Indiana Toll Roads Complete Guide: E-ZPass, Turnpike and RiverLink 2026
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Indiana Toll Roads Complete Guide
System: E-ZPass + cash (Indiana Toll Road) + all-electronic (Cline Avenue Bridge) + RiverLink electronic (Louisville bridges) - transitioning to all-electronic statewide by 2027
Coverage: Indiana East-West Toll Road (157 miles, I-80/I-90) + Cline Avenue Bridge (Gary/Hammond) + 3 RiverLink Louisville bridges
Currency: US Dollar (USD)
Technology: E-ZPass RFID transponders, I-PASS compatible, cash booth lanes on the Toll Road (transitioning), all-electronic gantry on Cline Avenue Bridge, Pay-by-Plate for RiverLink and Cline Avenue Bridge
Operators: ITR Concession Co. LLC (Indiana Toll Road), Cline Avenue Bridge LLC, RiverLink (KY-IN joint authority)
Do I Need E-ZPass for Indiana? 2026 Update
E-ZPass is not required on the Indiana Toll Road - cash is still accepted at toll plazas, though the road does not offer license-plate/invoice billing: if you pass through without paying, it is treated as a violation, not a billed invoice. Cline Avenue Bridge and the Louisville RiverLink bridges are fully electronic with no cash option at all - both offer Pay-by-Plate invoicing for drivers without a transponder.
Key Reality: Indiana is moving toward cashless tolling statewide. House Bill 1319 (2026 legislative session) mandates all-electronic tolling (AET) - new toll projects after July 1, 2026 must open cashless, and existing roads must complete the AET transition by December 31, 2027.
2026 Update: Indiana Toll Road rates increased under a new schedule effective July 1, 2026, confirmed directly via indianatollroad.org - this supersedes the prior July 2025 schedule. RiverLink selected TransCore as its new Toll Service Provider in January 2026 under a 6-year, $146 million contract. House Bill 1319 mandates full AET transition by end of 2027.
Indiana Toll Costs: Current Rates (2026)
Indiana Toll Road - Class 2 (Passenger Cars) Rates, Effective July 1, 2026
Confirmed directly from indianatollroad.org's official rates page - these figures replace the prior July 2025 schedule.
| Segment | Cash | ETC (E-ZPass/I-PASS) |
|---|---|---|
| Westpoint Barrier (western end near Portage) | $4.90 | $4.91 |
| Portage to Eastpoint (ticket section) | $12.00 | $12.01 |
| Through (full 157-mile length, Illinois to Ohio border) | $16.90 | $16.92 |
Note: under the new July 2026 schedule, ETC (E-ZPass) is sometimes a cent or two more expensive than cash, not less - the opposite of the historical pattern on this road. Heavier vehicle classes (3 through 7) see larger cash/ETC differences; check Indiana toll road directly for commercial vehicle classes.
Cline Avenue Bridge (Gary/Hammond, Indiana 912)
Confirmed via clineave.com: Cline Avenue Bridge is a fully all-electronic facility with a single tolling gantry located at the bridge's west end near the Riley Road entrance, crossing the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal. There is no cash payment option and no toll booths. Three axle-based vehicle classes apply, with E-ZPass/I-PASS offering the lowest rate and Pay-by-Plate (invoiced by mail) costing more. Exact current per-class dollar figures were not independently confirmed in this review - check clineave.com/tolling for the current schedule.
RiverLink - Louisville Ohio River Bridges (Effective July 1, 2025)
| Vehicle / Payment Type | Rate per Crossing (2-axle) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RiverLink transponder (local or E-ZPass) | $2.68 | 50% savings vs. Pay-by-Plate; all E-ZPass transponders accepted |
| Pay-by-Plate (no transponder) | $5.36 | Double the transponder rate; invoice mailed to registered owner |
| Frequent user discount (40+ crossings/month) | $1.34 per crossing after first 40 | Personal accounts in good standing; 50% credit on crossings 41+ |
| Trucks (5+ axles) | Up to $16.01 (transponder) | Scales by axle count; Pay-by-Plate higher |
RiverLink Rate Adjustment: Rates increased by 2.5% effective July 1, 2025. Current rates are valid through June 30, 2026; the next adjustment applies from July 1, 2026.
Three tolled Louisville bridges: I-65 Abraham Lincoln Bridge (northbound), I-65 John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge (southbound), SR-265/KY-841 Lewis and Clark Bridge (East End Crossing, both directions). Free alternatives: Sherman Minton Bridge (I-264) and Clark Memorial Bridge (US-31) - add 10-20 minutes.
To calculate toll costs for cars, trucks, motorcycles and all vehicle types across Indiana toll roads, use the TollGuru Indiana toll calculator:
How to Pay Indiana Tolls
1. E-ZPass / I-PASS (Indiana Toll Road):
- Any E-ZPass transponder from member states works on the Indiana Toll Road at the ETC rate
- Illinois I-PASS is also accepted (compatible system)
- Get E-ZPass at indianatollroad.org or at any ITRCC travel plaza
- Important: the Indiana Toll Road has no license-plate/invoice billing option. Passing through without paying (cash or E-ZPass) is treated as a violation, not a mailed invoice like RiverLink or Cline Avenue Bridge.
