ocean County, New Jersey
•Captain Amos Birdsall House — historic house in Ocean County, New Jersey
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 87.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.6 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.58 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.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Mine Hill, 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 61.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Morristown National Historical Park, Thomas Edison National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (5 total within detour distance). 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 Mine Hill, NJ before heading back.
