Traveling our highways....and the $$$ of tolls

[teofff]

Been on the road 18 weeks, making a loop of the country....it has been very eye opening to drive over some of our highways....some highways were great, and some were really, REALLY rough. it's amazing our MH is still in one piece...
And being from the west, were we don't have toll roads, it was also an experience to pay tolls throughout the east coast. They were expensive with a tag axle and towing the car...I about choked when I left Maine, passed through Massachusets (paying tolls as we went) and then crossed upstate New York to Niagra Falls on the turnpike, when we got off in Buffalo, that toll alone was over $40...not whining, just a different experience!!

[mrschwarz]

Don't hold your breath about tolls in the west. Here in Texas, we haven't figured out how to build a non-toll road in about 10 years.

[Wayne M]

$40???? You were lucky. From I-87 to Buffalo with 4 axles cost us $76 on the NY Thruway. We spent 89 days traveling/visiting to the East Coast, to NE, Niagara, and returned to Texas City on the 14th of July.

I do feel your pain.

Although Texas does have "some" toll roads, there are major arteries that you can use that are good roads to circumvent having to pay those tolls. It may not be a faster route, but it will still be a good one. I'm in the Houston area and we only have a couple toll roads: Katy Manageged Lanes, Sam Houston Tollway, Westpark Tollway (EZ tag required), and Hardy Toll Road. All are easily bypassed.

[teofff]

We just arrived in Wisconson...we were trying to add up how much we paid in tolls...somewhere between $150 and $200....phew!!

[K-Star]

it costs me $ 5.00 everytime I cross from NJ to PA in my truck (see signature). When I use my car it is 75 cents. One day I asked why. The answer I got was that the dual rear wheels constituted a 3rd axle. So I asked if my toll would then only be 50 cents with my motorcycle.

There are free [no toll] bridges but the weight limit is 4 tons which I am over. I used to cross the Delaware Memorial Bridge from NJ into DE. $ 18.00 with the 5er attached. Just think how career [18 wheel] truck drivers feel. I am sure their tolls are much higher than what I/we paid. And they get to do it daily.

Point is, I agree. It is surprising how much they raise the toll when you have more than a 4 wheeler.

[read & learn]

The only good thing that is finely happening is most States now accept E-pass. Which makes it a little bit cheaper when you use the roads during non-rush hours.
Totals are all over the country, the best is in CA. where they charge you to use the HOV lane and the price depands on time of day.
This is the price we as RVers pay to use the roads with our rigs from pop-ups to 45' tag axles.
One of the things we noticed as we travel around the country is how some States will only repave 100 yds of road, but other States will replace miles of roads. I guess you can figure which State has lower taxes.

[DandS]

I have a feature in my GPS that lets me avoid toll roads. So far, so good. Granted, I haven't traveled much in the east where they are more prevelant. Sometimes I wish Michigan would put tolls on our roads, maybe they could be made fit to drive on.

[CaptBill]

We just got home yesterday, from the Winnebago Grand National Rally in Iowa. From Delaware, we took the Pa, Ohio, Indiana & Illinois turnpikes, then on to Iowa (no toll-roads in Iowa). We spent somewhere in the vicinity of $60, and had no toad.

On the return trip, we used only interstates; no tolls. The drive-time was actually a little shorter coming home, due to fewer construction delays than the toll roads, and the driving distance was only about 20 miles longer.

From now on; no tolls, unless completely impractical to avoid.

[Route 66]

Quote:

From now on; no tolls, unless completely impractical to avoid.

I'm with you, no tolls.

I also try to avoid interstates unless other routes are impractical.

[Latitude]

We made the trip today fron Wells Maine to Verona NY With the Jeep $34.

Rick

[Jim Stewart]

Years ago, I can't remember which State in New England, it was cheaper for me to disconnect the toad and have my DW drive it the 150 miles. The separate tolls where significantly cheaper.

Not that I am cheap and could not afford it, but when I asked why the difference, they said "that's the way it is". Stopped at the booth disconnected and paid separate fees in the State, stopped and rehooked once out of their fair State.

[RV'nOldTimer]

Agreed that tolls in the RV are pricy. But try Mexico and their tolls. We spent two months touring Mexico early this year and the good (and many not so good) roads are toll. One day our toll total was over 1000 pesos. During the two months, our toll cost was over $700US. Ouch.

JT

[Baby Bear]

From the Pittsburgh Pa area to Minneapolis Mn, $1.70 in tolls so far. Running back roads where possible and they seem to be in better condition than the interstates. Have back roads figured to get to Glacier National Park. We shall see what trouble we get into, but, so far-so good!