DMV Toll Roads Explained: The ICC, I-95 Express Toll Lanes, Virginia's Express Lanes and the Dulles Toll Road

Drive around Maryland, Northern Virginia and DC for long enough and you'll eventually notice a toll you didn't plan for — a gantry over the ICC, a pricing sign at the start of the Beltway Express Lanes, a statement in the mail weeks after a trip through the Fort McHenry Tunnel. The region has more toll facilities than most visitors expect, run by several different agencies under different rules, and almost none of them take cash anymore.

This guide lays out which roads charge tolls, how the different systems work, and what that means when you ride with a car service. We deliberately leave out toll amounts: rates change, many of them change by the minute, and the agencies that set them publish the current numbers. What doesn't change much is the map, and that's what's worth knowing.

Who Runs the Region's Toll Roads

In Maryland, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) operates the state's toll facilities — the bridges, tunnels and toll highways — and its tolls are all-electronic. You pay with E-ZPass or receive a bill tied to your license plate through Maryland's Video Tolling program. In Virginia, responsibility is split: the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority runs the Dulles Toll Road, private operators run the Beltway and I-95/I-395 Express Lanes and the I-66 Express Lanes outside the Beltway under agreements with the state, VDOT runs the I-66 Express Lanes inside the Beltway, and the Dulles Greenway west of the airport is a separate privately owned road.

The District of Columbia itself has no toll roads. If you're traveling only within DC, tolls are not part of the picture; they appear as soon as a route crosses into the express lanes, tunnels and bridges that ring it.

Maryland's Tolled Roads, Bridges and Tunnels

Most Maryland tolls sit at natural chokepoints — water crossings — plus two newer highway facilities in the Baltimore–Washington corridor.

The ICC (MD 200)

The Intercounty Connector runs east–west between I-270 in Gaithersburg and I-95 and US 1 near Laurel, crossing Montgomery County and the northern edge of Prince George's County. It is a fully electronic toll road with rates that vary by time of day, and it is often the fastest way to connect the I-270 corridor with BWI or the I-95 corridor without fighting the northern half of the Beltway. Many trips from Rockville, Gaithersburg or Olney to BWI use it.

The I-95 Express Toll Lanes North of Baltimore

Between the I-895 split and White Marsh, I-95 has separate Express Toll Lanes running alongside the free general-purpose lanes, and MDTA has been extending them northward toward Harford County. The first northbound extension segment opened in late 2024, and construction continues on the next stretch, so lane patterns in that area have been shifting. Using the express lanes is optional; the free lanes run right beside them.

The Baltimore Harbor Crossings

Traffic crossing Baltimore Harbor uses either the Fort McHenry Tunnel on I-95 or the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel on I-895, and both are tolled. Since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in March 2024, the I-695 crossing at the outer harbor has been unavailable, which puts more pressure on the two tunnels, especially at rush hour.

The Bay Bridge and the Northern Crossings

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge on US 50/301 is the toll most Maryland beach-goers know: it is collected eastbound only, heading toward the Eastern Shore. Farther north, the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge on US 40 and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway section of I-95 near the Delaware line also carry tolls, as does the Nice/Middleton Bridge on US 301 over the Potomac into Virginia.

Virginia's Express Lanes

Northern Virginia's toll network is built mostly around express lanes rather than toll bridges. The idea is the same across all of them: a set of lanes runs alongside the regular free lanes, and the toll for solo drivers rises and falls with traffic to keep the express lanes moving. Carpools that meet the occupancy rule can generally ride free with the right transponder setting.

I-495 Express Lanes on the Virginia side of the Capital Beltway, roughly from the Springfield interchange north toward the American Legion Bridge — the usual route between Tysons and points south.
I-95 and I-395 Express Lanes, running from Stafford County north through Springfield and Alexandria toward the 14th Street Bridge and the edge of DC.
I-66 Express Lanes outside the Beltway, from the Beltway west toward Gainesville.
I-66 Express Lanes inside the Beltway, between the Beltway and Rosslyn, which are tolled only during weekday rush hours in the peak direction and free to everyone at other times.

The Dulles Toll Road and the Dulles Greenway

The Dulles Toll Road (VA 267) runs between the Beltway near Tysons and the airport area, through Reston and Herndon. It went fully cashless in 2023, so drivers either pay by E-ZPass or are billed by plate. Running down the middle of it is the Dulles Airport Access Road, which is free but intended for airport traffic — it's the road most airport trips actually use.

