Virginia Has the Most Expensive Interstate Road, Bridge and Tunnel Tolls per Mile

Whether you’re a frequent commuter or an occasional traveler, tolls can quickly put a dent in your wallet. Depending on the state, you may pay much higher tolls, too.

The newest LendingTree study analyzes interstate and non-interstate roads, bridges and tunnels to determine the states with the highest average maximum fee per mile by type. We also offer tips on balancing tolls and your auto insurance bill.

Key findings

• Virginia’s maximum fee on interstate toll roads averages $3.27 a mile — significantly higher than any of the other 23 states analyzed. In fact, it’s 89.0% higher than in Pennsylvania, which has an average maximum fee of $1.73 a mile on interstate toll roads. Maine ($1.56) rounds out the top three. Conversely, Utah has the lowest maximum fee (averaging $0.03 a mile), followed by Massachusetts ($0.07) and Indiana ($0.08).
• Virginia also has the highest average maximum fee per mile for interstate bridges and tunnels. Of the 12 states analyzed, Virginia’s average maximum fee for interstate bridges and tunnels is the highest, at $7.50 a mile. That’s more than $3.00 higher than the next state, New York, at $4.38. New Jersey ranks third at $3.72 a mile, while Florida ($0.07), Maryland ($0.39) and Delaware ($0.80) finish lowest.
• Turning to non-interstate toll roads, New York and Vermont have significantly higher average maximum fees per mile among the 17 states analyzed. New York ($2.96) and Vermont ($2.50) are the only states with a maximum fee per mile that averages $2.50 or greater in this category. New Hampshire is in a distant third, at $1.09. Washington ranks lowest at a maximum fee per mile on non-interstate toll roads of $0.03, followed by Oklahoma ($0.07) and Florida ($0.16).
• For non-interstate bridges and tunnels, Michigan has the highest average maximum fee per mile at a staggering $9.58. Nebraska ($8.97) and Missouri ($8.33) follow. Overall, 11 of the 22 states analyzed here have a maximum fee per mile of higher than $5.00 for non-interstate bridges and tunnels. On the other hand, Louisiana ($0.26), West Virginia ($0.63) and Ohio ($0.63) are the only states that charge an average maximum fee of less than $1.00 per mile.

Virginia has the highest average maximum fee on interstate toll roads

Looking first at interstate toll roads, Virginia has the highest average maximum fee per mile. Here, the maximum fee averages $3.27 a mile — the only state at $2.00 or higher. That largely boils down to the Express Lane tolls on Interstate 66, where maximum fees for E-ZPass holders average $4.75 a mile during rush hour. (These Express Lanes have dynamic tolls depending on volume.) That’s the third-highest maximum fee per mile across the interstate toll roads analyzed.

Pennsylvania ranks second, with an average maximum fee of $1.73 a mile. Despite average maximum fees being 89.0% lower than in Virginia, it’s worth noting that Pennsylvania has the most expensive toll per mile in the U.S. on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

While there’s data on several sections of the turnpike, the bridge connecting the Pennsylvania Turnpike to the New Jersey Turnpike — considered an interstate toll road, per the FHWA — has an average maximum fee of $8.20 per mile. That’s the highest fee across interstate road tolls analyzed.

States with the highest/lowest average maximum passenger vehicle fee on interstate toll roads

Source: LendingTree analysis of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) toll data. Note: Only toll facilities in which a maximum passenger vehicle fee was available were evaluated.

Maine ($1.56) rounds out the top three. Two sections of the Maine Turnpike are largely responsible for this ranking, with per-mile fees reaching $5.00 in one spot and $2.38 in another — the second- and fourth-highest averages, respectively, across interstate tolls analyzed.

How might high tolls influence drivers? According to auto insurance expert and licensed insurance agent Rob Bhatt, regular toll users may be more strained financially.

These combined costs are putting significant pressure on household budgets. Unfortunately, those with the least resources are often impacted by these costs the most.

Conversely, Utah has the lowest average maximum fee per mile ($0.03) — though just one toll road was analyzed, the I-15 Express Lanes in Salt Lake City, which can account for the low fee here. This is a lengthy 71-mile road with an average maximum fee of $2.00. That’s followed by Massachusetts ($0.07 per mile) and Indiana ($0.08). Just two toll roads in Massachusetts and one in Indiana were analyzed.

All in all, 11 of the 24 states analyzed had average maximum toll fees of less than 30 cents a mile.

