Tolls while traveling across the US

[ThomasandMaliaV]

Hello, we will be traveling across the US to Maine from Wi. next year and going through quite a few states. We are unsure how to address the tolls we will encounter. Please advise what is the best way to pay along the way. Thank you! ( our first big trip! ) Malia and Tom Virant

[shawdowboss]

I just took 80/90 across from Iowa to Niagara Falls, NY (Up 90 on the NY toll way). The tolls were about $2 in IL, $8 Indiana, $15 in Ohio and $15 in NY for a 6 wheel vehicle <20k lbs.

Just remember to use the service plaza's on your way for fuel and stops. The fuel prices were nearly the same as off highway (and you don't pay extra to get on/off).

All the tollways have cash lanes going off where we stopped, but they do say if the exit is EzPass Only. EZPass/IPass are the same when you get past Illinois. All the Illinois tollways are Open Lane Tolling, meaning, you don't have to slow down or move over to the toll booth, just drive - lanes are marked EzPass/IPass only. Illinois is the only one that you I know you can skip the booth and pay on-line, just take down the booth numbers and pay on-line within 7 days.

I use an Illinois IPass setup for the C without towing. This has no service fee and paid the same for a license plate mount as I would for a windshield mount. Class C, the plate mount you won't have issues with it not reading, anything without an overhang an windshield mount works. If you do get a plate mount, use bolts with locking nuts (the non-nylon type) to secure it to make it theft resistant.

Now, if you don't care to drive south then north through the states to Maine (and the toll roads) the northern route through Canada is pretty scenic and really only tolls are crossing the borders. Just an idea.

[travelnutz]

hsk1977,

We were billed $9 each way just to cross the less than a half mile long bridges over the Ohio from Louisville KY to Indiana for our pickup with a 29' 5th wheel behind in Jan and March this year. What a ripoff!

Heck, that is more than the cost to cross the Big Mac 5 mile long very high extremely expensive to build and maintain longest in the country and was the longest in the world until a few years ago suspension bridge connecting the Lower Peninsula to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan. It's toll was $7 each way in May of this year when we went up there. Quite a sight and gives a thrill experience and we have cross it hundreds of times! Often have a huge ship up to 1000 feet long going under when you cross and it almost looks like a toy boat below.

[hsk1977]

travelnutz wrote:
An outlandish toll is for the new not very long at all bridge and the old bridge too on I-65 over the Ohio River at Louisville KY and they scan your license plate and you'll get a bill in the mail a month or two later. A vehicle pulling an RV is tolled the same as a Semi/trailer and yes, I sure did complain to them with a phone call to KY State Highway complaint office. These are a ripoff and we'll avoid them and Louisville or Cincinnati in the future and take another road south/north over the Ohio River!

We were planning on taking that route in a couple of weeks. If you don't mind me asking, how much are we talking about? We don't have toll roads where we live, and we're new to RVing, so it's not something I'm familiar with to even have an idea of what to expect. We might want to find another route if possible, maybe it's not possible if going through Louisville & Cincinnati...

EDITED: Never mind...I just double-checked our route, and we don't cross the river. We be taking I-65 to I-71.

[jplante4]

memtb wrote:
I try to avoid tool roads.... It really angers (angers - is for the pc police) me, as when I buy their fuel,I'm already paying taxes to that particular state!

Except, at least here in Mass, the fuel taxes are not earmarked for road repair or upgrades. It goes into the "general fund" where it is use by politicians to hire their brother-in-law to a no show job at MassDOT. Now that "angers" me.

[All_I_could_aff]

$21 PER AXLE over here to cross George Washington Bridge into New York.
That's $84 for a chevy pickup pulling a tandem axle travel trailer.
Slightly less with EZ Pass and off peak discount.

[travelnutz]

There are no toll roads in the State of Michigan as our state constitution forbids them. There's 1 toll tunnel between Michigan and Canada at Detroit and one toll bridge there between the same. 2 other toll bridges in the state between Michigan and Canada (Port Huron about 80 miles north of Detroit and the big high bridge at Sault St Marie in the Upper Peninsula. Another toll bridge is the gigantic 5 mile long Mackinac Bridge connecting the Upper Peninsula and the Lower Peninsula on I-75.

Some states toll their roads and drivers/vehicles till they're broke especially in the eastern USA! An outlandish toll is for the new not very long at all bridge and the old bridge too on I-65 over the Ohio River at Louisville KY and they scan your license plate and you'll get a bill in the mail a month or two later. A vehicle pulling an RV is tolled the same as a Semi/trailer and yes, I sure did complain to them with a phone call to KY State Highway complaint office. These are a ripoff and we'll avoid them and Louisville or Cincinnati in the future and take another road south/north over the Ohio River!

