I put this under class A as I believe those driving Motorhomes ( especially longer heavier w/tag axles) would be paying much higher tolls than fifth wheels or travel trailers, and perhaps more likely to choose other roads than turnpikes and toll roads. We are planning a trip in June to Washington D.C. If we were to take the Ohio turnpike picking it up just out of Michigan to Pennsylvania and picking up the Penn-pike from the Ohio till it almost ends, would be over $400 round trip. I about choked when I saw that. It was the shortest and most convienent. But I can't see paying $400 to drive the toll road when other choices are available. That would almost pay for our gas there and back. Others mentioned in a different post, options that aren't that much out of the way but would save hundreds of dollars. We have planned a alternate route thanks to those in this forum. The Ohio turnpike wasn't bad, but Pennsylvania was just nuts in tolls traversing the state IMHO. Do those of you doing a lot of traveling avoid toll roads if you would be on them for a long period of time? Are all toll roads as costly as the Pennsylvania turn-pike?

I avoid the Pennsylvania Turnpike whenever possible. It's one of the most expensive toll roads in the US.The Turnpike Commission is required to pay the Pennsylvania Dept of Transportation 450 million annually. I believe it will drop to 'only' 50 million annually in 2023.When I travel west from Harrisburg PA I take I-81 south to I-70 & I-68 west to Morgantown WV. Then I-79 north to I-70 west. It bypasses the PA Turnpike.It is about 50 miles longer but, the extra fuel I use is cheaper than the tolls.Sometimes it's more practical or quicker to take the Turnpike. But there are usually better options than the PA Turnpike

et2 wrote:I put this under class A as I believe those driving Motorhomes ( especially longer heavier w/tag axles) would be paying much higher tolls than fifth wheels or travel trailers, and perhaps more likely to choose other roads than turnpikes and toll roads. We are planning a trip in June to Washington D.C. If we were to take the Ohio turnpike picking it up just out of Michigan to Pennsylvania and picking up the Penn-pike from the Ohio till it almost ends, would be over $400 round trip. I about choked when I saw that. It was the shortest and most convienent. But I can't see paying $400 to drive the toll road when other choices are available. That would almost pay for our gas there and back. Others mentioned in a different post, options that aren't that much out of the way but would save hundreds of dollars. We have planned a alternate route thanks to those in this forum. The Ohio turnpike wasn't bad, but Pennsylvania was just nuts in tolls traversing the state IMHO. Do those of you doing a lot of traveling avoid toll roads if you would be on them for a long period of time? Are all toll roads as costly as the Pennsylvania turn-pike?I did the same calculations and assumed a 4-axle high vehicle. Ohio tolls end to end came to $44.50 (one way) but the PA turnpike was $150+ end to end (again, one way). IMO ohio is reasonable but PA is way, way too much. we're willing to pay tolls as state or US highways can take you too far out of the way or vastly increase your time (assuming time is a factor and/or you're going point-to-point). you might want to consider getting an EZ Pass. that will save significant $. doesn't matter from which state you get the device so shop around. the Illinois I-Pass is also accepted in all of the EZ Pass states. there is no user fee for the I-Pass although you'll need to make a small ($20 or $40...can't recall which) initial deposit and set up automatic replenishments from a bank account. anything left in the account when you close the account is refunded. we used our I-Pass in our MH all up and down the east coast in EZ Pass states with a problem.

The fees calculated driving thru Ohio end to end are $50. I have no problem with that. To drive from the west end of the Penn-pike to exit 326 ( one way) is 50% more ( with easy pass) to 70% more ( cash). Neither cash or easy pass seem acceptable to me. I will be taking alternate routes. So the increases every year are to maintain the turn-pike? What happens when the other interstates get more traffic due to people taking them to avoid the fees. I'd assume the maintenance on them would go up as well, but it's free ( in comparison to the turn-pike). Who pay's for those? Tax payers.

et2 wrote:The fees calculated driving thru Ohio end to end are $50. I have no problem with that. To drive from the west end of the Penn-pike to exit 326 ( one way) is 50 percent more ( with easy pass) to 70 percent more ( cash).Can you break out the costs?If Ohio one-way is $50, and the one-way on PA is 70 percent more, that would be $85 (50 x 1.70 = 85). That would make the full one-way there cost $135 and the full return trip $265 (or almost double the trip out) using your $400 round trip amount.Or is it that Ohio is $50 one way and PA is $150 one way? That would make it $200 total each way.