Toll facilities where maximum passenger vehicle fees per mile are highest and lowest, interstate road tolls

10 highest maximum passenger vehicle fees per mile by interstate road toll facility

Source: LendingTree analysis of FHWA toll data. Notes: Only toll facilities in which a maximum passenger vehicle fee was available were evaluated. The chart listings are as provided by the FHWA, with light editing.

10 lowest maximum passenger vehicle fees per mile by interstate road toll facility

Source: LendingTree analysis of FHWA toll data. Notes: Only toll facilities in which a maximum passenger vehicle fee was available were evaluated. The chart listings are as provided by the FHWA, with light editing. The Maine Turnpike from Kittery to Augusta includes urban and rural sections.

Virginia also has the highest average maximum fee for interstate bridges and tunnels

It’s not just interstate roads; Virginia also has the highest average maximum fee per mile on interstate bridges and tunnels. Of the 12 states analyzed, Virginia’s average fee for interstate bridges and tunnels is $7.50.

That’s based on just one tunnel: the Elizabeth River Downtown Tunnel, which is less than a mile long (the shortest of any tunnel analyzed). These high fees may be because the tunnel is operated through a public-private partnership by a private toll company, which may have fewer restrictions when setting tolls than government-operated toll roads.

New York follows, with maximum per-mile fees averaging $4.38. New Jersey ranks third, averaging $3.72 a mile. Notably, the Holland Tunnel and the George Washington Bridge have the highest maximum fees in both New Jersey and New York, averaging $10.13 and $8.51 per mile, respectively.

States with the highest/lowest average maximum passenger vehicle fee on interstate toll bridges and tunnels

Source: LendingTree analysis of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) toll data. Notes: Only toll facilities in which a maximum passenger vehicle fee was available were evaluated. International bridges and tunnels weren’t included.

In what ways do high tolls on bridges or in tunnels impact drivers’ auto insurance? Insurance companies assess local risk factors when determining premiums for auto insurance. High toll costs could indicate higher traffic congestion, which could lead to more accidents — which may be more severe in tunnels or on bridges. Insurers might adjust premiums accordingly to reflect the increased risk.

On the other hand, Florida finishes lowest, averaging $0.07 per mile — the only state below 30 cents. Still, it’s worth noting that just one bridge was included in our analysis: the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which has an average maximum passenger fee of $1.25. Maryland ($0.39) and Delaware ($0.80) follow. Just two tunnels in Maryland and one bridge in Delaware were included in our analysis.

Toll facilities where maximum passenger vehicle fees per mile are highest and lowest, interstate bridge and tunnel tolls

10 highest maximum passenger vehicle fees per mile by interstate bridge and tunnel toll facility

Source: LendingTree analysis of FHWA toll data. Notes: Only toll facilities in which a maximum passenger vehicle fee was available were evaluated. The chart listings are as provided by the FHWA, with light editing.

10 lowest maximum passenger vehicle fees per mile by interstate bridge and tunnel toll facility

Source: LendingTree analysis of FHWA toll data. Notes: Only toll facilities in which a maximum passenger vehicle fee was available were evaluated. The chart listings are as provided by the FHWA, with light editing.

New York and Vermont have the highest average maximum fees on non-interstate toll roads

As for non-interstate road tolls, New York and Vermont rank first and second by a wide margin, averaging $2.96 a mile in New York and $2.50 a mile in Vermont. That makes them the only two states with average maximum fees of $2.50 or greater on non-interstate roads.

In New York, the Gov. Thomas E. Dewey Thruway Berkshire Section is largely responsible for high average tolls, at $4.99 a mile. In Vermont, just one road included in our analysis had a maximum fee: the Burke Mountain toll road, which has an average maximum passenger fee of $2.50 a mile.

New Hampshire ranks third, at $1.09 a mile. That’s largely due to Mount Washington Auto Road, which averages $3.68 a mile — the only non-interstate toll road in the state averaging more than 40 cents per mile. Mount Washington Auto Road is the oldest man-made tourist attraction in the U.S., which may account for these heavy tolls.

States with the highest/lowest average maximum passenger vehicle fee on non-interstate toll roads

Source: LendingTree analysis of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) toll data. Note: Only toll facilities in which a maximum passenger vehicle fee was available were evaluated.

Washington ranks lowest, with just a $0.03 maximum fee per mile on non-interstate toll roads — though just one road was included in our analysis here: the SR 167 HOT Lanes, which are express lanes with variable tolls depending on traffic conditions. Oklahoma ($0.07) and Florida ($0.16) follow.

