How far is Princeton, NJ from Toms River, NJ?

The driving distance from Princeton, NJ to Toms River, NJ is about 52.9 miles (85.2 km), with a travel time of about 01h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 36.6 miles (58.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
52.94 mi
01h 07m
Flight
36.57 mi
58.86 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Princeton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
36.57 mi
Kilometers
58.86 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
52.94 mi
Kilometers
85.2 km
Drive Time
01h 07m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Toms River
Thu, Apr 23, 1:32 AM EDT
Return by in Princeton
Thu, Apr 23, 2:39 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Princeton
2026-04-23T00:25
Arrive Toms River
Thu, Apr 23, 1:32 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:07 AM to 11:07 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:16 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Princeton
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
West Freehold
NJ

Census designated place

From Princeton
21.1 mi
00h 33m
To Toms River
31.8 mi
00h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW
Destination
69°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Princeton and Toms River.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Princeton and Toms River.

  1. 1

    Start on Nassau Street

    714 ft · 27 sec · Nassau Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Washington Road

    1.6 mi · 4 min · Washington Road

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Washington Road

    53 m · 5 sec · Washington Road

  4. 4

    Exit the rotary onto Washington Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Washington Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Washington Road

    25 m · 2 sec · Washington Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Princeton-Hightstown Road

    5.9 mi · 10 min · Princeton-Hightstown Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Stockton Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · Stockton Street

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Main Street

    108 m · 12 sec · Main Street

  9. 9

    Turn slight right

    29 m · 4 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Franklin Street

    6.8 mi · 10 min · Franklin Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Iron Ore Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Iron Ore Road

  12. 12

    Continue on Smithburg Road

    2604 ft · 44 sec · Smithburg Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Woodville Road

    2616 ft · 46 sec · Woodville Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Smithburg Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Smithburg Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Siloam Road

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Siloam Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Cedar Swamp Road

    4.1 mi · 6 min · Cedar Swamp Road

  17. 17

    Continue on East Veterans Highway

    3.8 mi · 6 min · East Veterans Highway

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Whitesville Road

    4.3 mi · 8 min · Whitesville Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Cox Cro Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Cox Cro Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Lakewood Road

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Lakewood Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Lakewood Road

    2 mi · 3 min · Lakewood Road

  22. 22

    Continue on North Main Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Main Street

  23. 23

    Turn left

    24 m · 6 sec

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Princeton and Toms River.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
24 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
45.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Franklin Street
6.82 mi · 13%
Princeton-Hightstown Road
5.88 mi · 11%
Lakewood Road
4.78 mi · 9%
Whitesville Road
4.28 mi · 8%
Cedar Swamp Road
4.12 mi · 8%
East Veterans Highway
3.78 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Franklin Street

Turn right onto Franklin Street

6.82 mi · 00h 10m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 07m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.3 mi
36.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
West Freehold
00h 33m from Princeton
Leave By
4:16 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Princeton and Mostly Sunny near Toms River.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Princeton to Toms River?

The road trip is about 52.9 miles (85.2 km) and usually takes 01h 07m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

West Freehold is a useful midpoint, sitting about 21.1 miles from Princeton and 31.8 miles from Toms River.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 36.6 miles (58.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:16 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.64 one way or $15.28 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Princeton and Mostly Sunny near Toms River.

Stop Ideas Near West Freehold

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around West Freehold, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to West Freehold.

RAIL

Princeton Junction station

29 mi away
2 Wallace Road
RAIL

New Brunswick station

31 mi away
French and Albany Streets
RAIL

Metropark station

36 mi away
100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike
RAIL

Trenton Transit Center

39 mi away
72 South Clinton Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Princeton and Toms River. Straight-line distance: 36.57 mi (58.86 km).

Princeton

#1 Princeton

Private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States

Population30,879
Coordinates40.3487200, -74.6590500
Altitude62
CountryUnited States
Toms River

#2 Toms River

Township of New Jersey

Population95,339
Coordinates39.9537300, -74.1979200
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Start: Chapel Drive (-74.658709, 40.348041)
End: (-74.197952, 39.953845)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 85 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.87 gal
7.07 L · about $7.64
Round trip
$15.28
3.74 gal · 14.14 L
Estimated CO2
16.6 kg one way
Round trip: 33.2 kg / 73 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $7.64 $15.28
Mid-grade $4.60 $8.60 $17.20
Premium $4.95 $9.26 $18.53
Diesel $5.98 $11.18 $22.37

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in New Jersey · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Princeton and Toms River. The current time is 00:25:09.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.