Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) Complete Guide: I-PASS, Rates and Payment 2026
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Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) Complete Guide
System: All-electronic (cashless) toll collection: I-PASS/E-ZPass, Pay By Plate or mailed invoice; no cash at toll plazas
Coverage: Wisconsin state line (I-94 at I-41/US 41) to South Holland (I-80/I-94/IL 394), forming a western bypass of Chicago
Currency: US Dollar (USD)
Technology: I-PASS Sticker Tags and transponders, E-ZPass and Central US interoperability, license plate recognition for Pay By Plate and invoices
Operator: Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (Illinois Tollway)
Do I Need I-PASS for Tri-State Tollway? 2026 Update
Not strictly, but it is strongly recommended. The Illinois Tollway is fully cashless, and I-PASS or E-ZPass gives passenger vehicles the lowest rate (50% less than Pay By Plate). Without a transponder, you must pay through Pay By Plate within 14 days of your first day of travel or receive a mailed invoice with added fees.
Key Reality: Pay By Plate charges the cash rate (double the I-PASS passenger rate in 2026) with no added fees when set up within 14 days. Tolls not paid that way are invoiced by mail with an invoicing fee per toll ($3.00 for passenger vehicles). Commercial vehicles pay the same rate whether they use I-PASS/E-ZPass or Pay By Plate, so the 50% discount applies to passenger vehicles only.
2026 Update: On January 1, 2026, truck/trailer toll rates increased, while passenger vehicle rates remain at 2012 levels. On August 19, 2026, the Illinois Tollway Board approved new passenger and commercial toll rates effective January 1, 2027, together with the $26.5 billion Driving Connections capital program. Reconstruction of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) from Balmoral Avenue to 95th Street is in its final phase, with substantial completion expected in 2026.
Tri-State Tollway Costs: Current Rates
The Tri-State Tollway follows Interstate 94 from I-41/US 41 in Newport Township to I-94 in Northbrook; Interstate 294 from I-94 in Northbrook to I-294 in Hazel Crest; and Interstate 80 from I-294 in Hazel Crest to I-94/I-294/IL 394 in South Holland.
Vehicle Classes and Payment Rules (2026)
| Vehicle Class | Description | I-PASS/E-ZPass vs Pay Online | Savings with I-PASS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 (Auto/Motorcycle) | 2 axles, four or fewer tires; auto, SUV, motorcycle, taxi | Pay Online and Pay By Plate are double the I-PASS rate | 50% savings |
| Tier 2 (Small) | 2 axles, six tires; single-unit truck, bus | Same rate for I-PASS and Pay Online | No transponder discount |
| Tier 3 (Medium) | 3 and 4 axle vehicles, or passenger vehicles with a 1 or 2 axle side-car or trailer | Same rate for I-PASS and Pay Online | No transponder discount |
| Tier 4 (Large) | 5+ axle vehicles, or passenger vehicles with a 3+ axle trailer | Same rate for I-PASS and Pay Online | No transponder discount |
Passenger Vehicle Rates by Selected Toll Plaza (2026)
Passenger vehicle rates are charged per toll plaza and have not changed since January 1, 2012. Pay Online and Pay By Plate rates are exactly double the I-PASS/E-ZPass rate. The full plaza list is published by the Illinois Tollway.
| Toll Plaza | Plaza No. | I-PASS/E-ZPass Rate | Pay Online/Pay By Plate Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waukegan Mainline | 21 | $1.40 | $2.80 |
| Edens Spur Mainline | 24 | $0.95 | $1.90 |
| Willow Springs Rd/75th St | 34 | $0.55 | $1.10 |
| Cermak Road (22nd St) | 35 | $0.75 | $1.50 |
| I-57/147th St (Illinois 83) | 42 | $0.75 | $1.50 |
| Halsted St (Illinois 1) | 47 | $0.30 | $0.60 |
Commercial daytime rates apply from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and overnight rates from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Starting January 1, 2027, Tri-State I-PASS passenger tolls will range from $0.50 to $2.25 per plaza, Pay By Plate rates will be 1.5 times the I-PASS rate, and invoiced rates for unpaid tolls will be 2 times the I-PASS rate. Rates shown in the table apply through December 31, 2026.