Toll facilities where maximum passenger vehicle fees per mile are highest and lowest, non-interstate road tolls

10 highest maximum passenger vehicle fees per mile by non-interstate road toll facility

Source: LendingTree analysis of FHWA toll data. Notes: Only toll facilities in which a maximum passenger vehicle fee was available were evaluated. The chart listings are as provided by the FHWA, with light editing.

10 lowest maximum passenger vehicle fees per mile by non-interstate road toll facility

Source: LendingTree analysis of FHWA toll data. Notes: Only toll facilities in which a maximum passenger vehicle fee was available were evaluated. The chart listings are as provided by the FHWA, with light editing.

Michigan’s average maximum fee for non-interstate bridges and tolls nears double digits

Turning to non-interstate bridge and tunnel tolls, Michigan ranks first. Here, the maximum fee per mile averages $9.58. The Grosse Ile bridge is largely responsible for this ranking: Despite being just half a mile long, the average maximum fee here is $14.00 a mile. Like the Elizabeth River Downtown Tunnel in Virginia, the Grosse Ile is privately operated, which may impact high costs here.

Following behind, Nebraska ($8.97) and Missouri ($8.33) rank second and third, respectively.

Of the 22 states analyzed, 11 average a maximum fee of at least $5.00 per mile on non-interstate bridges and tunnels. Meanwhile, five average $8.00 or higher.

States with the highest/lowest average maximum passenger vehicle fee on non-interstate toll bridges and tunnels

Source: LendingTree analysis of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) toll data. Notes: Only toll facilities in which a maximum passenger vehicle fee was available were evaluated. International bridges and tunnels weren’t included.

On the other hand, Louisiana ($0.26) ranks last, followed by West Virginia ($0.63) and Ohio ($0.63). Notably, these are the only states averaging maximum fees of less than $1.00 a mile.

Toll facilities where maximum passenger vehicle fees per mile are highest and lowest, non-interstate bridge and tunnel tolls

10 highest maximum passenger vehicle fees per mile by non-interstate bridge and tunnel toll facility

Source: LendingTree analysis of FHWA toll data. Notes: Only toll facilities in which a maximum passenger vehicle fee was available were evaluated. The chart listings are as provided by the FHWA, with light editing.

10 lowest maximum passenger vehicle fees per mile by non-interstate bridge and tunnel toll facility

Source: LendingTree analysis of FHWA toll data. Notes: Only toll facilities in which a maximum passenger vehicle fee was available were evaluated. The chart listings are as provided by the FHWA, with light editing. The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in March 2024 after a cargo ship rammed into it. The data from this study predates the collapse.

Frequent toll user? Top insurance tips

If you’re using toll roads often in your commute, you may struggle to balance auto insurance and tolls, but Bhatt cautions you shouldn’t try to cut any corners.

“It may be tempting to reduce your insurance coverage to save money, but you need to be careful,” he says. “Overpaying for insurance is annoying, but getting into an accident while underinsured can be financially devastating.”

Instead, here’s what he recommends:

• Shop around. Bhatt recommends shopping around for car insurance every few years or anytime you feel overcharged to make sure you’re getting your best rate. “If it’s been more than three years since your last ticket or accident, you may qualify for lower rates now than when you last shopped,” Bhatt says. “In most states, your credit history is another big factor that insurance companies use to determine your rate. If your credit score has improved recently, you may also be able to get a better rate.”
• Look into bundling insurance. “Bundling your car insurance with your home insurance policy usually gets you the best combined rate for both policies,” he says. “Make sure to ask each company you contact for quotes about other discounts that may be available.”
• If tolls are unavoidable, consider carpooling with co-workers to save money. “If you’re the carpool driver, it’s usually worth the extra cost of increasing your liability limits and adding medical payments (MedPay) or personal injury protection (PIP) to your policy,” Bhatt says. “This gives you and your passengers more protection in an accident.”

Methodology

LendingTree researchers analyzed Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) toll data as of Jan. 1, 2021 (the latest available via the FHWA). Researchers evaluated data for toll roads, bridges and tunnels by interstate and non-interstate systems.

Researchers then calculated each toll site’s maximum passenger vehicle fee per mile. Toll sites that didn’t have a maximum passenger vehicle fee weren’t evaluated.

Once each toll facility’s maximum passenger vehicle fee was calculated, researchers then found the average for each state for both road tolls as well as bridges and tunnels. These averages were then used to rank each state in the four different categories per mile.