washington-toll-bridges-tunnels: Difference between revisions
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<p style="font-size: 16px; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 8px 0;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Key Reality:</strong> Without a Good To Go! pass, you pay Pay-by-Mail rates - $2.00 higher per trip than the Good To Go! pass rate at SR 520, SR 99, Tacoma Narrows, and I-405. For daily commuters, this adds up to $500+ per year. HOV requirements for free travel on I-405 and SR 167 vary by facility and time of day - see the HOV section below, since it's not a flat 2+ rule everywhere.</p> | <p style="font-size: 16px; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 8px 0;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Key Reality:</strong> Without a Good To Go! pass, you pay Pay-by-Mail rates - $2.00 higher per trip than the Good To Go! pass rate at SR 520, SR 99, Tacoma Narrows, and I-405. For daily commuters, this adds up to $500+ per year. HOV requirements for free travel on I-405 and SR 167 vary by facility and time of day - see the HOV section below, since it's not a flat 2+ rule everywhere.</p> | ||
<p style="font-size: 16px; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 8px 0;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">2026 Update:</strong> E-ZPass is not accepted in Washington - Good To Go! is the only accepted transponder system, and there is no interoperability agreement with E-ZPass or any other state's system. Visitors and infrequent drivers can open a temporary Good To Go! account online at mygoodtogo.com, valid for up to two weeks, using just a license plate number and credit card - no physical pass required | <p style="font-size: 16px; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 8px 0;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">2026 Update:</strong> E-ZPass is not accepted in Washington - Good To Go! is the only accepted transponder system, and there is no interoperability agreement with E-ZPass or any other state's system. Visitors and infrequent drivers can open a temporary Good To Go! account online at mygoodtogo.com, valid for up to two weeks, using just a license plate number and credit card - no physical pass required.</p> | ||
<h2 style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 25px 0 15px 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #a2a9b1; padding-bottom: 2px;">Washington Toll Costs: Current Rates (2026)</h2> | <h2 style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 25px 0 15px 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #a2a9b1; padding-bottom: 2px;">Washington Toll Costs: Current Rates (2026)</h2> | ||
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<th style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; text-align: left; font-weight: bold; color: #ffffff !important; background: #555555 !important;">Pay-by-Mail Rate</th> | <th style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; text-align: left; font-weight: bold; color: #ffffff !important; background: #555555 !important;">Pay-by-Mail Rate</th> | ||
<th style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; text-align: left; font-weight: bold; color: #ffffff !important; background: #555555 !important;">Toll Direction</th> | <th style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; text-align: left; font-weight: bold; color: #ffffff !important; background: #555555 !important;">Toll Direction</th> | ||
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<td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #f5f7fa;">Good To Go! rate + $2.00</td> | <td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #f5f7fa;">Good To Go! rate + $2.00</td> | ||
<td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #f5f7fa;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Both directions</strong> (not westbound-only)</td> | <td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #f5f7fa;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Both directions</strong> (not westbound-only)</td> | ||
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<td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #ffffff;">Good To Go! rate + $2.00</td> | <td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #ffffff;">Good To Go! rate + $2.00</td> | ||
<td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #ffffff;">Both directions</td> | <td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #ffffff;">Both directions</td> | ||
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<td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #f5f7fa;">Tacoma Narrows Bridge</td> | <td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #f5f7fa;">Tacoma Narrows Bridge</td> | ||
<td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #f5f7fa;">$ | <td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #f5f7fa;">$4.5 (2-axle Good To Go!)</td> | ||
<td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #f5f7fa;">$ | <td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #f5f7fa;">$6.5 (Pay-by-Mail)</td> | ||
<td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #f5f7fa;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Eastbound only</strong> (toward Tacoma, not Gig Harbor - not westbound)</td> | <td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #f5f7fa;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Eastbound only</strong> (toward Tacoma, not Gig Harbor - not westbound)</td> | ||
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<td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #ffffff;">Good To Go! rate + $2.00</td> | <td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #ffffff;">Good To Go! rate + $2.00</td> | ||
