I’ve traveled this route many times, and have found ways to avoid most of the major tolls. Obviously, the time of day you are traveling plays a major factor in the amount of time it takes. Try not to Drive anywhere near a major city during rush hour unless you’re ready for lots of traffic. Here’s what I do:
Traveling north on I-95, take I-695 West when you reach the Baltimore beltway. You’ll meet back up with I-95 north of Baltimore, having avoided all three Baltimore tolls, and adding only about 10 minutes to your trip (avoid this way during rush hour).
Once north of Baltimore, you have two options. You can take I-95 north over the Tydings bridge, where there will unfortunately is a $5.00 toll, or you can take the advice of helpful reader Matt, and buy a pass for the Hatem bridge for $5.00, allowing unlimited crossings for one year. If you have this decal, exit on Exit 89 (the last exit before the toll) then get on US 40 East. After crossing the bridge, take a left on MD 222 to get back onto 95 North. (Thanks Matt!)
Before long, you’ll get to Delaware. Right before you get to the Delaware border, exit onto Rt. 279 North, Elkton Road. Turn Right on Rt. 2/Rt. 4 (Christina Parkway). Turn right on Rt. 896 (South College Avenue). Get back onto I-95 North, having avoided the $3.00 toll.
Ignore all signs for New York and New Jersey, and instead follow signs for Philadelphia. You’ll take I-95 north right through Philly, and head north towards Trenton (do not take this route during rush hour). Cross into Trenton on I-95, the only bridge into New Jersey from Pennsylvania without a toll.
From there, immediately exit onto Rt. 29 going East and South. This road has stoplights, but runs pretty quickly, and will take you across town without trouble. Rt. 29 then turns into I-195, and then meets the New Jersey Turnpike, where you can head north towards New York City. You’ve just avoided over $10 in tolls, depending on where you were coming from.
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May 3rd, 2007 at 12:16 am
Here’s a few changes/additions to this list of tricks:
Baltimore tolls: The toll for the Harbor tunnel (I-895) or the Fort McHenry tunnel (I-95) through Baltimore is now only $2.00 charged both ways. Since both I-695 west and the cut through on Baltimore city streets cost at least 10 to 15 minutes in additional time, and with gas prices as high as they are, I recommend using the tunnels.
Susquehanna River crossing: The toll on the Tydings bridge is $5.00 northbound only. If you frequently travel this route, you can save money by using the Hatem bridge on US 40 instead. They sell a $5.00 decal that is good for unlimited uses for one year. Just exit on Exit 89 (the last exit before the toll) then get on US 40 East. After crossing the bridge, take a left on MD 222 to get back onto 95 North.
Delaware $3.00 toll: This toll is charged both ways and is a great one to avoid as the workaround only adds 3 or 4 minutes to your trip and probably saves you time during busy toll booth hours. You can exit on MD-279, Exit 109 towards Newark Delaware, then take a right on Christina Parkway (Delaware route 2/4). However you do NOT take a right on route 72. You take a right on Route 896 which leads back to I-95. By the way, at the corner of Elkton Rd and Christina Parkway there’s a great sub shop called Backyard Grille.. I always make it a point to stop there.
Northbound, there is NO toll for the Delaware Memorial Bridge, so it makes sense to use the bridge then get on I-295 northbound to avoid much of the NJTP as well as to avoid Philly traffic. From I-295 you then take I-195 east to get back on the NJTP north towards New York. If you don’t want to pay any tolls on the NJTP, you can stay on I-295 to US-1 north.
Heading southbound back to D.C., you can take the route through Philly to avoid the $5 southbound Delaware Memorial Bridge toll.
August 10th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
How do we avoid tolls from NJ to Washington D.C.
1) In Delaware and
2) in Baltimore
Thx
October 1st, 2007 at 12:44 pm
From NJ to Washington D.C. -
You can avoid Delaware crossing $3.00 toll by taking Rt. 896 exit 1B on 95 South. Follow 896 North and Rt4/ Rt2 West and turn left into Elkton Rd to get back to 95 South.
To skip $3 toll on Delaware Memorial Bridge, you would have to drive via Phili, but I am not sure if is worth driving extra miles for saving only $3. I was told that you can take I276 on NJTP (exit 6 or 6) to get on 95S via Phili.
October 1st, 2007 at 12:45 pm
moderator - sorry for duplicate post. I meant exit 6 or 7 on NJTP. you can delete my previous post
From NJ to Washington D.C. -
You can avoid Delaware crossing $3.00 toll by taking Rt. 896 exit 1B on 95 South. Follow 896 North and Rt4/ Rt2 West and turn left into Elkton Rd to get back to 95 South.
To skip $3 toll on Delaware Memorial Bridge, you would have to drive via Phili, but I am not sure if is worth driving extra miles for saving only $3. I was told that you can take I276 on NJTP (exit 6 or 7) to get on 95S via Phili.
November 28th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
This is great advice. I look forward to bypassing that Delaware toll on my next trip, which IMO is a total scam and is now $4 in each direction, not $3 (was only $1.25 with EZ-Pass just a couple years back). Thanks!
February 4th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
you can leave long island and get back to I-95 by going over the queensboro bridge and into manhattan, then going into nj through the holland tunnel. its free going that way.
May 19th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
yeah, you can get into NJ through the holland tunnel for free, but how do you get back into the city/long island?
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Effective May 1, 2009, AVI decals issued for two-axle vehicles are $10 and are valid for 12 calendar months, with no refund for any unused portion of that period.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
As #7 asked, you can’t avoid the $8 Port Authority tolls to get into NYC unless you want to hike up to the Tappan Zee bridge (NYS Thruway) for $5 eastbound. However, you may save time over the tunnels by coming through Staten Island and crossing the Verrazano (free towards Brooklyn/LI).