Dulles Airport Tolls: What You Need To Know

The Dulles Toll Road is an expressway in the US state of Virginia, consisting of two end-to-end toll roads, the Dulles Toll Road and the Dulles Greenway, as well as the non-tolled Dulles Access Road. The Dulles Access Road is exclusively used for entering and exiting Dulles Airport and is free of charge. However, it is illegal to use the Access Road without conducting airport business. The Dulles Toll Road is an eight-lane, 16.15-mile toll road that runs outside the Dulles Access Road. Tolls can be paid online, by phone, or with an E-ZPass.

Dulles Toll Road and payment methods

The Dulles Toll Road has converted to an all-electronic, cashless payment system. Motorists who don't pay tolls electronically will be identified by their vehicle license plate and will receive an invoice to their registered address.

The preferred form of payment is the E-ZPass Transponder account, which can be purchased at Giant Food or Wegmans. This is also accepted at many other toll facilities around the country.

For those without an E-ZPass, there are other options. You can pay online before or after receiving an invoice at tollroadsinvirginia.com, operated by the Virginia Department of Transportation. You can also pay by phone by calling 1-888-860-9361. Smartphone applications from private companies such as GoToll, Slora, Uproad, and NextPass are another way to pay. However, these usually incur additional fees set by the companies.

If you miss paying a toll, you have up to six days to pay online without penalty. To pay a missed toll violation, visit the Virginia Department of Transportation Customer Service Center missed toll information page, select the Dulles Toll Road, and follow the on-screen prompts for payment. If you need to pay more than six days later, you can call 1-888-860-9361.

Dulles Greenway, a privately-owned toll road

The Dulles Toll Road is a route to Dulles Airport that includes tolls. However, there is also a non-tolled road that runs between the westbound and eastbound roadways of the Dulles Toll Road, called the Dulles Access Road. This road is exclusively used for entering and exiting Dulles Airport and is free of charge.

The Dulles Access Road was built as part of the construction of Dulles Airport and opened in 1962. It was later extended in 1985. The Dulles Toll Road, on the other hand, was built in 1984 as a toll highway because conventional funding was not available.

In addition to the Dulles Toll Road and the Dulles Access Road, there is also the Dulles Greenway, a privately-owned toll road in Northern Virginia. The Dulles Greenway runs for 12.53 miles (20.17 km) northwest from the end of the Dulles Toll Road to the Leesburg Bypass. The speed limit on this road is 65 miles per hour (105 km/h).

The Dulles Greenway was privately built and is not a public asset. The current owner is "Toll Road Investors Partnership II" (TRIP II), a consortium of several companies. The road was completed and opened in 1995 but struggled with lower-than-projected use initially. Tolls are set to ensure the owner recovers their investment and makes a return. Usage has grown over time, reflecting the increased population of Loudoun County.

Dulles Access Road, a free route to the airport

The Dulles Access Road is a free route to and from Washington Dulles International Airport. It is a four-lane, 13.65-mile highway that runs between the westbound and eastbound roadways of the Dulles Toll Road. As this road is exclusively used for entering and exiting Dulles Airport, there are no general-access exits from the westbound lanes, and no general-access entrances to the eastbound lanes. The Dulles Access Road was built as part of the construction of Dulles Airport and opened in 1962.

The Access Road is maintained by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), the same authority that operates the Dulles Toll Road. The Dulles Toll Road is an eight-lane, 16.15-mile toll road that runs outside the Dulles Access Road. It was built in 1984 by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) as a toll highway due to a lack of conventional funding.

While the Access Road is free, there are restrictions on its use. It can only be used for travel to and from Dulles Airport and other businesses on the airport grounds, such as air freight, hotels, and gas stations. It is illegal to use the Access Road without conducting such "airport business," and commuters can be fined for using this road to evade the toll on the Dulles Toll Road.

To use the Dulles Toll Road, the preferred payment method is E-ZPass, although online and phone payments are also accepted.