Route Coverage & Major Interchanges (2026)
Northern Section (I-94): Wisconsin state line to Northbrook - serves Lake County, including Waukegan, Gurnee and Lake Forest
Central Section (I-294): Northbrook to Hazel Crest - serves as a bypass around the city of Chicago with access to O'Hare International Airport; I-294 is 53.42 miles long in total, including the section shared with I-80
Southern Section (I-80): Hazel Crest to South Holland - I-294 shares the roadway with I-80 for 5.32 miles before the Tri-State ends at I-94/IL 394, short of the Indiana state line
How to Pay Tri-State Tollway Tolls
You can use the following payment methods on the Tri-State Tollway:
1. I-PASS Electronic System (Recommended):
- Save money – I-PASS & E-ZPass passenger vehicles pay 50% less than the Pay By Plate (cash) rate
- Available as I-PASS Sticker Tags (one per vehicle, permanently installed on the windshield); existing transponders continue to work
- Accepted in 24 states, including E-ZPass facilities such as the Chicago Skyway and Indiana Toll Road, and Central US tolling partners
- Sticker Tags are free with no deposit online at GetIPass and at Illinois Tollway Customer Service Centers; Jewel-Osco and RoadRanger stores charge a retail service fee
- If a vehicle listed on your account passes without a mounted transponder, up to five transactions per month are billed at the I-PASS rate as a courtesy; after that, the cash rate applies
2. E-ZPass Compatibility:
- E-ZPass transponders from any member agency are accepted on the Tri-State and across the Illinois Tollway
- Passenger vehicles receive the same 50% discount as I-PASS users
- A newly registered I-PASS Sticker Tag works on the Illinois Tollway immediately and on the Chicago Skyway and other E-ZPass roads within 24 hours
3. Pay By Plate (No Transponder):
- Enter your license plate, payment card and travel dates at GetIPass or in the Official Illinois Tollway App
- Set up within 14 days of your first day of travel (backdate the start date if you have already traveled) to avoid invoices and fees
- Charged at the cash rate, with no added fees: in 2026 this is double the I-PASS rate for passenger vehicles, while commercial vehicles pay the same rate as I-PASS; tolls can take up to 30 days to post and are billed twice per week
- Valid only on the Illinois Tollway, not on the Chicago Skyway, the Houbolt Road Extension or toll roads in other states
- Tolls not paid through Pay By Plate within 14 days are invoiced by mail with an invoicing fee per toll: $3.00 (Tier 1), $5.00 (Tier 2), $9.00 (Tier 3) or $15.00 (Tier 4), plus an additional $5.00 per toll at the third notice
To calculate toll costs for cars, trucks, motorcycles and all vehicle types across the Tri-State Tollway, use TollGuru toll calculator
Recent Changes (2026)
Major Construction Project:
- Central Tri-State (I-294) reconstruction and widening from Balmoral Avenue to 95th Street, underway since 2018, is expected to reach substantial completion in 2026
- The Central Tri-State project includes reconfiguration of the I-290/I-88 Interchange at I-294, with new lanes connecting I-294 to I-290 and I-88
- Traffic shifts and lane closures during the 2026 construction season, including work tied to the new I-490 Tollway interchange with I-294 near O'Hare
Rate Changes:
- On January 1, 2026, truck/trailer toll rates increased to help rebuild, improve, and expand the agency's 294-mile system
- Passenger vehicle rates have not increased since 2012; the first passenger increase in more than 15 years takes effect January 1, 2027 (45 cents per toll for I-PASS users at the most common mainline plaza), with commercial I-PASS rates rising about 30%
- Time-based pricing applies to commercial vehicles only: Daytime Hours: 6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Overnight Hours: 10:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.