West of the airport, the Dulles Greenway continues toward Leesburg. It is a privately owned toll road with its own rates, separate from the Dulles Toll Road even though the two connect seamlessly.

How E-ZPass, Video Tolling and Dynamic Pricing Work

E-ZPass is the common thread. A transponder issued by any participating state works on every toll road in this guide, and it usually gets the lowest rate. Without one, Maryland's facilities photograph your plate and mail a bill at a higher video rate, and Virginia's toll roads bill by plate with administrative fees on top. On Virginia's express lanes, you need an E-ZPass to use the lanes properly at all; to claim the carpool exemption, you need an E-ZPass Flex switched to HOV mode and enough people in the car to meet the posted occupancy requirement, which on I-66 inside the Beltway has been three or more since late 2022.

Dynamic pricing is the part that surprises people. On the Virginia express lanes, the toll posted at the entrance is set by current traffic and can be very different at 7:45 a.m. than at 10 a.m. on the same day. Maryland's ICC and I-95 express lanes use scheduled time-of-day rates instead. In both cases, the price you'll pay depends on when you travel, which is one reason no honest guide can promise a toll figure in advance.

Common Trips and Where the Tolls Usually Are

A few patterns cover most of the travel we see across the region:

Montgomery County to BWI: often the ICC, which avoids the northern Beltway.
Baltimore to Washington or Northern Virginia: usually toll-free via I-95 or the BW Parkway, unless the route uses a harbor tunnel from the south side of the city.
Maryland to Dulles: often toll-free on the free airport access road once you reach VA 267, though the Beltway Express Lanes may be the faster choice at busy times.
Annapolis or Baltimore to Ocean City or the Eastern Shore: the Bay Bridge, eastbound.
Maryland to Philadelphia or New York: the I-95 toll facilities near the Susquehanna and the Delaware line, plus Delaware's own I-95 toll, before you reach New Jersey or Pennsylvania's tolled roads.

How Tolls Show Up on a Car Service Quote

At 92 Limo Service, the flat rate we quote is the base transportation charge, and tolls are listed separately alongside gratuity, parking and any extra waiting time — all disclosed before you confirm. Tolls are kept separate because they genuinely vary: the same airport run can cross a dynamically priced express lane on one trip and stay in free lanes on the next, depending on traffic. Your chauffeur chooses the route that best fits your timing; if you'd rather avoid express lanes or a particular toll facility, say so when you book and it will be noted on the reservation.

For longer trips — up I-95 to Philadelphia, across the Bay Bridge or down to Virginia Beach — the toll picture is part of the planning conversation, and we're happy to talk through the likely route before you book. For questions about a specific trip, call (877) 609-1919.

Where to Check Current Toll Rates

Because rates and rules change, go to the source: the MDTA for Maryland facilities and Video Tolling, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for the Dulles Toll Road, the Express Lanes operator for the I-495, I-95 and I-395 lanes, VDOT for I-66 inside the Beltway, and E-ZPass Maryland or E-ZPass Virginia for transponder accounts. If you received a toll bill after a trip, the notice will name the agency that issued it and how to pay or dispute it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Washington, DC have any toll roads?

No. The District itself has no toll roads. Tolls start when a route uses Virginia's express lanes or the Dulles Toll Road, or Maryland's toll facilities such as the ICC, the Baltimore harbor tunnels or the Bay Bridge.

Can I still pay tolls with cash in Maryland or Virginia?

Generally no. Maryland's toll facilities are all-electronic, and the Dulles Toll Road went cashless in 2023. Without E-ZPass, you are billed by license plate, usually at a higher rate. Check the operating agency's website for current payment options.

Why do Virginia express lane tolls change during the day?

Virginia's Beltway, I-95/I-395 and I-66 express lanes use dynamic pricing: the toll for solo drivers rises when traffic is heavy and falls when it eases, to keep the express lanes moving. The current price is posted at each entrance.

Are tolls included in a 92 Limo Service flat rate?

Tolls are shown as a separate line from the base flat rate, along with gratuity, parking and any extra waiting time, and all of them are disclosed before you confirm your booking.

Can I ask my chauffeur to avoid toll roads?

Yes. Note it when you book or tell dispatch. Avoiding tolls can make some trips longer, especially at rush hour, so your chauffeur may mention the timing trade-off, but the route preference is yours.