Avoiding tolls by using the airport access road

The Dulles Toll Road is an expressway in the US state of Virginia, consisting of two end-to-end toll roads: the Dulles Toll Road and the Dulles Greenway. However, there is a way to avoid tolls when travelling to or from Dulles Airport by using the Dulles Access Road, a non-tolled highway that runs between the westbound and eastbound roadways of the Dulles Toll Road.

The Dulles Access Road is exclusively used for entering and exiting Dulles Airport, with no general-access exits or entrances. It is free to use, but there are restrictions on its use. It can only be used for travel to and from the airport and other businesses on the airport grounds, such as air freight, hotels, and gas stations. While it is illegal to use the Access Road without conducting "airport business", some commuters avoid the toll by taking the Access Road to the airport and then backtracking to their exit.

• Stay left when leaving the airport and don't exit the toll-free part. You can exit at Route 123 or Route 7, which are both toll-free.
• Make a slow loop as if you're looking for someone, then leave. This method may be illegal, so it is recommended to have a legitimate reason for being at the airport, such as picking someone up or dropping them off.
• Patronize a business at the airport, such as a gas station or a convenience store, and keep the receipt as proof of your airport business.
• Use Google Maps to find a route to the airport that avoids tolls. The map may suggest a route that includes the toll-free portion of the Toll Road.
• Be aware that the airport access road is meant for airport traffic only, and there may be signs indicating this. While enforcement may be lax, there is a chance of getting a ticket if you use the road without conducting airport business.
• Keep an eye out for police cruisers, especially during rush hour, as they may be checking for drivers who are illegally using the access road.
• Consider using public transportation or a ridesharing service to get to and from the airport, as they may have designated lanes or exits that help you avoid tolls.

By following these tips, you can avoid tolls when travelling to or from Dulles Airport by using the airport access road. However, it is important to remember that using the access road without conducting airport business is illegal and may result in a fine and driver's license violations.

History of toll roads in the area

The Dulles Toll Road, located in Virginia, USA, has a long history that dates back several decades. The road consists of two end-to-end toll roads, the Dulles Toll Road and the Dulles Greenway, as well as the non-tolled Dulles Access Road, which runs in the median of the Dulles Toll Road and extends to Falls Church. The road was envisioned as early as the 1970s due to the increasing population in Loudoun County and the need for improved transportation infrastructure.

In the 1980s, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) played a significant role in the development of the toll roads. They constructed the Dulles Access Road, which opened in 1962 alongside the Dulles Airport, and extended it in 1985. The Dulles Toll Road, an eight-lane, 16.15-mile toll road, was built by VDOT in 1984 as a response to the growing need for a limited-access highway that would serve points along the Access Road without adding congestion to airport traffic. The toll road was necessary because conventional funding was not available for this project.

The Dulles Toll Road initially had two lanes in each direction, with a third lane added in 1992 to accommodate HOV traffic. However, there was controversy over the HOV policy, and Congress passed legislation prohibiting its imposition on the route. To resolve this, Virginia decided to construct a fourth lane for HOV traffic, ensuring that single-passenger vehicles could continue to use the third lane.

In 2005, VDOT considered proposals to privatize the toll road, but the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) proposed taking over its operation instead. MWAA assumed control of the Dulles Toll Road in 2006, including its debts and the commitment to build a rapid transit line in the median. This transit line, known as the Silver Line, opened in two phases, with the first phase completed in July 2014 and the second in November 2022.

The tolls collected on the Dulles Toll Road have been used to fund projects such as the Silver Line expansion. Over the years, there have been increases in toll rates to cover construction costs, with the most recent increase of 25 cents implemented in 2013. The road has undergone modifications and improvements, including the construction of additional lanes and exit ramps, to accommodate the growing traffic in the area.

The Dulles Greenway, a privately-owned toll road, was completed and opened in 1995. It is part of SR 267 and runs for 12.53 miles from the end of the Dulles Toll Road to the Leesburg Bypass. The Greenway has also seen toll increases over the years, with the base toll collected for two-axle vehicles ranging from $3.00 to $5.10, depending on the toll plaza traversed.

The history of the Dulles Toll Road and the surrounding roadways showcases the evolution of transportation infrastructure in the area, adapting to the needs of the growing population and the demands of modern travel.

Frequently asked questions