- Beginning in 2029, all toll rates will be adjusted every other year for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index-Urban (CPI-U)
Technology Updates:
- I-PASS Sticker Tags: battery-free, no charge and no deposit online or at Customer Service Centers; the $10 deposit on an existing transponder moves to your prepaid toll balance once a Sticker Tag is registered
- Pay By Plate, built on the I-PASS payment platform, accepts plate, payment and travel dates up to 14 days after travel
- Account management through GetIPass and the Official Illinois Tollway App for iOS and Android
Planning Your Journey
Cost Considerations:
- Passenger I-PASS tolls on the Tri-State range from $0.30 to $1.40 per plaza through December 31, 2026 ($0.60 to $2.80 with Pay By Plate)
- Total trip cost depends on the plazas passed; use the TollGuru calculator or the Illinois Tollway Trip Planner for exact amounts
- The system-wide average Illinois Tollway I-PASS passenger toll is about $0.07 per mile, rising to about $0.11 per mile in 2027
Construction Impacts (2026):
- Central I-294 section: Expect remaining lane restrictions from Balmoral Avenue to 95th Street as the project wraps up
- Ramp closures change frequently; check Illinois Tollway Construction Alerts or @94_294_Tollway on X before you travel
- Alternative route: I-355 Veterans Memorial Tollway for north-south trips through the western suburbs
Toll-Free Alternatives:
- US-41 in Lake County and Mannheim Road (US-12/US-45) along the central section for north-south travel (significantly slower)
- Local Cook County and Lake County roads parallel to tollway
- Public transit: Metra and CTA serve many destinations along corridor
Regional Toll Information
Illinois Tollway System and Connected Toll Roads:
- Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) - Connects to the Tri-State near O'Hare International Airport
- Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) - Connects to I-294 at the I-290/I-88 interchange near Hillside
- Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355) - North-south alternative running roughly parallel to I-294, farther west
- Chicago Skyway - Separately operated toll road connecting I-94 to the Indiana Toll Road; accepts I-PASS and E-ZPass but not Illinois Tollway Pay By Plate
- Illinois Route 390 Tollway and I-490 Tollway - Serve the west side of O'Hare, with I-490 connecting to the Tri-State
Major Interchanges & Connection Points:
- I-290/I-88 Interchange (reconfigured as part of the Central Tri-State project)
- I-55 (Stevenson Expressway) interchange in the southwest suburbs
- O'Hare International Airport access via I-190 and the I-490 Tollway
- I-294/I-57 Interchange (open; saves drivers up to 13 minutes)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I avoid Tri-State Tollway tolls completely?
Yes, but expect significantly longer travel times on signalized parallel routes such as US-41 and Mannheim Road (US-12/US-45). For occasional trips, Pay By Plate removes the need for a transponder, while regular commuters save the most with I-PASS.
What happens if I don't pay Tri-State Tollway tolls?
Drivers without I-PASS or E-ZPass have 14 days from their first day of travel to pay through Pay By Plate. After that, the Illinois Tollway mails a series of invoices that add an invoicing fee per toll ($3.00 for passenger vehicles), and unpaid invoices enter the violation process. Charges can be disputed with an Affidavit of Non-Liability, but not knowing you were on a toll road or not being the driver are not valid grounds. Payment plans and I-PASS Assist are available for those who qualify.
Do motorcycles pay tolls on the Tri-State Tollway?
Yes, motorcycles are Tier 1 vehicles and pay the same rates as passenger cars, including the 50% I-PASS and E-ZPass discount. The Illinois Tollway publishes instructions for securing a transponder to a motorcycle.
Can I use E-ZPass from other states on the Tri-State Tollway?
Yes, all E-ZPass transponders work throughout the Illinois Tollway system including the Tri-State. Passenger vehicles receive the same 50% discount as I-PASS users. In turn, I-PASS is accepted in 24 states through E-ZPass and Central US tolling partners.
How do construction delays affect toll costs?
Toll rates remain the same regardless of construction delays. However, work zone speed limits are in effect in all construction zones 24/7, and alternative routes may be faster during peak construction periods. Consider I-355 as an alternate to central I-294 for north-south trips during major construction phases.
Illinois vs. Neighboring States
| State | System Type | Typical Cost | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | All-electronic I-PASS/E-ZPass | About $0.07/mile average with I-PASS (2026) | 294-mile network in Northern Illinois |
| Indiana | E-ZPass/I-PASS plus other payment options | Varies by entry and exit point | Indiana Toll Road (I-80/I-90) |
| Wisconsin | No tolls currently | $0.00 | Free highway system |
| Iowa | No tolls currently | $0.00 | Free interstate system |
Official Resources
- Illinois Tollway Customer Service: (800) UC-IPASS (800-824-7277), weekdays 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; TTY (888) 460-5111
- Illinois Tollway Headquarters: (630) 241-6800, 2700 Ogden Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515
- Tri-State Customer Service Centers: Markham (northbound I-294 at milepost 5.8, weekdays 10 a.m.-6 p.m.), Lake Forest Oasis (I-94) and Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis (I-294/I-80)
- Trip Planner: Calculate route tolls at agency.illinoistollway.com/toll-calculator; manage I-PASS and Pay By Plate accounts at GetIPass
- Financial help: I-PASS Assist and invoice payment plans are available for qualifying customers
