Anonymous
Post 07/07/2021 17:41     Subject: Driving from VA to ME - tolls??
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Get the EZ Pass. You can buy it at the grocery store. You do not want to line up in those cash toll lines every time you have to stop.

Another piece of advice - stay off of 95 through NY/CT. We just made this trek and while we went wildly off course because it was 4th of July, I recommend that you take the Garden State Parkway to the Tappazee Bridge at a minimum.


The gw bridge is usually faster than the tappan zee.

But usually the apps will have you take the gwb right to 87, then the cross county pkwy, and then the Hutchinson to the Merritt.

95 is usually awful but keep navigation apps running. You never know what will happen.

And get ezpass.


It is true that Waze seems to always tell you to take the GW Bridge, but we did that two different times in the past, and it was a nightmare both times. Total gridlock, and then it ended up routing us through neighborhoods to get past the bottleneck. Tappan Zee to Merritt may be a bit further, but IME it's more reliable and much less stressful in terms of traffic.


+1. We drive to New England several times a year and always take the Tappan Zee. Every time we have taken the GW bridge it was a royal pain with major traffic, no matter what day of the week or what time of day.


It all depends on the timing. If you hit it just right, staying on 95 (GWB to Cross-Bronx to New England Thruway) is the fastest. But if you don’t hit it just right, it can be miserable.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2021 17:33     Subject: Driving from VA to ME - tolls??
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Get the EZ Pass. You can buy it at the grocery store. You do not want to line up in those cash toll lines every time you have to stop.

Another piece of advice - stay off of 95 through NY/CT. We just made this trek and while we went wildly off course because it was 4th of July, I recommend that you take the Garden State Parkway to the Tappazee Bridge at a minimum.


The gw bridge is usually faster than the tappan zee.

But usually the apps will have you take the gwb right to 87, then the cross county pkwy, and then the Hutchinson to the Merritt.

95 is usually awful but keep navigation apps running. You never know what will happen.

And get ezpass.


It is true that Waze seems to always tell you to take the GW Bridge, but we did that two different times in the past, and it was a nightmare both times. Total gridlock, and then it ended up routing us through neighborhoods to get past the bottleneck. Tappan Zee to Merritt may be a bit further, but IME it's more reliable and much less stressful in terms of traffic.


+1. We drive to New England several times a year and always take the Tappan Zee. Every time we have taken the GW bridge it was a royal pain with major traffic, no matter what day of the week or what time of day.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2021 17:28     Subject: Driving from VA to ME - tolls??
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Get the EZ Pass. You can buy it at the grocery store. You do not want to line up in those cash toll lines every time you have to stop.

Another piece of advice - stay off of 95 through NY/CT. We just made this trek and while we went wildly off course because it was 4th of July, I recommend that you take the Garden State Parkway to the Tappazee Bridge at a minimum.


The gw bridge is usually faster than the tappan zee.

But usually the apps will have you take the gwb right to 87, then the cross county pkwy, and then the Hutchinson to the Merritt.

95 is usually awful but keep navigation apps running. You never know what will happen.

And get ezpass.


It is true that Waze seems to always tell you to take the GW Bridge, but we did that two different times in the past, and it was a nightmare both times. Total gridlock, and then it ended up routing us through neighborhoods to get past the bottleneck. Tappan Zee to Merritt may be a bit further, but IME it's more reliable and much less stressful in terms of traffic.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2021 16:26     Subject: Driving from VA to ME - tolls??
Anonymous wrote:I would put a bunch of money on it -- your EZ pass has a home system, and it can take a while for the replenishment to catch up with the tag. I got caught on a bridge once, because it was something stupid like a 48 hour turnaround from when the away system told my home system that it needed more money and for the home system to upload that information to the national system. Really stupid.


I’ve never had this happen. Worst case they take a picture of your plate and send you a bill.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2021 16:02     Subject: Driving from VA to ME - tolls??
I would put a bunch of money on it -- your EZ pass has a home system, and it can take a while for the replenishment to catch up with the tag. I got caught on a bridge once, because it was something stupid like a 48 hour turnaround from when the away system told my home system that it needed more money and for the home system to upload that information to the national system. Really stupid.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2021 15:19     Subject: Re:Driving from VA to ME - tolls??
Anonymous wrote:Just did roundtrip. We did New Jersey Turnpike to Garden State to Tappen Zee. We had EZ Pass that reloaded when we reached a pre-set minimum balance. TBH, there are no toll "gates" anymore and through NY and NJ there are signs that said, "No Transponder? No problem! We'll bill you." Not sure if there is a penalty fee, but I would not stress if your EZ pass does not activate in time as long as you're register.


