Non-Disney ~ Driving around Boston

[Searc]

I know Boston has toll roads, but are they all electronic or can you use cash to pay? We will be driving around the Boston area and north into ME, NH and VT in a couple weeks and none of my traveling party has ever driven in and around that area.

 

[seashoreCM]

The Boston toll roads (turnpike, bridges, tunnels) are all electronic. If you do not have an EZpass you will be billed later and the toll is a little higher due to service fees.

New Hampshire and Maine have toll roads that take cash (or EZpass).

For each of the three, an in-state EZpass offers an additional discount (selected trips in Maine). It is possible to own EZpass transponders from several states at the same time.

Sunpass and Epass (and Leeway and Peachpass) currently do not work.

From Logan Airport you have to drive a considerable distance out of your way e.g. use Mass. Route 16 and on congested streets to get to downtown Boston without paying tolls.

 

[Searc]

The Boston toll roads (turnpike, bridges) are all electronic. If you do not have an EZpass you will be billed later and the toll is a little higher due to service fees.

We will be driving from BOS north. What type of tolls should we expect?

 

[NYCgrrl]

We will be driving from BOS north. What type of tolls should we expect?

Do you mean cost?

If so this website's calculator is useful:

https://tollguru.com/toll-calculator

 

[seashoreCM]

From BOS (Logan) north if you take Route 1 or Route 1A north (not looking for I-93 immediately) you will not hit any all electronic tolls. Using I-95 or I-93 or Route 3 you will hit tolls (with the cash option) after leaving Mass. (Crossing the border does not immediately condemn you to paying a toll.)

 

[sponica]

Just because we like to make things fun, in NH Route 3 exits the highway at exit 7E and you don't pay a toll on the highway until after exit 13 (but you can totally get off at exit 13 and get back on if you so choose). Exits 10 and 11 have exit tolls going north and entrance tolls going south...it was a major victory when we got the tolls removed from exit 12.

Most of the NH based tolls are sub 2 dollars, I believe. Although I don't drive the Spaulding turnpike (rte 16) or 95 so I don't pay attention to those tolls.

So 20 bucks should be more than plentiful in NH, I would think

 

[shocker]

Thanks for the thread, I'll be flying to BOS and then driving up to VT next week for the first time in my life. Enjoyed reading the info.

 

[leebee]

From Logan, take 1A north to 60W (briefly) to 1N to 95N. 95N will take you into NH, toll-free. In North Hampton there is a toll booth on the highway; I believe the toll is $2. Keep following 95N into Maine. Just after Exit 7 (York) you'll hit another toll, $3. As you go north into Maine, you'll hit tolls as you get off the highway up to Portland (tolls are < $1). If you are headed further north, you can either stay on Rt. 95 and pay tolls on the highway, or get off 95N onto 295N in Portland ($1) and pay no additional tolls until Gardner/Augusta ($1). All these tolls take either EZPass or cash. North of Augusta on RT95, there are no tolls!
(Check directions on Bingmaps to make sure I remembered the route #s correctly. If you program in your GPS to take you to Maine, chances are it'll take you into Boston via the Mass Pike and then north on 93... I'm pretty sure you'll hit traffic AND tolls!)

 

[Searc]

From Logan, take 1A north to 60W (briefly) to 1N to 95N. 95N will take you into NH, toll-free. In North Hampton there is a toll booth on the highway; I believe the toll is $2. Keep following 95N into Maine. Just after Exit 7 (York) you'll hit another toll, $3. As you go north into Maine, you'll hit tolls as you get off the highway up to Portland (tolls are < $1). If you are headed further north, you can either stay on Rt. 95 and pay tolls on the highway, or get off 95N onto 295N in Portland ($1) and pay no additional tolls until Gardner/Augusta ($1). All these tolls take either EZPass or cash. North of Augusta on RT95, there are no tolls!
(Check directions on Bingmaps to make sure I remembered the route #s correctly. If you program in your GPS to take you to Maine, chances are it'll take you into Boston via the Mass Pike and then north on 93... I'm pretty sure you'll hit traffic AND tolls!)

