Flourishing with activity all year round, it’s no surprise that millions of tourists flock to The Big Apple every year to explore its sights and sounds.
And, if you step outside the chaos of the concrete jungle, you’ll discover that New York offers so much more. From the Adirondack Mountains to Shelter Island – New York has something for everyone.
If you’re brave enough to enter the city by car for work, or you want to explore the surrounding areas, you’ll want to know where the New York Road Tolls are.
With over 30 toll roads, driving around New York can be quite complicated if you don’t know the area.
So, let’s dive into it.
Main Toll Roads in New York:
– New York State Thruway System
– New York Toll Bridges
– New York Toll Tunnels
New York State Thruway (Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway).
The New York State Thruway is the 5th busiest toll road in the entire United States. This 570-mile superhighway is a complete system that connects to four States (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania). The Thruway contains a whopping 815 bridges, 118 interchanges, and 27 service areas
The mainline of the NY State Thruway is 426 miles long and connects New York’s two biggest cities – NYC and Buffalo.
The Thruway system includes:
– Mainline (Albany to Pennsylvania border)
– Interstate 87 (New York City to Albany)
– Interstate 95 (New York City to Connecticut)
– Interstate 287
– Interstate 90 (including the Berkshire Spur)
– Interstate 190 (Buffalo to Niagara Falls)
New York Toll Bridges.
If you’re traveling through New York, you’re bound to come across several toll bridges. Because there are 815 bridges, we won’t bore you by listing them all!
The largest toll bridge of the thruway is Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge which crosses the Hudson River. It’s located about 20 miles North of NYC and is 3.1 miles long. The toll rate for this bridge costs $15 for a two-axle vehicle.
Note: There are no tolls on bridges operated by NYC DOT. This includes the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges.
New York Toll Tunnels.
Again, there are too many New York tunnels to list them all here. But some of the major toll tunnels to look out for are:
– Holland Tunnel
– Lincoln Tunnel
These two tunnels are operated by the Port Authority of NY and NJ Tunnels and run underneath the Hudson River. The Holland Tunnel connects Lower Manhattan with Jersey City. The Lincoln Tunnel connects New Jersey to Midtown Manhattan. There is no toll in the Lincoln Tunnel when heading to New Jersey from New York City.
– Hugh L Carey Tunnel (Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel):
– Queens Midtown Tunnel.
These two tunnels are operated by the MTA (the Metropolitan Transportation Authority).
The Hugh L Carey Tunnel connects Red Hook in Brooklyn with Battery Park in Manhattan with a toll in both directions.
The Queens Midtown Tunnel is a pair of tunnels that run under the East River. It connects Manhattan and Queens. The tunnel is tolled in both directions.
How to Pay for New York Tolls:
In 2020, the New York State Thruway became totally cashless. There are 4 ways to pay for NYC toll roads.
The best way: Uproad.
Download the Uproad app to easily pay for New York toll roads, bridges, and tunnels.
Uproad is the most convenient way to pay for the New York tolls and many other tolls across the country.
Simply download the app via the Apple Store or Google Play, set up an account and payment plan, and hit the road!
Every time you pass through a toll, you’ll get an instant notification that the toll has been charged. It’s as easy as that!
Uproad allows you to pay for New York Road tolls (including the NY State Thruway system) as you drive and eliminates the need for a transponder.
You won’t have to worry about missing a toll payment again.
E-ZPASS (transponder).
E-ZPass is one of many transponder programs across the country that work across New York toll roads and offers discounts to those traveling on NY roadways.
If you already have E-ZPass, then this is a convenient way to pay for NY toll roads. However, if you don’t – you should consider Uproad. Uproad has greater coverage across the country, plus features that make paying for tolls super smooth and hassle-free.
To order an E-ZPass, you’ll need to register and order a device. You will then receive a toll tag around 5-7 working days later. You’ll also need to start with a minimum balance of $25.
As you pass through electronic toll booths, the toll tag will be read, and your account charged the appropriate amount.
Keep in mind that there have been some issues with this system. Sometimes, this comes down to the way you have mounted your device. Read the instructions on how to properly set up your toll tag so that you don’t receive a violation.
Tolls by Mail.
If you don’t have the Uproad app, or an E-ZPass transponder installed, then an image of your license plate will be captured, and a toll bill will be sent to the registered owner of the vehicle.
This bill usually arrives within 30-40 days after you travel, and you must pay within 30 days. Tolls paid this way will cost you significantly more, plus a $2 admin fee.
So, it’s best to pay electronically with Uproad or E-ZPass as you drive.
So, there you have it! Hopefully, this guide has given you a better idea of how the NYC toll road system works, including the major tollways and how to pay.
FAQ:
What happens if I don’t pay a New York toll?
If you don’t pay the Toll-by-Mail invoice within 30 days, the authorities will send you another invoice + a $5 late fee.
Fail to pay again?
Then watch out! Because you’ll likely be charged with a toll violation, which amounts to $50 per trip.
Do I need to have the Uproad app open for it to work?
No! Once you’ve set up an account with Uproad, the toll agency will use your license plate to confirm when you pass through tolls.
So, if your phone dies while driving across New York, you don’t need to worry.
Does Uproad offer discounts?
Yes – dependent on where you drive. Here at Uproad, we negotiate will tolling agencies to get you toll discounts. So, depending on where you drive, tolls can cost less than the cash price.
Can I check if I owe a New York Toll?
Yes, you can check if you have any outstanding tolls by calling 1-844-826-8400.
Alternatively, if you have E-ZPass, you can check the E-ZPass NY Violation page
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