Tolls aren’t “small change” anymore: in 2023, state-administered U.S. toll facilities reported $18.0 billion in road and crossing tolls alone. That’s a lot of money leaving drivers’ pockets—often without you noticing trip by trip. (FHWA Highway Statistics 2023, Table SF-3B)

What you can control is how often you hit tolls—and route-planning apps are the easiest lever you’ve got.

How saving on tolls with route-planning apps actually works

Most navigation apps can do one (or more) of these:

  • Avoid toll roads completely (good for “no surprises” budgeting).
  • Show toll routes and non-toll alternatives so you can choose.
  • Estimate toll costs (even better: estimate based on time of day and payment method).
  • Balance the trade-off: “pay tolls to save 12 minutes” vs “save money but drive longer.”

In practice, I tested this the same way you probably would: I plugged in a few repeat drives (school drop-off style, grocery run style, “get across town fast” style), then toggled toll settings on/off and compared:

  • the route options the app surfaced,
  • how clearly it labeled toll segments,
  • and whether it made it easy to switch preferences before you start driving.

The two biggest “gotchas” (so you don’t get burned)

1) “Avoid tolls” is only as good as the map + toll rules

Tolling can be messy: express lanes, bridges, tunnels, congestion zones, and “toll only at certain times” policies. If the app’s data is behind, you might still get routed onto a tolled segment.

2) Some toll prices change with traffic (so timing matters)

On priced managed lanes, tolls can be fixed-variable (scheduled) or dynamic (adjusted frequently based on real-time conditions). So a “cheap” time to use a tolled lane at 11:00 a.m. might be expensive at 5:15 p.m. (FHWA Priced Managed Lane Guide; FHWA Tolling & Pricing as a Demand Management Tool)

5 route-planning apps that help you save on tolls

1) Google Maps (best for toll-price awareness)

Google Maps is strong when you want to see toll trade-offs instead of blindly avoiding them. It also explains that its toll estimates consider factors like payment methods and expected price at the time you’ll cross. (Google Maps product update)

A line I like because it’s dead simple:

“Simply tap on the three dots at the top right corner of your directions… and select ‘Avoid tolls.’” (Google Maps product update)

How I used it (quickly):

  • Build a route → open route options → toggle Avoid tolls
  • Compare the toll route vs toll-free route before you start rolling

Pros

  • Shows toll-free alternatives when available and lets you hide toll routes entirely. (Google Maps product update)
  • Helpful if you’re willing to pay sometimes, but only when it’s “worth it.”

Cons

  • Toll estimates aren’t everywhere and won’t cover every toll facility.
  • If you always want “lowest total trip cost,” Maps is more “navigation-first” than “budget-first.”

Worth knowing (trend):

  • Google said toll prices would roll out for nearly 2,000 toll roads in the U.S., India, Japan, and Indonesia (with more countries coming). (Google Maps product update)

2) Waze (best for quick “no-tolls” driving + community intel)

Waze’s vibe is real-world driving: it’s great when you want to dodge tolls and stay flexible with reroutes.

How I used it (quickly):

  • Settings → Navigation → toggle Avoid toll roads (wording may vary slightly by region)

Waze documents that this is a local feature that can be activated per country, depending on toll-road mapping coverage. (Waze Community Hub: Toll Roads)

Pros

  • Straightforward toll-avoid toggle. (Waze Community Hub: Toll Roads)
  • If your goal is “keep me off tolls, period,” it’s easy to run it that way.

Cons

  • Toll avoidance can depend on your country/region’s feature status and mapping completeness. (Waze Community Hub: Toll Roads)
  • Like any nav app, it can occasionally pick a “technically toll-free” route that feels annoying (extra turns, slower streets).

3) Apple Maps (best for iPhone users who want simple controls)

Apple Maps is surprisingly frictionless if you just want a clean “avoid tolls” switch without digging around.

Apple’s own iPhone guide spells it out:

How I used it (quickly):

  • Start directions → tap Avoid under the destination → select Avoid tolls

Pros

Cons

  • Less “toll cost math” up front compared with tools built specifically for trip cost optimization.
  • If you want deep cost breakdowns (tolls + fuel), you’ll likely want a companion app.

4) HERE WeGo (best for “route preferences” control)

HERE WeGo is a solid choice if you like explicit route preferences and avoidance options (including toll roads).

HERE’s own support doc lists avoid toll roads as one of the avoidance options under Route preferences. (HERE WeGo support)

How I used it (quickly):

  • Choose destination → Directions → Route preferences → set avoid toll roads (and whatever else you need)

Pros

  • Clear “route preference” workflow with multiple avoid toggles. (HERE WeGo support)
  • Nice if you’re picky (tolls + ferries + tunnels, etc.).

Cons

  • With lots of avoid rules turned on, you can accidentally force weird routes (this is true in every app—HERE just makes it easy to overdo it).
  • Not primarily a “show me cheapest total cost” tool.

5) TollGuru (best for “cheapest route” thinking)

If your main goal is spend less, not just “avoid toll roads,” TollGuru is built around cost comparisons. Their app flow highlights toll costs and lets you switch to a Cheapest option for the least expensive route. (TollGuru: calculate tolls on your route)

How I used it (quickly):

  • Enter origin + destination → select vehicle → compare Fastest vs Cheapest routes

Pros

  • Cost-forward approach (tolls and trip cost breakdowns are the point). (TollGuru: calculate tolls on your route)
  • Helpful for longer drives where a “small toll here and there” turns into real money.

Cons

  • It’s an extra app in your routine (you may still navigate in your main maps app after you choose the cheaper plan).
  • Like all toll tools, accuracy depends on up-to-date toll data and rules.

Trends that matter right now (and why your app choice matters)

  • More toll price visibility inside navigation: Google publicly described how it estimates tolls (including payment method and expected time-of-crossing cost). (Google Maps product update)
  • More variable pricing: FHWA describes fixed-variable and dynamic pricing in priced managed lanes—meaning “toll cost” can swing with time and traffic. (FHWA Priced Managed Lane Guide)
  • More “no-booth” tolling: agencies are moving toward all-electronic tolling using transponders and license plate billing. (RMTA All‑Electronic Tolling)
  • More city tolling / congestion zones: NYC launched a congestion zone toll with an initial auto toll set at $9, starting January 5, 2025. (MTA press release, Nov 18, 2024)

Conclusion

Saving on tolls with route-planning apps is mostly about one habit: compare routes before you drive, then pick what matches your budget that day—toll-free, time-saving, or genuinely cheapest. The right app makes that choice obvious instead of annoying.

References