TOLLS

Tolls are a necessary evil that we must learn how to navigate. We cannot have a blanket rule like, “Don’t take toll roads.” because some tolls are unavoidable. The West Virginia Turnpike is one example. There is a way around it, but you DO NOT want to take that route. It is not worth the time and trouble to go around it.

You must first learn which states have tolls that ARE avoidable - NY, PA, NJ, MD, IN, and OH. Below is a map that shows the states that have tolls.

Most of those green states have low-cost tolls that aren’t necessarily worth going around. That doesn’t mean you just run it without thought, it means that you figure out the ACTUAL cost (by going on the internet and finding the toll schedule) and determining if it is worth your time.

Researching the actual cost of the tolls should be a part of EVERY trip plan.

Every state that has a toll road has a website with a toll calculator that will show you EXACTLY what the toll cost for your route will be.

INDIANA - https://www.indianatollroad.org/travel-information/#calculator

OHIO - https://www.ohioturnpike.org/e-zpass/toll-rates

NEW JERSEY - https://www.njta.com/toll-calculator

NEW YORK - https://wwwapps.thruway.ny.gov/tollcalculator/

NY BRIDGES AND TUNNELS - https://new.mta.info/agency/bridges-and-tunnels/tolls-2021/trucks

MARYLAND - https://wwwapps.thruway.ny.gov/tollcalculator/

MASSACHUSETTS - https://www.ezdrivema.com/TollCalculator

PENNSYLVANIA - https://www.paturnpike.com/toll-calculator

Every one of these toll calculators is intuitive and relatively easy to use. You need to calculate the cost of the toll and measure it against the time and cost of fuel it would take to bypass it.