<td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #ffffff;">Bellevue to Lynnwood corridor</td> | <td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #ffffff;">Bellevue to Lynnwood corridor</td> | ||
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<td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #f5f7fa;">Good To Go! rate + $2.00</td> | <td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #f5f7fa;">Good To Go! rate + $2.00</td> | ||
<td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #f5f7fa;">Auburn to Renton</td> | <td style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; background: #f5f7fa;">Auburn to Renton</td> | ||
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</table> | </table> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
<p style="font-size: 16px; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 8px 0;">SR 520, SR 99, I-405, and SR 167 all use dynamic or variable pricing that adjusts based on time of day and traffic demand to maintain free-flowing speeds. Check WSDOT's trip planner or the Good To Go! app for real-time pricing before travel.</p> | <p style="font-size: 16px; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 8px 0;">SR 520, SR 99, I-405, and SR 167 all use dynamic or variable pricing that adjusts based on time of day and traffic demand to maintain free-flowing speeds. Check WSDOT's trip planner or the Good To Go! app for real-time pricing before travel.</p> | ||
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<p style="font-size: 16px; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 8px 0;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">SR 99 Alaskan Way Tunnel (Downtown Seattle):</strong> A bored tunnel under downtown Seattle, opened February 2019, replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct. According to WSDOT: tolled in both directions. Dynamic pricing roughly $1.25-$2.25.</p> | <p style="font-size: 16px; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 8px 0;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">SR 99 Alaskan Way Tunnel (Downtown Seattle):</strong> A bored tunnel under downtown Seattle, opened February 2019, replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct. According to WSDOT: tolled in both directions. Dynamic pricing roughly $1.25-$2.25.</p> | ||
<p style="font-size: 16px; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 8px 0;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Tacoma Narrows Bridge:</strong> Twin suspension bridges spanning Puget Sound, connecting Tacoma to Gig Harbor (Kitsap Peninsula). As per WSDOT: tolled EASTBOUND only - the direction traveling toward Tacoma, not toward Gig Harbor. Fixed rate: $ | <p style="font-size: 16px; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 8px 0;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Tacoma Narrows Bridge:</strong> Twin suspension bridges spanning Puget Sound, connecting Tacoma to Gig Harbor (Kitsap Peninsula). As per WSDOT: tolled EASTBOUND only - the direction traveling toward Tacoma, not toward Gig Harbor. Fixed rate: $4.5 Good To Go! / $6.5 Pay-by-Mail for 2-axle vehicles; higher for multi-axle trucks.</p> | ||
<p style="font-size: 16px; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 8px 0;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">I-405 Express Lanes (Bellevue to Lynnwood/Renton):</strong> Managed express lanes on the primary Eastside north-south corridor; dynamic pricing $0.75-$10.00. Carpools and motorcycles must have an active Good To Go! account and the correct pass to travel free - during peak hours specifically, carpools need 3 or more passengers, not the commonly-assumed 2+.</p> | <p style="font-size: 16px; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 8px 0;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">I-405 Express Lanes (Bellevue to Lynnwood/Renton):</strong> Managed express lanes on the primary Eastside north-south corridor; dynamic pricing $0.75-$10.00. Carpools and motorcycles must have an active Good To Go! account and the correct pass to travel free - during peak hours specifically, carpools need 3 or more passengers, not the commonly-assumed 2+.</p> | ||
<p style="font-size: 16px; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 8px 0;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">SR 167 HOT Lanes (Auburn to Renton):</strong> High-Occupancy Toll lanes connecting Auburn to the I-405 Renton junction; dynamic pricing. Per WSDOT directly: | <p style="font-size: 16px; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 8px 0;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">SR 167 HOT Lanes (Auburn to Renton):</strong> High-Occupancy Toll lanes connecting Auburn to the I-405 Renton junction; dynamic pricing. Per WSDOT directly: all carpools must have a Good To Go! Flex Pass (set to HOV mode) and motorcyclists must have a motorcycle pass to ride for free</p> | ||
<h2 style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 25px 0 15px 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #a2a9b1; padding-bottom: 2px;">Frequently Asked Questions</h2> | <h2 style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 25px 0 15px 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #a2a9b1; padding-bottom: 2px;">Frequently Asked Questions</h2> | ||
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<h3 style="font-size: 20px; font-weight: bold; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 15px 0 8px 0;">Do motorcycles pay tolls in Washington?</h3> | <h3 style="font-size: 20px; font-weight: bold; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 15px 0 8px 0;">Do motorcycles pay tolls in Washington?</h3> | ||
