Question for those that Drive??? About This Page:

[Tawnya]

In 8 days we will be driving to WDW! As I was packing and getting things ready I started thinking about the toll roads and was trying to figure out how to best prepare for them. So we will be driving from Georgia to Orlando and I was wondering about how much will we need for the toll roads and what is best to take quarters or singles? Ive never had to use toll roads before so Im completely new to this so any tips or advice you could give would be great. TIA!!

[emtpej]

The way we go (down I95) we don't hit the toll roads.
We did have to take the Beeline expressway to Port Canavrel, though.

[audrey77]

We just drove from ATL,... You'll need quarters for the Florida Turnpike (I think like $3.00 total? I can't remember) They had exact change and regular booths most of the way.

FYI- gas was 20 cents MORE on the turnpike than at WDW and I-75.

[jblondie1999]

It really depends which way you go there. I'm from Jacksonville, FL and leaving from there we have never hit tolls.

[yalibrarian]

You didn't say what your route will be, but if you are using I-95 to I-4, there are no tolls. You can usually find out what the tolls will be by visiting the websites of the various state highway departments.

Change (like quarters) is best, in my view, because you can't go through the automated gates with paper money--you have to wait for a person to hand it to. One exception might be if you are doing something like the Bay Bridge-Tunnel here, in which case paper money would be easier since the toll is larger than what you are likely to encounter on the average toll road. Also most of the Turnpikes I have used require you to hand over a card or ticket and your payment to an attendant. Frequent commuters might use EZ Pass, an electronic toll payment thingy, but that wouldn't apply to you.

On the rare occasions I have to travel on a toll road near Richmond, VA (where they got rid of the tolls on I-95 many years ago), I take change, as some of the exits are not "manned" and you need to be able to toss your toll into the basket. But this is not something to worry about--just take a roll of quarters, think of it as a new experience and enjoy your trip!

[Ashli]

I also live in GA (Savannah) and we don't go through any toll roads on our way down. Could you give a little more specific area of GA that you live in so we could figure out which way you will be going and help more effectively?

[Shelley the Pooh]

Traveling from TX to Orlando/WDW, we usually encounter 2 toll roads once we are close to Orlando. One is off I-75 and the other branches off that toll road. The total we paid one way was about $5. I took two rolls of Qtrs with us and had enough for there and back plus laundry at the hotel with some Qtrs left over. The Qtrs worked better than the bills as some toll booths aren't manned and the toll usually ended in .25 or some variation of.

[yalibrarian]

Most Georgia tolls seem to be in Atlanta and run about 50 cents.

There is a nice calculator for Florida here:
Florida's Turnpike - The Less Stressway™ | Traveler Information

But as others have said, give us some idea of the route you are taking so the information we offer can be better targeted to your particular needs.

[B.M.]

We will driving from GA also this year! Didn't even think about tolls......

[mimidodaplgo]

I drove from Carrollton GA and it cost me $2.50 at the first toll and then $.50 at the second toll..both ways..I took 75 South to Florida Turnpike to I-4..so the most you should have to pay, my way, is $6.00, roundtrip.

[Tawnya]

We will be driving from Buford GA which is about 45 minutes North East from Atlanta. Im not sure wich freeways we are taking as I have two sets of directions one that goes straight through GA and one that is closer to the shore and we would go by/through Savannah.

[taylan1]

Hi, we live in Atlanta too. We have taken this route the last few times: I-75 to I-10 to I-95 to I-4. Accept for I-10 being the most boring ride ever, because there is just nothing there, the trip was very easy. There were no tolls at all. If you take I-75 to the turnpike you might save a little time but there is quite a bit of construction on I-75 and that will cause delays. The tolls on the turnpike are not huge, a roll of quarters will be plenty as I believe you will on use 3 or 4 dollars at the most. We have gone both ways and the time difference was really insignificant. Just bear in mind the time of day you will be traveling on I-4 as it gets quite congested during rush hour (understatement ). Enjoy your trip.

P.S. If you choose to take I-10 over to I-95 make sure you have plenty of gas, there is literally nothing in between and I mean nothing. So we get gas and potty breaks before we start that trek.

[jblondie1999]

I lived in Atalanta for a year and took 75 down to 16 and then across to 95. I hate 75 from Macon to Valdosta. Seems like the longest stretch. Plus there's always construction going on there. Either way you go thru Jax is beautiful. I would take 9A to avoid the intown traffic. The bridge on 9A has great views of the city skyline and the St. John's River. All the exits past the bridge are safe. There's a St. John's Town Center exit right past the Beach Blvd one that has numerous restaurants and shops. The Beach Blvd. exit going East will take you straight to the beach if you have time and also has some great restaurants. Joe's Crab Shack is right on the beach with great views.

[Ashli]

Originally Posted by Tawnya

We will be driving from Buford GA which is about 45 minutes North East from Atlanta. Im not sure wich freeways we are taking as I have two sets of directions one that goes straight through GA and one that is closer to the shore and we would go by/through Savannah.

If you go the way that takes you by the coast and passed Savannah (and me ), you will not have to pay any tolls that I am aware of. I know absolutely that you won't have to pay any from Savannah on (95 or I-4), and I can't think of any that you'd have to pay between the Atlanta area and here either. Have fun!

[Katara81]

Originally Posted by taylan1

Hi, we live in Atlanta too. We have taken this route the last few times: I-75 to I-10 to I-95 to I-4. Accept for I-10 being the most boring ride ever, because there is just nothing there, the trip was very easy. There were no tolls at all. If you take I-75 to the turnpike you might save a little time but there is quite a bit of construction on I-75 and that will cause delays. The tolls on the turnpike are not huge, a roll of quarters will be plenty as I believe you will on use 3 or 4 dollars at the most. We have gone both ways and the time difference was really insignificant. Just bear in mind the time of day you will be traveling on I-4 as it gets quite congested during rush hour (understatement ). Enjoy your trip.

P.S. If you choose to take I-10 over to I-95 make sure you have plenty of gas, there is literally nothing in between and I mean nothing. So we get gas and potty breaks before we start that trek.

*This is directed a Jblondie1999 as well since she gave similar advice - sorry, can't figure out how to do 2 quotes. LOL

Have you gone all the way down I-75 to the turnpike before to compare the times? I just Google mapped, and it says going from I-10 or I-16 to I-95 adds on about an hour of drive time. Would you guess that to be accurate, if you have gone both ways? I would LOVE to get around that stretch of I-75 past Macon, it is soooo boring.