Toms River

By plane

Toms River is 90 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport and an hour from Atlantic City International Airport. Travelers wanting to travel to the nearby regions including Atlantic City itself can use the SJTA TransIT Link shuttle to travel between Atlantic City International Airport and the Pleasantville Bus Terminal. At the Bus Terminal you can catch another NJ Transit bus to Ocean County. Car rental services are available at both airports.

By train

Amtrak does not have a station in Toms River, but at stations in Point Pleasant approx. 20 miles away and in Trenton, New Brunswick, and Princeton Junction, approx. 40 miles away. New Jersey Transit trains also serve Point Pleasant, which is about 30 minutes away by car.

By bus

New Jersey Transit buses arrive approximately twice every half hour, once en route from New York to Atlantic City and once en route from Atlantic City to New York.

By car

Toms River is located off the Garden State Parkway South exit 82 A&B which leads visitors to the main commercial corridor, Rt. 37, which rides directly into the Jersey's Shore's own Seaside Heights Borough.

By car

A car is the best method for getting around Toms River and the surrounding area. Local New Jersey Transit bus service runs up and down the main north / south route (Route 9) between Lakewood, NJ, and Atlantic City, NJ. The bus terminal is located about 15 minutes by foot from the heart of downtown Toms River. Express buses leave for the New York City every hour, and take about an hour and fifteen minutes to get to NYC depending on traffic. If you plan on visiting the beach area over the bridge, there are places to rent bikes to get around for the day.

By taxi

There are a number of taxi services around and within Toms River as well as services like Uber and Lyft. Fares vary.

• Alpha Taxi

  phone: +1 732 506-9500
  address: Toms River

• Exclusive Taxi and Car Service

  phone: +1 732 350-8294
  address: 538 Gilford Avenue, Toms River

• Toms River Taxi

  phone: +1 732 736-1600
  address: Toms River
  Open 24 hours. No website but seems to be operating.

Downtown Toms River: This half-hour walk will visit the local historical sites as well as museums and hall-of-fames dedicated to them. The walk includes visits sites such as Huddy Park, a Revolutionary War site, The Toms River Seaport Society Maritime Museum, and the 1850 courthouse. Be sure to visit the many local cafes and shops as well as the newly renovated Ocean County Library. (More information about the walking tour can be found on tomsriveronline.com.)
Cattus Island Park: One of a number of county parks in the area, Cattus Island Park has many miles of trails with unspoiled views of Silver Bay. There is a small Environmental Center to learn about local flora and fauna of this bayside environment. In the park, there are places to go fishing, crabbing, cycling, and picnic. Admission and parking is free.
Toms River: The body of water the town is named after is actually a tidal inlet from the Barnegat Bay. There are several companies that provide kayak and sailboat rentals for exploring by boat.

Beach: In the summer months, take the Rt. 37 bridge to the seaside towns only 5 minutes away. People from Toms River frequent the beaches in Ortley, Seaside, Normandy, and Point Pleasant. Daily and weekly badges must be purchased during the summer months, but the beaches are free before Memorial Day in the spring and after Labor Day in the late summer. The beaches are beautiful and all have lifeguards during the summer months. Water temperatures are best in the late summer. Arrive early to get a prime spot on the sand and a parking space. In Seaside Heights you have to pay for parking but parking is free in Ortley Beach. For a more secluded beach experience, go to Island Beach State Park.
Other Options:

• Route 37 Water Sports

  address: 3430 Route 37 East
  Jet Ski / Waverunner and boat rentals in Toms River NJ. Located before bridge to Seaside Heights on Route 37

• Marquee Cinemas

  address: 1311 Route 37 West
  Marquee Cinemas is a new and big theater featuring the latest movies and stadium seating.

• Playdrome Lanes

  address: 821 Conifer St, Toms Rive
  Have fun bowling with your friends and family at Playdrome Lanes.

• Winding River Skating Center Ice Skating Rink

  address: 1211 Whitesville Rd

• Bey Lea Golf Course

  address: 1536 N. Bay Ave

You will find shops downtown and the Ocean County Mall on Hooper Ave. There are several large grocery stores that serve the area as well as a number of smaller specialty stores.

• Ocean County Mall

  phone: +1 732 244-8200
  address: 1201 Hooper Avenue

• Boston's Restaurant and Sports Bar

  address: 1356 Fischer Boulevard
  This new restaurant and features great food as well as many different televisions to watch sporting events.
• Caffe Italia Toms River is home to many family-owned Italian restaurants. One of the best is Caffe Italia where you can choose from traditional Italian dishes as well as pizza.

Call +1 732-929-0808 for directions.

• Capone's Family owned Italian restaurant
• Hana Japanese Restaurant, +1 732-286-4465. This Japanese sushi and hibachi restaurant features authentic tatami tables and an array of fresh fish delivered daily.
• Lobster Shanty, +1 732-240-4800. Great waterfront restaurant in the downtown area to visit in the summer months to enjoy fresh seafood and watch as the boats pull into the docks at the end of the day. It is moderately priced with a full bar.
• The Office Lounge, +1 732 349-0800, . This popular restaurant is busy all times of day, especially during lunch, when it is packed with workers from downtown. Also a popular bar on weekend nights.

• Shogun

  phone: +1 732-286-9888
  address: 1536 North Bay Avenue
  Serves fresh Japanese cuisine. They have hibachi tables which are great for birthdays and a group of people. Also has tables for sushi and other menu selections.

• Surf Taco

  address: 1887 Hooper Ave

• The Bamboo Bar, on "the strip" in Seaside Park. A 5-minute drive over the bridge, is packed every night in the summer as it doubles as a nightclub. It offers nightly specials, especially for ladies.

• Club Karma

  address: 401 Boulevard Seaside Heights
  Club Karma, featured on MTV's Jersey Shore, is a five minute drive over the bridge. It's one of the popular locations for the summer night life featuring drink and cover specials.

• Hemingway's CafeHemingway's Cafe is a new restaurant and bar located in Seaside Heights. For lunch and dinner they offer a great menu including sushi. At night, Hemingway's Cafe has become one of the new hot spots.

• Joey Harrison's Surf Club

  address: 1900 Ocean Ave
  The Surf Club is located right on the beach. At night they have a DJ, drink specials, and sometimes live bands.

• Mulligan's Bar & Grill

  address: 1850 Hooper Ave
  Mulligans Pizza Bar & Grill has a great menu with something for everyone. It's a great place to hang out, drink, eat, and watch sports.

• Howard Johnson Hotel

  address: 955 Hooper Avenue

• Holiday Inn Toms River

  phone: +1 732 244-4000
• Quality Inn Toms River, 815 SR 37 W., +1 732 341-6469.

• Ramada Toms River

  phone: +1 732 905-2626
  address: 2373 Route 9, Toms River, NJ - 08755