In about a year or so, the bridge over the Ohio River on I-75 at Cincinnati, OH will also be a toll bridge run by the same outfit as the Louisville I-65 Bridge so save up for it! Neither local area will get anymore of our dollars we've left so often in either city over the last 50+ years. Doing our part! Not being cheap but won't be fleeced either when we can avoid it and the traffic mess too.

[Lynnmor]

Then there is the occasional toll plaza with a cash/no trailers, a EZ-Pass only and closed lanes. Good place to set up camp.

[Steve_B_]

Just got off the phone with NY EZPass. I was told I need a different tag to use when I am towing, which they are sending out. I also had to ask about placement of the tag on my new vehicle as I cannot put it where it shows on their website. She told me the opposite of what appears on the website, at which point I told her that if that is true, they really need to update the website, and include info on towing a trailer. Rhode Island EZpass says you don't need a different tag. If this system is good in multiple states, they should coordinate the policies.

[Padlin]

I always drop down into PA and take 80 west to avoid the NY Thruway. 84-81-80.

80 to 76 to 71 to 30 in Ohio. 224 around Fort Wayne, then 24 till you want to go north towards WI. Gets you past all the tolls and most of the traffic.

Unless you're in a hurry.

MA EZ-passes are free now.

[Matt_Colie]

It is almost impossible to not pay some tolls, but with careful planning, the cash drain can be minimized. At some stages this will require a good navigator in the other seat.

I don't know where in Maine you are starting, just don't get on the toll roads you don't have to.

Routes 9 & 20 can get you from eastern MA to Albany. In Albany you can stay with 20 to get to 88. Run 88 to 86 to join 90 near Erie.
Stay with 90 through Cleveland, the trade to 2 for scenic or 20 for shorter. When you make Toledo, decide if you want to go north for 94 or stay with 20 across Ohio.
(If you are going to go north into Michigan, plan a day or two at the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.)
Either way, you will have to start paying attention again about Michigan City (that is in Indiana).
How you go around Chicago's tolls depends are where in WI you are going.

We have a coach that invites killer tolls, so I have gotten good at this.

Matt

[memtb]

I try to avoid tool roads.... It really angers (angers - is for the pc police) me, as when I buy their fuel,I'm already paying taxes to that particular state!

[AJR]

Go to the following link below and sign up. I think it is still $40 charged to your credit card. Then as tolls add up I think it is at the $10 remaining point they bring the amount of money they have back up to $40. I have used I-PASS almost since it started. There are no extra charges. It is the same as EZPASS. The only state on the east coast that does not recognize either is Florida and that is supposed to change in a year or two.

I did your trip in 2006 using I-PASS towing a TT with no problems.

https://www.getipass.com/

[Rustycamperpant]

I have used my IPass for 9 years both when towing a PUP and our TT on all our trips with tolls in different states. I use the same transponder all the time, for my daily work commutes also. I have never had a problem nor have I been charged extra for pulling the camper in any state. Tolls are half the cost in Il. when using IPass.

[moresmoke]

Steve B. wrote:
Your question reminded me that I still don't have a clear answer on whether I need a different transponder when I am towing my camper or not. NYS website doesn't really say. RI website says you don't. I also have a new vehicle and cannot put the transponder where they want it. So, I will be calling the 800 number and try to get a human being to answer those 2 questions. While researching, I discovered that Massachusetts has done away with their toll booths and only have ezpass readers overhead now. If you do not have a pass, you will get a bill in the mail, at substantially higher rates than if you have a pass. I'm glad I discovered this as I'm heading to Maine in August and I usually just leave my pass at home and pay cash. Looks like you'll have to check each state before you go on your trip and see what system they use, if any.

I just made the trip from Maine out to the Midwest. You do not need a special transponder for pulling a trailer. At one time you did, but not anymore.
I checked my account after I got home, and there was only one toll that was mischarge and I had some travel both with the TT and without. Illinois only charged me $. 55 instead of $3.60 at one plaza. I'll let them figure that one out. About $90 in tolls - Interstate 95-90-84-81-80-355-290-90.

There are exterior transponders available, but they do cost more. I have my ez pass through NH. (Inlaws live there)

[jnharley]

Our EZPASS (IPASS) is issued from the state of IL. No service fee and you do not have to be a resident of the state you obtain it from. Set up an account on line with a credit card it automatically deducts from your account. When the account reaches a predetermined level, additional fun do will be charged to your credit card. We find that the EZPASS. Works well and does offer a discount on tolls. And we only have to have one transponder and we can switch it between vehicles and have even used it on our motorcycle and a rental car. Some states require multiple transponders so do a little research and pick the EZPASS that is right for you.