I admit that it has been several years since I last used the PA turnpike but I was upset because the tolls that I was paying apparently did not go for road maintenance. The highway was filled with potholes and it was not a comfortable ride at all. I did just see an article where the PA turnpike tolls will go up on Jan. 6th.

Toll avoidance | Good Sam Community

36 Replies

time2roll
Nomad
Dec 30, 2018
Do the tolls add up by size, weight or axles? I am thinking a two axle Class A might be somewhat easy compared to a five axle 5th wheel truck combo.
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Dec 30, 2018
I admit that it has been several years since I last used the PA turnpike but I was upset because the tolls that I was paying apparently did not go for road maintenance. The highway was filled with potholes and it was not a comfortable ride at all.
I did just see an article where the PA turnpike tolls will go up on Jan. 6th.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Dec 30, 2018
et2 wrote:
The fees calculated driving thru Ohio end to end are $50. I have no problem with that. To drive from the west end of the Penn-pike to exit 326 ( one way) is 50 percent more ( with easy pass) to 70 percent more ( cash).

Can you break out the costs?

If Ohio one-way is $50, and the one-way on PA is 70 percent more, that would be $85 (50 x 1.70 = 85). That would make the full one-way there cost $135 and the full return trip $265 (or almost double the trip out) using your $400 round trip amount.

Or is it that Ohio is $50 one way and PA is $150 one way? That would make it $200 total each way.
et2
Explorer
Dec 30, 2018
The fees calculated driving thru Ohio end to end are $50. I have no problem with that. To drive from the west end of the Penn-pike to exit 326 ( one way) is 50% more ( with easy pass) to 70% more ( cash).

Neither cash or easy pass seem acceptable to me. I will be taking alternate routes. So the increases every year are to maintain the turn-pike? What happens when the other interstates get more traffic due to people taking them to avoid the fees. I'd assume the maintenance on them would go up as well, but it's free ( in comparison to the turn-pike). Who pay's for those? Tax payers.
rk911
Explorer
Dec 30, 2018
et2 wrote:
I put this under class A as I believe those driving Motorhomes ( especially longer heavier w/tag axles) would be paying much higher tolls than fifth wheels or travel trailers, and perhaps more likely to choose other roads than turnpikes and toll roads.

We are planning a trip in June to Washington D.C. If we were to take the Ohio turnpike picking it up just out of Michigan to Pennsylvania and picking up the Penn-pike from the Ohio till it almost ends, would be over $400 round trip. I about choked when I saw that.

It was the shortest and most convienent. But I can't see paying $400 to drive the toll road when other choices are available. That would almost pay for our gas there and back. Others mentioned in a different post, options that aren't that much out of the way but would save hundreds of dollars. We have planned a alternate route thanks to those in this forum.

The Ohio turnpike wasn't bad, but Pennsylvania was just nuts in tolls traversing the state IMHO.

Do those of you doing a lot of traveling avoid toll roads if you would be on them for a long period of time? Are all toll roads as costly as the Pennsylvania turn-pike?

I did the same calculations and assumed a 4-axle high vehicle. Ohio tolls end to end came to $44.50 (one way) but the PA turnpike was $150+ end to end (again, one way). IMO ohio is reasonable but PA is way, way too much. we're willing to pay tolls as state or US highways can take you too far out of the way or vastly increase your time (assuming time is a factor and/or you're going point-to-point).

you might want to consider getting an EZ Pass. that will save significant $. doesn't matter from which state you get the device so shop around. the Illinois I-Pass is also accepted in all of the EZ Pass states. there is no user fee for the I-Pass although you'll need to make a small ($20 or $40...can't recall which) initial deposit and set up automatic replenishments from a bank account. anything left in the account when you close the account is refunded. we used our I-Pass in our MH all up and down the east coast in EZ Pass states with a problem.
gbopp
Explorer
Dec 30, 2018
I avoid the Pennsylvania Turnpike whenever possible. It's one of the most expensive toll roads in the US.

The Turnpike Commission is required to pay the Pennsylvania Dept of Transportation 450 million annually. I believe it will drop to 'only' 50 million annually in 2023.

When I travel west from Harrisburg PA I take I-81 south to I-70 & I-68 west to Morgantown WV. Then I-79 north to I-70 west. It bypasses the PA Turnpike.
It is about 50 miles longer but, the extra fuel I use is cheaper than the tolls.

Sometimes it's more practical or quicker to take the Turnpike. But there are usually better options than the PA Turnpike

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Toll avoidance

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