2. Cline Avenue Bridge (all-electronic, no cash):
- E-ZPass or I-PASS gives the lowest rate
- No transponder? You'll receive a Pay-by-Plate invoice by mail within a few weeks
- No toll booths of any kind - single overhead gantry at the bridge's west end near Riley Road
3. RiverLink (Louisville Bridges):
- All-electronic system - no cash accepted at the bridges
- RiverLink local transponder: free (one per registered vehicle); works on all 3 Louisville bridges only
- RiverLink E-ZPass transponder: $15; works on Louisville bridges plus other E-ZPass states
- All E-ZPass transponders (including I-PASS) are accepted at Louisville bridges at the transponder rate
- Open account at riverlink.com or call 1-855-RIV-LINK
- Fee Forgiveness Program: first-time late fee waiver per license plate - contact RiverLink to apply
- RiverLink scam alert: fraudulent texts impersonating RiverLink are circulating - never pay via text; use riverlink.com or call the customer service number directly
Recent Changes (2026)
Indiana Toll Road Rate Increase (July 1, 2026):
- New rate schedule confirmed directly via indianatollroad.org, replacing the July 2025 schedule
- Class 2 (passenger car) full-length toll rose from approximately $16.20-16.21 to $16.90-16.92
- ETC (E-ZPass) is now sometimes a cent or two more than cash under the new schedule
House Bill 1319 - All-Electronic Tolling Mandate:
- Passed in Indiana's 2026 legislative session - new toll projects after July 1, 2026 must open cashless
- Existing toll roads must complete AET transition by December 31, 2027
- Setting up E-ZPass now is recommended before cash lanes are phased out
RiverLink New Service Provider (January 2026):
- Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges joint board selected TransCore as new Toll Service Provider under a 6-year, $146 million contract
- New cloud-based Integrity Back Office System capable of handling 100,000 daily crossings
- Improved image recognition and invoicing accuracy addressing past billing backlogs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do motorcycles pay the same rate as cars on the Indiana Toll Road?
Yes. Motorcycles are classified as 2-axle vehicles and pay the same Class 2 rate as standard passenger cars on the Indiana Toll Road.
What happens if I don't pay on the Indiana Toll Road?
Unlike Cline Avenue Bridge or RiverLink, the Indiana Toll Road has no license-plate/invoice billing system. You must pay while driving, by cash or E-ZPass - failing to do so is treated as a toll violation rather than resulting in a mailed bill.
What are the toll-free alternatives to the Louisville bridges?
The Sherman Minton Bridge (I-264) and the Clark Memorial Bridge (US-31) cross the Ohio River near Louisville at no charge. Both add approximately 10-20 minutes to most cross-river trips compared to the tolled bridges.
What is the RiverLink Fee Forgiveness Program?
RiverLink allows one-time per license plate waiver of all accumulated late fees, with past tolls retroactively lowered to the transponder rate, if the driver opens an account and sets up a transponder. Contact RiverLink at 1-855-RIV-LINK to apply.
Is Cline Avenue Bridge cash-free?
Yes. Cline Avenue Bridge is entirely all-electronic with no toll booths of any kind. Drivers use E-ZPass, I-PASS, or receive a Pay-by-Plate invoice by mail.
Indiana vs. Neighboring States (2026)
| State | System | Tag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 157-mi turnpike + Cline Ave Bridge + Louisville bridges | E-ZPass / I-PASS; RiverLink | Cash phasing out; AET mandate by Dec 2027 |
| Illinois | 294-mile all-electronic tollway | I-PASS / E-ZPass | Already fully cashless |
| Kentucky | Louisville bridges (shared with Indiana RiverLink) | RiverLink / E-ZPass | Same bridges; see Kentucky toll guide |
| Ohio | Ohio Turnpike (241 miles); E-ZPass + cash | E-ZPass | Connects to Indiana Toll Road at eastern border |
| Michigan | No toll roads | N/A | Toll-free I-94 is alternative east-west route through Michigan |
Useful Links & Resources
- US Toll Guide - All toll states overview
- Indiana Toll Calculator - Calculate tolls for any Indiana route
- Indiana Toll Road (ITRCC) - Official toll rates, E-ZPass, travel plazas, and construction updates
- Indiana Toll Road Rate Schedule - Current rates effective July 1, 2026
- Cline Avenue Bridge Tolling - Official Cline Avenue Bridge rates and FAQ
- RiverLink - Louisville bridge account, rates, transponder signup; phone: 1-855-RIV-LINK
- Kentucky Toll Guide - Kentucky side of RiverLink bridges
- Illinois Tollway Guide - Connecting west from Chicago Skyway to Indiana border