<p style="font-size: 16px; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 8px 0;"> | <p style="font-size: 16px; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 8px 0;">Motorcycles must pay standard tolls on the SR 520 Bridge, SR 99 Tunnel, and Tacoma Narrows Bridge</p> | ||
<h3 style="font-size: 20px; font-weight: bold; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 15px 0 8px 0;">How do carpool discounts work on I-405 and SR 167?</h3> | <h3 style="font-size: 20px; font-weight: bold; color: #202122; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 15px 0 8px 0;">How do carpool discounts work on I-405 and SR 167?</h3> | ||
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<th style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; text-align: left; font-weight: bold; color: #ffffff !important; background: #555555 !important;">Tag</th> | <th style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; text-align: left; font-weight: bold; color: #ffffff !important; background: #555555 !important;">Tag</th> | ||
<th style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; text-align: left; font-weight: bold; color: #ffffff !important; background: #555555 !important;">Notes</th> | <th style="padding: 12px; outline: 1px solid #dee2e6; text-align: left; font-weight: bold; color: #ffffff !important; background: #555555 !important;">Notes</th> | ||
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Revision as of 19:24, 20 August 2026
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Washington Toll Bridges and Tunnels Complete Guide
System: Good To Go! electronic toll collection - three payment tiers (pass, Pay By Plate, Pay By Mail); all facilities cashless
Coverage: 5 toll facilities - SR 520 Bridge, SR 99 Tunnel, Tacoma Narrows Bridge, I-405 Express Lanes, SR 167 HOT Lanes
Currency: US Dollar (USD)
Technology: Good To Go! RFID transponders, license plate recognition, dynamic pricing
Operator: Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
Do I Need Good To Go! for Washington? 2026 Update
No - but you'll pay more per trip without one. Washington operates 5 all-electronic toll facilities. There are three payment tiers, not just two: a Good To Go! pass gives the lowest rate; registering your plate on an account without a physical pass ("Pay By Plate") costs an extra 25 cents per trip; and having no account at all ("Pay By Mail") costs an extra $2.00 per trip, billed to your vehicle registration address. All facilities are cashless.
Key Reality: Without a Good To Go! pass, you pay Pay-by-Mail rates - $2.00 higher per trip than the Good To Go! pass rate at SR 520, SR 99, Tacoma Narrows, and I-405. For daily commuters, this adds up to $500+ per year. HOV requirements for free travel on I-405 and SR 167 vary by facility and time of day - see the HOV section below, since it's not a flat 2+ rule everywhere.
2026 Update: E-ZPass is not accepted in Washington - Good To Go! is the only accepted transponder system, and there is no interoperability agreement with E-ZPass or any other state's system. Visitors and infrequent drivers can open a temporary Good To Go! account online at mygoodtogo.com, valid for up to two weeks, using just a license plate number and credit card - no physical pass required.
Washington Toll Costs: Current Rates (2026)
Current Toll Rates by Facility (2026)
| Facility | Good To Go! Rate | Pay-by-Mail Rate | Toll Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| SR 520 Bridge (Seattle to Bellevue/Redmond) | $1.25-$5.50 (dynamic; peak higher) | Good To Go! rate + $2.00 | Both directions (not westbound-only) |
| SR 99 Tunnel (downtown Seattle) | $1.25-$2.25 (dynamic) | Good To Go! rate + $2.00 | Both directions |
| Tacoma Narrows Bridge | $4.5 (2-axle Good To Go!) | $6.5 (Pay-by-Mail) | Eastbound only (toward Tacoma, not Gig Harbor - not westbound) |
| I-405 Express Lanes | $0.75-$10.00 (dynamic) | Good To Go! rate + $2.00 | Bellevue to Lynnwood corridor |
| SR 167 HOT Lanes (Auburn to Renton) | $0.50-$9.00 (dynamic) | Good To Go! rate + $2.00 | Auburn to Renton |
SR 520, SR 99, I-405, and SR 167 all use dynamic or variable pricing that adjusts based on time of day and traffic demand to maintain free-flowing speeds. Check WSDOT's trip planner or the Good To Go! app for real-time pricing before travel.
To calculate toll costs for cars, trucks, motorcycles and all vehicle types across Washington toll facilities, use the TollGuru Washington toll calculator:
How to Pay Washington Tolls
1. Good To Go! Pass (Cheapest tier):
- $10 initial setup fee (applied to account balance); $15 minimum balance required
- Available online at mygoodtogo.com or at participating retail locations
- Works on all 5 Washington toll facilities; lowest available rate
- Required for HOV-free travel on I-405 (with the peak-hour 3+ occupant rule) and needed to avoid solo-driver tolls on SR 167
- Visitors: temporary accounts available online, valid up to two weeks, license plate + credit card only
2. Pay By Plate (Middle tier - often overlooked):
- Register your license plate on a Good To Go! account without installing a physical pass
- Costs just 25 cents more per trip than the pass rate - much cheaper than full Pay By Mail
- A good option if you don't want a physical transponder but still want to avoid the full $2.00 Pay-by-Mail surcharge
3. Pay By Mail (No account - highest tier):
- Automatic license plate recognition; invoice mailed to the registered vehicle owner
- $2.00 per trip surcharge above the Good To Go! pass rate
- Pay online at mygoodtogo.com within the invoice deadline to avoid additional fees
- Out-of-state and rental vehicles are also invoiced via their registered state/company
- To use SR 167 HOT lanes as a solo driver, you must open an account and install a pass - Pay By Mail alone is not an option there
