Toms River to Totowa is 78 miles and takes about 1h 40m via Garden State Parkway and US 46, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Jersey, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its relatively short distance and highway focus, it's a straightforward drive. You'll spend most of your time on the Garden State Parkway, making it a practical option for a quick transit between these areas.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39 miles from Toms River, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
71 mi
1h 29m
US 46
2.4 mi
2m
Union Boulevard
1.1 mi
1m
State Route 3
0.9 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Route 37 West
0.1 mi
<1m
Totowa Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 71 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Toms River, NJ and Totowa, 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
50 mi·1 hr 5 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 153BToward NJ 3 West: WayneUse the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto NJ 3
0.9 mi·1 min·State Route 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 46
2.4 mi·2 min·US 46
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·20 sec
Toward NJ 62, CR 646: Totowa, Little Falls, Paterson
12
Turn straight onto NJ 62; CR 646
1.1 mi·1 min·Union Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto CR 644
99 ft·2 sec·Totowa Road
14
Arrive at destination
CR 644
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, single-day drive of under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving mid-morning can help you avoid the worst of rush hour traffic in both Toms River and the areas closer to Totowa. The fuel cost is estimated at $13, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you depart. With only 78 miles, you won't need extensive stops, but keep an eye on the Garden State Parkway for any service areas if you need a quick break.
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 39 miles from Toms River, NJ, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71 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 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39 miles or 48m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Totowa, 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 78 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 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 71 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 76.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the exit toward US 9 Toll North, GSP Toll North: Lakewood, New York, Woodbridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 9 Toll North, GSP Toll North: Lakewoo...
5
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in|GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
72.8 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward NJ 3 West: Wayne
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 153B
Toward NJ 3 West: Wayne
5
73.5 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|NJ 3 / State Route 3
Merge onto NJ 3 / State Route 3
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
76.8 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward NJ 62, CR 646: Totowa, Little Falls, Paterson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 62, CR 646: Totowa, Little Falls, Pat...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.40 one way
$26.81 round trip
$4.37/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.79
$14.71
$29.42
premium
$5.13
$15.74
$31.49
diesel
$5.97
$18.32
$36.65
Estimated Tolls: $4.26
Garden State Parkway
(71 mi)$4.26
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
$13
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.4
0
$8.19
$3.74
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.83
$3.12
EV Truck/SUV
31.2
0
$10.92
$4.99
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 Sep 11, 2026
Origin
Toms River, NJ
Late night
in Toms River on Saturday
Local time
5:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Totowa, NJ
Late night
in Totowa on Saturday
Local time
5:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°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
1 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 40m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 95% of the trip on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 71 miles on the Garden State Parkway. After this, the route transitions to US 46 and Union Boulevard, indicating a shift to more local traffic and potentially more frequent exits as you approach Totowa.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and US 46. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles (GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 40m. Total distance: 78 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.26 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 Totowa, 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 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles (GSP; US 9 / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.8 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 Totowa, NJ before heading back.
