As of mid-June, 2024, Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway (New York), Chesapeake Expressway (Virginia), 17-Mile Drive (California), Chicago Skyway (Illinois), and Fort Bend Parkway (Texas) were the most expensive toll roads in America. This list is based on a 2024 report by GOBankingRates, which sourced data from CarInsurance.org and EZ Freight Factoring. These top five roads charge between 51 cents and $1.25 per mile. While 51 cents might not sound like much, it’s significantly higher than what most drivers pay for other routes.
According to the Federal Highway Administration’s Pricing Kit, toll lanes across the country average about 10 cents per mile as of 2025, with 65% of all toll road traffic falling between 0 and 25 cents per mile and only 5% charging over 50 cents. As of mid-July 2025, the United States Energy Information Administration says gas averages $3.121 per gallon for regular gasoline, which works out to 10.5 cents per mile for a car that gets 30 miles per gallon. This means that 51 cents is more than both the national average and the cost of fuel. Before you pay a toll, check other cheaper routes or alternative options, especially since you may not know how to save money on gas or you might regularly make driving mistakes that cost you at the gas pump.
Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway (New York)
The Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway in New York is an 8-mile-long state road, and a regular car pays $25 at the gate. This breaks down to $3.14 per mile. One family in a single car can spend $90 or more for a round trip once you add extra passenger fees ($25 for the driver plus $20 for the 2nd passenger, and $10 for each additional passenger). Cyclists pay $15 per bike, while motorcycles are charged $25 with the same extra-person fee as cars.
To avoid these fees, invest in New York’s Empire Pass. For $80 per year, the pass covers passenger vehicles on all DEC-managed scenic highways and day-use areas, including the Veterans Memorial Highway. Local residents, active duty military members, and holders of the Lake Placid Legacy Sites Passport also qualify for free or heavily discounted entry. Veterans and military personnel pay $10 per vehicle, while Legacy Sites pass-holders enjoy unlimited, toll-free access all season long. Contact the Lake Placid Olympic Regional Development Authority to apply for a Legacy Sites Passport.
Chesapeake Expressway (Virginia)
At the Chesapeake Expressway, two-axle passenger vehicles pay $9 per trip on summer weekends – from Memorial Day through Labor Day — and $4.00 during the rest of the year. This works out to $1.29 per mile or 57 cents per mile for the 7-mile route. That summer rate makes it more expensive than most other toll roads, meaning drivers heading to beach locations, or even local commuters using SR-168, pay a noticeably higher cost per mile…