4. Cash: Not accepted at any Washington toll facility. All facilities are fully cashless.
Washington Toll Facilities (2026)
SR 520 Floating Bridge (Seattle to Bellevue): Officially the Governor Albert D. Rosellini - Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, opened in its current form in 2016. Connects Seattle (I-5) to Bellevue and the Eastside via Lake Washington. Tolled in BOTH directions - as per WSDOT and the Washington State Transportation Commission; the toll is not one-directional. Dynamic/variable pricing from roughly $1.25 to $5.50 depending on time of day; lowest rates on nights, weekends, and holidays. Vehicles with more than two axles pay a pro-rated higher rate.
SR 99 Alaskan Way Tunnel (Downtown Seattle): A bored tunnel under downtown Seattle, opened February 2019, replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct. According to WSDOT: tolled in both directions. Dynamic pricing roughly $1.25-$2.25.
Tacoma Narrows Bridge: Twin suspension bridges spanning Puget Sound, connecting Tacoma to Gig Harbor (Kitsap Peninsula). As per WSDOT: tolled EASTBOUND only - the direction traveling toward Tacoma, not toward Gig Harbor. Fixed rate: $4.5 Good To Go! / $6.5 Pay-by-Mail for 2-axle vehicles; higher for multi-axle trucks.
I-405 Express Lanes (Bellevue to Lynnwood/Renton): Managed express lanes on the primary Eastside north-south corridor; dynamic pricing $0.75-$10.00. Carpools and motorcycles must have an active Good To Go! account and the correct pass to travel free - during peak hours specifically, carpools need 3 or more passengers, not the commonly-assumed 2+.
SR 167 HOT Lanes (Auburn to Renton): High-Occupancy Toll lanes connecting Auburn to the I-405 Renton junction; dynamic pricing. Per WSDOT directly: all carpools must have a Good To Go! Flex Pass (set to HOV mode) and motorcyclists must have a motorcycle pass to ride for free
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use E-ZPass in Washington?
No. Washington uses only its own Good To Go! system. E-ZPass transponders from any other state are not accepted on Washington toll facilities, and there is no interoperability agreement in place with E-ZPass or any other state's toll system. Get a Good To Go! pass at mygoodtogo.com before your trip, or open a temporary account as a visitor.
Do motorcycles pay tolls in Washington?
Motorcycles must pay standard tolls on the SR 520 Bridge, SR 99 Tunnel, and Tacoma Narrows Bridge
How do carpool discounts work on I-405 and SR 167?
They're not the same rule. On I-405, carpools need an active Good To Go! account and pass to travel free, and during peak hours specifically require 3+ passengers, not 2+. On SR 167, per WSDOT, only solo drivers pay a toll at all - carpools and motorcycles travel free without a peak-hour occupancy increase. There is no HOV discount on SR 520, SR 99, or Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
Which direction is the SR 520 Bridge toll charged?
Both directions. Confirmed directly by WSDOT and the Washington State Transportation Commission: "Tolls are collected for both directions of the bridge." There is no free direction on SR 520.
Which direction is the Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll charged?
Eastbound only - the direction heading toward Tacoma. Confirmed directly by WSDOT: "Tolls collected only in eastbound direction." Westbound travel toward Gig Harbor is free.
Are there free alternatives to Washington toll facilities?
For SR 520, the I-90 bridge is free but adds 10-30 minutes. For SR 99 tunnel, surface streets through downtown Seattle are free but significantly slower. For Tacoma Narrows, there is no free alternative bridge crossing of Puget Sound in that area.
Washington vs. Neighbouring States (2026)
| State | System | Tag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 2 Columbia River bridges only | BreezeBy | Hood River cash/check still payable at Port office or dropbox; I-205 project postponed |
| Idaho | No toll roads | N/A | Toll-free state |
Useful Links & Resources
- US Toll Guide - Complete guide to all 37 toll states
- Washington Toll Calculator - Calculate Good To Go! and Pay-by-Mail costs
- Good To Go! Official Site - Account setup, transponder purchase, temporary visitor accounts, and invoice payment
- SR 520 Bridge Tolling - Official WSDOT rates and policies
- SR 99 Tunnel Tolling - Official WSDOT rates and policies
- Tacoma Narrows Bridge Tolling - Official WSDOT rates and policies
- Good To Go! Customer Service: 1-866-936-8246