When setting out on your great American road trip or just looking for a little rest and relaxation on a long weekend, it is important to know how much cash you might have to dole out for tolls. Planning for your trip and understanding the costs associated with toll roads, bridges and hot lanes is an important part of making sure your trip is as fun and enjoyable as possible.

Plan your route. Aimlessly driving around or experimenting with different routes could ultimately cost you more than setting out a particular course for your trip. By deciding which roads and highways you are going to take to get to your destination you can consult a variety of resources to figure out which route may be most cost-effective.

Select your vehicle. Tolls can vary based on the type of vehicle you decide to ride in. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of this and take that into consideration when opting to ride in a car, bus or truck.

Hit the Internet to find the number of tolls on your trip. A number of websites will allow users to calculate how many toll charges they will rack up on their excursion. Although there is no comprehensive toll listing that will give riders a completely accurate breakdown, a number of state sites will allow users to calculate how many toll charges will be accrued in a particular state. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority, for instance, allows users to enter a starting and ending point and churns out what the total toll expense would be.

Tip

  • Readjust your route. If you find that the toll costs are putting a damper on your travel plans, consult other websites such as MapQuest.com and other trip planners. They may be able to give you alternative routes that will cut down on how many tolls you have to pay to get to your destination.

    Bring a little extra. Though you may have a rough estimate about how much money you could be spending on tolls during your road trip, it also important to remember to bring a little extra cash or make sure there is enough money on your EZ-Pass. Tolls are constantly changing so it is difficult to completely rely on online estimates.

About the Author

Amanda Younger is a freelance writer based in New York City. She has had her work published in "The Chapel Hill Herald," "Time Out New York" and "Independent Weekly" among other publications. She is also a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Journalism.

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