NYC Bridge & Tunnel Toll Rates Compared (2026)

Why All Port Authority Crossings Share the Same Toll

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates six crossings between the two states: the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Goethals Bridge, Bayonne Bridge, and Outerbridge Crossing. All six charge the same toll for a given vehicle class, regardless of the crossing's size, age, or traffic volume.

This uniform pricing is intentional. The Port Authority treats its crossings as a single network rather than six independent facilities. Revenue from all tolls flows into a shared fund that supports infrastructure maintenance, capital improvements, and other regional transportation projects, including the PATH commuter rail system and the region's three major airports (JFK, Newark Liberty, and LaGuardia).

A uniform toll also prevents toll shopping, where drivers would divert to a cheaper crossing and overwhelm it with traffic. Because every Hudson River and Staten Island crossing costs the same, commuters choose based on geography and convenience rather than price. This spreads traffic more evenly across the network.

Which Crossing Is Cheapest by Destination?

If your destination is within New York City, the cheapest option depends on where you are coming from and where you are going. All Port Authority crossings cost the same ($13.75 peak, $11.75 off-peak with E-ZPass, or $16.00 Toll-by-Mail), so the decision between the GWB, Lincoln Tunnel, and Holland Tunnel comes down to route convenience rather than toll cost.

For drivers heading to or from locations well north of the city, the Tappan Zee Bridge (officially the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge) offers a significantly lower toll at approximately $5.69 with E-ZPass. The Tappan Zee carries I-87/I-287 across the Hudson River near Tarrytown, about 25 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. If your trip allows you to use the Tappan Zee and still reach your destination efficiently, it is the most affordable Hudson River crossing.

The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, connecting Brooklyn and Staten Island, is another lower-cost option at $6.55 with E-ZPass. However, it does not directly connect New Jersey to New York. Drivers coming from NJ would still need to cross a Port Authority bridge into Staten Island before using the Verrazano to reach Brooklyn. That means paying the Port Authority toll plus the Verrazano toll for a combined cost of roughly $20.30 with E-ZPass, making it impractical as a money-saving alternative. See our full guide to alternative crossings.

How Port Authority Toll Revenue Is Used

The Port Authority collects billions of dollars in toll revenue each year. This money funds far more than bridge and tunnel maintenance. The agency's capital program, which spans multiple years, allocates toll revenue across a wide range of regional infrastructure projects.

Major recipients of toll revenue include the PATH rapid transit system connecting Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken, and Manhattan. PATH operates at a significant deficit, and bridge and tunnel tolls help subsidize its operations. Toll revenue also supports ongoing capital projects at John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport.

On the crossing side, toll revenue funds major rehabilitation work on aging infrastructure. The George Washington Bridge, opened in 1931, requires continuous investment in deck replacement, cable maintenance, and structural upgrades. The Bayonne Bridge was raised between 2013 and 2019 to accommodate larger container ships, a project funded in part by toll revenue. The Goethals Bridge was entirely replaced with a new cable-stayed span that opened in 2020.

Free NYC Bridges and Their Limitations

New York City maintains several bridges that are entirely free to cross: the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge, Queensboro (Ed Koch) Bridge, Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, and Throgs Neck Bridge. All of these span the East River, connecting Manhattan or the Bronx to Brooklyn or Queens.

The key limitation is that none of these free bridges cross the Hudson River. There is no free way to drive between New Jersey and New York. Every Hudson River crossing requires a toll, whether you use the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, or the Tappan Zee Bridge further north. If you need to travel between NJ and NYC by car, a toll is unavoidable.

It is also worth noting that under NYC congestion pricing, vehicles crossing the free East River bridges into the Manhattan Central Business District (south of 60th Street) now face a congestion surcharge. Drivers who pay a toll at a Port Authority or MTA crossing receive a credit against the congestion charge, but free-bridge users do not. This effectively creates a new cost for using what were previously free routes into Lower Manhattan. Learn more about congestion pricing and GWB credits.

Toll Trends and Future Changes

Toll rates across the New York metropolitan area have risen steadily over the past two decades. Port Authority tolls have increased multiple times since 2008, when the agency began a series of planned toll hikes to fund its capital program. The passenger car E-ZPass peak rate has risen from $8.00 in 2008 to $13.75 today, an increase of roughly 72% over that period.

The MTA has also raised tolls on its bridges and tunnels, including the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The Tappan Zee / Cuomo Bridge toll was established when the new span opened in 2017, replacing the original Tappan Zee Bridge that had no toll in the southbound direction.

Future toll changes will likely continue to reflect inflation and infrastructure investment needs. The Port Authority typically announces toll adjustments as part of its multi-year capital plan reviews. Drivers who want to minimize their toll costs over time should consider E-ZPass, which has consistently offered the best rates at every crossing. View the full history of GWB toll rate changes.

Explore More

• Current George Washington Bridge toll rates
• Alternative crossings to the GWB
• GWB toll history from 1931 to today
• NYC congestion pricing and GWB toll credits