Origin
Union, NJ
Afternoon in Union on Sunday
Local time
12:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union, NJ to South 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 17m
Distance
61.8 mi
99 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, NJ
Arjun Gheewala
South Toms River, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward trip from Union to South Toms River, you can expect to cover 61.8 miles in about 1 hour and 17 minutes. This route is designed as a quick day trip, making it an ideal choice if you want to head to the Jersey Shore area without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $10 for fuel to complete the journey. The path stays entirely within the Northeast region, transitioning from the suburban landscape of Union down toward the coastal terrain of South Toms River. Given the short duration, you will find this an efficient way to travel between these two New Jersey points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Parkway | 53.8 mi | 1h 4m |
| Garden State Parkway Southbound | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Stuyvesant Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| US 9 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Vauxhall Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Chestnut Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Dover Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Double Trouble Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 53.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, NJ and South Toms River, NJ.
1
Start on Harding Avenue
243 ft
·
11 sec
·
Harding Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR 630
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Vauxhall Road
3
Turn left onto CR 619
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Stuyvesant Avenue
4
Continue on CR 619
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Chestnut Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward GSP Toll South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto GSP
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on Garden State Parkway
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Garden State Parkway Southbound
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto GSP
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Garden State Parkway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP
44 mi
·
52 min
·
Garden State Parkway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 9
363 ft
·
4 sec
·
US 9
Exit 80
Toward CR 619 South, CR 530, US 9 South: South Toms River, Beachwood
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
461 ft
·
10 sec
Toward CR 619, GSP South, GSP North: Jakes Branch County Park, Whiting
Use the left / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto CR 619
270 ft
·
8 sec
·
Double Trouble Road
13
Turn right onto CR 530
367 ft
·
6 sec
·
Dover Road
14
Continue on US 9
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
US 9
15
Arrive at destination
US 9
Where to Stop
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.9 miles from Union, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 61.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward GSP Toll South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward GSP Toll South
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
16.8 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
GSP / Garden State Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto GSP / Garden State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
61.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
US 9
Take the exit onto US 9 toward CR 619 South, CR 530, US 9 South: South Toms River, Beachwood
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 80
Toward CR 619 South, CR 530, US 9 South: South...
9
61.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CR 619, GSP South, GSP North: Jakes Branch County Park, Whiting
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward CR 619, GSP South, GSP North: Jakes Bran...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.25 one way
$20.49 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.22 | $22.44 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.99 | $23.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.64 | $27.29 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.60
Garden State Parkway
(60 mi)
$3.60
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$4
Total
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
South Toms River, NJ
Afternoon in South Toms River on Sunday
Local time
12:25 PM
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
2 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 17m 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?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 98% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will rely heavily on the Garden State Parkway Southbound to bridge the gap between your starting point and destination. A significant portion of your time behind the wheel will be spent on a 53.8-mile stretch along the Parkway, which serves as the backbone of this route. While you will navigate brief segments like Stuyvesant Avenue, the experience is largely defined by the consistent pace of the interstate system. Expect a steady, predictable flow of traffic as you move through these major New Jersey transit corridors.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.8 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and Garden State Parkway Southbound. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.8 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 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 61.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.8 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.60 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 South 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 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles (GSP / Garden State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Morristown National Historical Park and Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (4 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 South 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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