There is a fee in those states. Ma as well.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2021 15:17     Subject: Re:Driving from VA to ME - tolls??
Just did roundtrip. We did New Jersey Turnpike to Garden State to Tappen Zee. We had EZ Pass that reloaded when we reached a pre-set minimum balance. TBH, there are no toll "gates" anymore and through NY and NJ there are signs that said, "No Transponder? No problem! We'll bill you." Not sure if there is a penalty fee, but I would not stress if your EZ pass does not activate in time as long as you're register.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2021 14:57     Subject: Driving from VA to ME - tolls??
Anonymous wrote:Get the EZ Pass. You can buy it at the grocery store. You do not want to line up in those cash toll lines every time you have to stop.

Another piece of advice - stay off of 95 through NY/CT. We just made this trek and while we went wildly off course because it was 4th of July, I recommend that you take the Garden State Parkway to the Tappazee Bridge at a minimum.


The gw bridge is usually faster than the tappan zee.

But usually the apps will have you take the gwb right to 87, then the cross county pkwy, and then the Hutchinson to the Merritt.

95 is usually awful but keep navigation apps running. You never know what will happen.

And get ezpass.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2021 14:15     Subject: Driving from VA to ME - tolls??
You can link a credit card so it will automatically replenish your EZPass and you don’t have to worry about your balance.

Also this website is helpful for estimating totals:

https://tollguru.com/
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2021 14:12     Subject: Driving from VA to ME - tolls??
OP again - I'm definitely going to get the EZ Pass, I'm so glad I posted here!

How much money should I put on, considering I never use it in this area. Would $100 cover there and back?
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2021 14:08     Subject: Driving from VA to ME - tolls??
Get the EZ pass. Just went up there and can't begin to count the number of tolls
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2021 13:55     Subject: Driving from VA to ME - tolls??
Anonymous wrote:Get the EZ Pass. You can buy it at the grocery store. You do not want to line up in those cash toll lines every time you have to stop.

Another piece of advice - stay off of 95 through NY/CT. We just made this trek and while we went wildly off course because it was 4th of July, I recommend that you take the Garden State Parkway to the Tappazee Bridge at a minimum.


Thank you PP! I thought it was much more complicated to get one (imagining having to order it by mail or something). Looks like I can get one at Giant, so I may just do that. Looks like it takes 48 hrs for it to work out of state so I better hurry!

I was planning to use Waze, did you find that to be helpful or should I plan to go of course if needed?
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2021 13:50     Subject: Driving from VA to ME - tolls??
Get the EZ Pass. You can buy it at the grocery store. You do not want to line up in those cash toll lines every time you have to stop.

Another piece of advice - stay off of 95 through NY/CT. We just made this trek and while we went wildly off course because it was 4th of July, I recommend that you take the Garden State Parkway to the Tappazee Bridge at a minimum.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2021 13:39     Subject: Driving from VA to ME - tolls??
Anonymous wrote:Help me out DCUM! I grew up in a part of the country that doesn't do tolls, and I never use toll roads in this area. For that reason, I don't have an EZ Pass or anything like that. If I'm driving up to Maine soon, how much cash should I have on hand for tolls? Do you have to pay a toll any time you exit the interstate like to get lunch or gas?

Thanks!!! Just want to be prepared to make the drive less stressful!!


Any way to get an EZ Pass? They're generally free, however there are several stretches of 'no cash' express lanes, that don't have anyone in a booth. I think then there's a toll by mail options, but seems like a lot of work.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2021 13:37     Subject: Driving from VA to ME - tolls??
Help me out DCUM! I grew up in a part of the country that doesn't do tolls, and I never use toll roads in this area. For that reason, I don't have an EZ Pass or anything like that. If I'm driving up to Maine soon, how much cash should I have on hand for tolls? Do you have to pay a toll any time you exit the interstate like to get lunch or gas?

Thanks!!! Just want to be prepared to make the drive less stressful!!