Our route is BOS to Woburn, to Booth Bay, Acadia and then on to Bangor the first few days. Those are the only days we have planned. The next 4 days are wherever the wind takes us, ending up back in Boston Saturday evening.

 

[seashoreCM]

From Logan, take 1A north to 60W (not briefly). Rte. 60 takes you west to I-93. Go north on I-93 and get off at Montvale Ave or (next stop) south onto I-95 (aka 128). These take you to Woburn MA.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Or the OP could, you know, take a Woburn exit. It depends where in Woburn they're going.

 

[Searc]

Or the OP could, you know, take a Woburn exit. It depends where in Woburn they're going.

2 Forbes Rd...I think is the hotel address.

 

[Jimsig]

Here is the link to the MassEZPass site
https://www.mass.gov/ezdrivema

 

[JimMIA]

If you're going to be staying in Boston for a couple of days right before returning home, I personally would turn in the rental car and Uber everywhere. Boston streets are confusing and Boston drivers are VERY aggressive.

We Ubered for two days last New Years and found it much easier. Also, if you're staying right in Boston, you might find yourself paying +/- $50 per night for parking! We stayed at the Hilton Faneuil Hall, which was very convenient, but overnight parking was $55 I think.

As you probably know, BOS is directly across from the Boston waterfront area, so it's very easy and quick to get to your flight.

 

[kaytieeldr]

2 Forbes Rd...I think is the hotel address.

Oh, okay then. @seashoreCM is more of less right. Montvale Ave exit of 93, left at the bottom of the ramp onto Montvale, right onto Washington Street (about a half mile), drive +/- two miles, right onto Forbes. There should be a traffic light there, and it should be the next intersection/light after the Salem Street and Wildwood Ave intersection.

But I could be wrong about the traffic lights. It's been a couple of years since I've been on Washington Street.

 

[Searc]

Here is the link to the MassEZPass site
https://www.mass.gov/ezdrivema

I wonder how this works with rental cars and renters who don't have a transponder?

 

[seashoreCM]

Two methods might be used by car rental companies:

1. The rental company has a transponder in the car, which can be switched off or slid into a shielding box if the renter wants to bring and use his own transponder.,
2. The toll road agency goes through the motions of considering the car a violator. There may be an agreement with the rental company to pay the violation tolls in bulk with a lesser or no "fine" on top of the toll, and the rental company sorts through the entries and bills the renter. Pay By Plate works something like this.

 

[sponica]

I wonder how this works with rental cars and renters who don't have a transponder?

I imagine most rental cars have EZpass, almost every car I rented in CT had an EZpass in it. NH drivers who do not already have their plates registered in EZPass don't pay tolls because NH won't turn over the plateholder information to EZPass without the driver's consent (or something like that).

 

[Jimsig]

I wonder how this works with rental cars and renters who don't have a transponder?

Numerous ways as the 2 PP's have said. The rental agencies also have a couple different way they will go about charging you as well if you don't have a transponder.

1. If you don't go through a toll nothing happens
2. If you go through a toll they charge you a fee per day for ever day you had the car plus the toll. Avis charges 3.95 per day even for days you didn't go through a toll. They bill you later on your credit card
3. Charge you a fee only for days you go through a toll plus the toll. I believe Alamo does this, it's 3.95 any day you use a toll plus the toll. Again you get billed later.

Best bet is to look at the website of the the car agency you will be using or google it to find out how the charge. I'm not sure how it works if you wanted to "Pay By Plate" so be sure to read through their websites for info.

 

[Searc]

Numerous ways as the 2 PP's have said. The rental agencies also have a couple different way they will go about charging you as well if you don't have a transponder.

1. If you don't go through a toll nothing happens
2. If you go through a toll they charge you a fee per day for ever day you had the car plus the toll. Avis charges 3.95 per day even for days you didn't go through a toll. They bill you later on your credit card
3. Charge you a fee only for days you go through a toll plus the toll. I believe Alamo does this, it's 3.95 any day you use a toll plus the toll. Again you get billed later.

Best bet is to look at the website of the the car agency you will be using or google it to find out how the charge. I'm not sure how it works if you wanted to "Pay By Plate" so be sure to read through their websites for info.

Our rental is through Alamo. I'll google, thanks.