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

The driving distance from Toms River, NJ to Princeton, NJ is about 42.3 miles (68.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 36.6 miles (58.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 17m 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
42.34 mi
01h 08m
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 Toms River.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
42.34 mi
Kilometers
68.14 km
Drive Time
01h 08m

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 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Princeton
Thu, Apr 23, 12:03 AM EDT
Return by in Toms River
Thu, Apr 23, 1:11 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Toms River
2026-04-22T22:54
Arrive Princeton
Thu, Apr 23, 12:03 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:09 AM to 11:09 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:12 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Toms River
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 Toms River
21.2 mi
00h 34m
To Princeton
21.2 mi
00h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW
Destination
66°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    24 m · 8 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Lakewood Road

    4.8 mi · 8 min · Lakewood Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Cox Cro Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Cox Cro Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Whitesville Road

    4.3 mi · 8 min · Whitesville Road

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn left onto East Veterans Highway

    3.8 mi · 6 min · East Veterans Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Cedar Swamp Road

    4.1 mi · 6 min · Cedar Swamp Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Siloam Road

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Siloam Road

  9. 9

    Continue on Smithburg Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Smithburg Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Woodville Road

    2616 ft · 44 sec · Woodville Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Smithburg Road

    2604 ft · 44 sec · Smithburg Road

  12. 12

    Continue on Iron Ore Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Iron Ore Road

  13. 13

    Turn left

    5.5 mi · 8 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit straight toward NJ 133 West: East Windsor, Princeton

    1511 ft · 37 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Hightstown Bypass

    3.2 mi · 5 min · Hightstown Bypass

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward CR 571 West: Princeton

    1220 ft · 30 sec

  17. 17

    Turn slight right onto Princeton-Hightstown Road

    4.5 mi · 7 min · Princeton-Hightstown Road

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Washington Road

    75 m · 5 sec · Washington Road

  19. 19

    Continue on Washington Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Washington Road

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Washington Road

    52 m · 5 sec · Washington Road

  21. 21

    Exit the rotary onto Washington Road

    1.6 mi · 4 min · Washington Road

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Nassau Street

    714 ft · 24 sec · Nassau Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Nassau Street

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
54.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Lakewood Road
4.79 mi · 11%
Princeton-Hightstown Road
4.52 mi · 11%
Whitesville Road
4.28 mi · 10%
Cedar Swamp Road
4.12 mi · 10%
East Veterans Highway
3.78 mi · 9%
Hightstown Bypass
3.23 mi · 8%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn left

5.47 mi · 00h 08m

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 08m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.7 mi
36.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
West Freehold
00h 34m from Toms River
Leave By
4:12 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Toms River and Chance Rain Showers near Princeton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 42.3 miles (68.1 km) and usually takes 01h 08m 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 21.2 miles from Toms River and 21.2 miles from Princeton.

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 5.7 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 4:12 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.13 one way or $12.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 13.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Toms River and Chance Rain Showers near Princeton.

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 Toms River and Princeton. Straight-line distance: 36.57 mi (58.86 km).

Toms River

#1 Toms River

Township of New Jersey

Population95,339
Coordinates39.9537300, -74.1979200
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Princeton

#2 Princeton

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

Population30,879
Coordinates40.3487200, -74.6590500
Altitude62
CountryUnited States
Start: Toms River (-74.19792, 39.95373)
End: Princeton (-74.65905, 40.34872)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 68 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.5 gal
5.66 L · about $6.13
Round trip
$12.26
3 gal · 11.32 L
Estimated CO2
13.3 kg one way
Round trip: 26.7 kg / 59 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $6.13 $12.26
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.90 $13.80
Premium $4.95 $7.43 $14.86
Diesel $5.98 $8.97 $17.94

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 Toms River and Princeton. The current time is 22:54:49.

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.