Local Live Web Cameras Stream Beach, Route 37, Bird Nests

Stuck inside a cubicle and need a view of the outside world? Or maybe you just want a live view of what traffic conditions are as you head out on the open road.

There are several live, streaming cameras set up in and around Toms River to give you a view of what's going on, even when you can't be there to see for yourself.

Beach Cameras

Whether you are actually heading there and want to see how crowded it is, or are just looking to live vicariously through the beach camera, you can get a glimpse of what's going on at the Seaside Heights beaches via its beach cam.

There are two views, one pointing south and another pointing north, so you can check both scenes of how crowded – or not — the beach is.

Here' the south cam and here's the north. Did you find a good spot to lay your beach chair?

Scenic Lakewood, Motor Vehicle Inspection Station

The state has a "live wait queue camera" at the Lakewood motor vehicle inspection station off Route 70, so you can check out how long you'll be sitting in line for your turn to have your 2007 Nissan Versa inspected, and see how many lanes are open.

The view refreshes every three minutes, and it should help you figure out whether you should bring some Kafka to read or not. Check out the view here.

Traffic on Route 37

The New Jersey 511 website has traffic cameras set up on many state roads. And Toms River has its share of state roads.

There are several cameras up and down Route 37 from Lakehurst to Toms River, which you can find here.

Whether you want to know how backed up it is at Route 37 and Route 166, are trying to make it over the Route 37 bridge or just wonder if it's clear sailing at the Oak Ridge Parkway, the traffic cam will give you a view.

There are nine traffic cameras at Route 37 intersections: Colonial Drive, North Hampton Road, Oak Ridge Parkway, Garden State Parkway, Route 166, Hooper Avenue, Washington Street, Fischer Boulevard and Route 35.

Traffic on Garden State Parkway

Likewise the 511 website feeds the live view of what's going on up and down the Garden State Parkway. There's a giant list of cameras, here, where you can click on a particular one and get the view of that mile marker.

Here are the parkway traffic cameras around Toms River:

• MM 082.3 North of Exit 82 - NJ 37 East (Toms River Twp)
• MM 083.8 South of Exit 83 - US 9 North (Toms River Twp)
• MM 084.7 Toms River Toll Plaza (Dover Twp)
• MM 084.9 North of Toms River Toll Plaza (Toms River Twp)
• MM 089.5 South of Exit 88 - NJ 70 East (Lakewood Twp)
• MM 090.0 South of Exit 89 - Lakewood/Airport Rd (Lakewood Twp)

Bird's Eye View at Island Beach State Park

The recently launched , thanks to the Friends of Island Beach State Park, gives you a view of the nest in hopes of catching a glimpse of the shore birds when they return. The camera operator on occasion also pivots the view so you can catch the barrier island sunset, for example.

Check in on our feathered friends here.

Also don't forget you can head over to the Traffic map on Toms River Patch to get a map outline of local traffic issues. Find it here.