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I'm driving from Virginia to Washington state later this month. In Virginia, I use an EZ-Pass device that automatically pays my tolls. But I understand that these devices are regional. When driving cross-country, am I best off just using quarters? Or can I buy 1-2 more devices to cover tolls across the entire country?

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  • In a word: Cash.
    – Flimzy
    May 19, 2013 at 9:28
  • wave of the future: Golden Gate Bridge no longer accepts cash. If you do not have a transponder, there are places you can pull off to buy a one-time ticket.
    – Andrew Lazarus
    Jun 13, 2017 at 21:05

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Depending on which route you take you may pass through at least 2 or 3 Electronic toll collection systems you can find most of them on the Government Services Administration page.

If you take the most direct route via West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and then via I-90 to Washington, you might need EZ Pass, Mn Pass, and Washington's Good to Go.

You can look at other states that have the Electronic Toll collection systems unaffiliated with other states like California, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas. So generally I wouldn't bother with buying the transponders from them just keep some cash on hand for now and wait until you get License Plate billing technology installed like in Canada or Israel. California seems to be moving in that direction...

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  • +1 esp. for the useful GSA link. FWIW however, MnPASS is only required if you want to use the "Express Lanes" on certain highways; the regular lanes remain toll-free. Similarly, the only mandatory toll facilities in Washington are the Route 520 Bridge and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge; no need for a Good to Go if you won't be taking them.
    – choster
    May 17, 2013 at 20:53
  • @choster Amended (slightly)
    – Karlson
    May 17, 2013 at 21:11
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    Florida and Colorado have license plate billing. Most states between VA and WA don't have many, if any toll roads.
    – xpda
    May 18, 2013 at 3:46
  • @xpda True. Didn't pay enough attention to those states.
    – Karlson
    May 18, 2013 at 4:20
  • Kansas has a few toll roads. Most of I-35 from just north of the OK/KS border, up to Topeka, then Kansas city is toll. You may drive on a small portion of that if crossing the state from west to east.
    – Flimzy
    May 19, 2013 at 9:27

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