To add insult to injury, the toll road only saved the family about 20 minutes.
When Jeff Landry planned a camping trip with his family near Virginia’s Luray Caverns in early October, he didn’t expect to pay more in tolls than for the whole weekend getaway. With his kids piled into their RV and his wife and youngest in a minivan, the family hit the road from Falls Church. They took I-66’s express lanes during peak rush hours. Jeff knew there would be a toll, and he figured the RV might add a little extra cost (he was thinking maybe $20 or $30 each way). He saw it as a “fair” price for saving time.
Imagine his shock when he saw the charges roll in days later: his EZ-Pass bill hit a sweat-inducing $569.50 for the quick roundtrip.
At first, he thought there was an error. But after logging onto the toll website, he learned it was all legitimate.
His three-axle RV was charged according to its size. Still, each way was only about 22 miles. The total felt like price gouging to Jeff. Unfortunately, though, he just didn’t realize the dynamic pricing would reach such heights for a larger vehicle.
The express lanes on I-66, managed by I-66 Express Mobility Partners, use dynamic pricing. This means rates adjust based on traffic demand, charging drivers who want to skip congestion at peak times.
Larger vehicles, like Jeff’s 1997 Holiday Rambler RV, incur steeper tolls because they occupy more space and wear down the road faster. The Washington Post posted Jeff’s story on Reddit. According to the toll lane operator’s spokesperson, his RV couldn’t even access certain other toll lanes in the state. As such, the steep charges stand.
For drivers like Jeff, it’s easy to underestimate these costs if you’re not familiar with how the pricing works. If you’re looking to avoid a surprise like Jeff’s, here are a few tips:
- Time your trip well: Tolls peak during rush hours. Try traveling during off-peak times for lower rates.
- Know your toll rate: Larger vehicles with multiple axles cost more. Before taking express lanes, check if your vehicle falls under a higher toll class.
- Consider other routes: Non-express lanes might take longer, but for large vehicles, they could save you hundreds of dollars. In Jeff’s case, he estimates the express lane saved his family about 20 minutes total…which in hindsight wasn’t worth the extra charges.
Despite driver experiences like Jeff’s, the dynamic toll system on I-66 isn’t going away anytime soon. It’s how Virginia funds expansions for road and public transit projects. Knowing how to navigate it can keep your trip from costing more than you bargained for.
