If you need to cross Baltimore Harbor while the Francis Scott Key Bridge is closed, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) identifies the I-95 Fort McHenry Tunnel and the I-895 Baltimore Harbor Tunnel as alternate routes. The toll depends on your vehicle class and payment method; your best route also depends on your start and end points, current traffic and any vehicle restrictions.
Which crossings are the alternatives?
MDTA names the I-95 Fort McHenry Tunnel and I-895 Baltimore Harbor Tunnel as alternate Harbor crossings during the Key Bridge closure. Its facility page says, “Harbor Crossings alternate routes will be I-95 or I-895 tunnels.” See MDTA’s Key Bridge information for current closure and travel updates.
Use current traffic information and your actual origin and destination to choose between them. Neither tunnel is established as the fastest or cheapest choice for every trip. Follow posted signs and alerts, particularly while reconstruction and traffic channelization are underway.
What toll should a two-axle vehicle expect?
MDTA’s toll schedule for the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, Fort McHenry Tunnel and Francis Scott Key Bridge lists these rates for two-axle vehicles. The schedule is labeled effective April 29, 2021, so treat these as the rates shown in that schedule—not confirmation of today’s price. Check MDTA’s toll-rate information before departure.
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- SunPass PRO is a portable transponder that works in Florida plus 21 other states, including everywhere E-ZPass is accepted. SunPass PRO offers drivers the convenience of paying tolls automatically allowing nonstop travel with just one toll account.
- SunPass PRO works on all toll roads and most bridges in Florida plus, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, parts of Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
- Benefit from reduced toll rates and reloadable convenience, empowering you to manage expenses efficiently while enjoying the convenience of SunPass Pro on your travels.
- With a straightforward windshield attachment, SunPass Pro is effortlessly installed without tools or complex setups, getting you on the road swiftly.
- Stay in control of your toll expenses with easy access to transaction monitoring, balance checks, and account management via the SunPass mobile app or online portal, ensuring peace of mind on every trip.
| Payment method | Two-axle rate shown in MDTA schedule |
|---|---|
| Maryland E-ZPass | $3 |
| Out-of-state E-ZPass | $4 |
| Pay-By-Plate | $4 |
| Video tolling | $6 |
The listed rates vary by vehicle class as well as payment method. Do not apply the two-axle prices to a truck, bus, vehicle with a trailer or another class without checking the current MDTA schedule. The schedule states that video toll rates are 1.5 times the base rate, with a $1 minimum and a maximum of $15 above the base toll.
How toll collection works at the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
The Baltimore Harbor Tunnel is moving to all-electronic toll collection. MDTA lists E-ZPass, Pay-By-Plate and video tolling as payment methods and says its electronic tolling system collects tolls at highway speed: “With AET, there’s no slowing or stopping to pay tolls.” Details of construction and traffic channelization can change; consult the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel AET project page and follow lane signs on approach.
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- SunPass PRO is a portable transponder that works in Florida plus 23 other states, including everywhere E-ZPass is accepted. SunPass PRO offers drivers the convenience of paying tolls automatically allowing nonstop travel with just one toll account.
- SunPass PRO works on all toll roads and most bridges in Florida plus, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, parts of Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
- Benefit from reduced toll rates and reloadable convenience, empowering you to manage expenses efficiently while enjoying the convenience of SunPass Pro on your travels.
- With a straightforward windshield attachment, SunPass Pro is effortlessly installed without tools or complex setups, getting you on the road swiftly.
- Stay in control of your toll expenses with easy access to transaction monitoring, balance checks, and account management via the SunPass mobile app or online portal, ensuring peace of mind on every trip.
MDTA describes plans for tolling gantries on I-895 and the Childs Street ramps, with removal of the previous toll plaza after the replacement Key Bridge is complete. That is part of a construction project, not a guarantee that every stage or lane arrangement is already in place.
Check vehicle restrictions before choosing a tunnel
Both Harbor tunnels have restrictions on certain hazardous materials. MDTA examples include bulk gasoline, explosives, radioactive material and bottled propane above specified container thresholds. The rules and exceptions depend on the cargo, so carriers transporting regulated materials should verify the current facility requirements and use an approved route before setting out.
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- [E-ZPASS NETWORK] Works everywhere the E-ZPass(SM) is accepted (see map image for details)
- [CLASS 2 VEHICLES] For Class 2 (2 axle vehicles). If you need a different class, please visit the indianatollroad website
- [ACTIVATION] Must activate on indianatollroad website once received, includes $8 prepaid funds
- [MOUNTING & ACTIVATION] Mounting and activation directions included
- [WINDSHIELD RESTRICTIONS] Certain vehicles may require a bumper transponder due to a heated/infrared windshield, etc. Please see our alternative mounting vehicle list in images to determine whether your vehicle will require a bumper transponder, please visit the indianatollroad website to purchase bumper transponder.
MDTA’s Key Bridge information and toll-facility information provide route and facility guidance. Do not assume that a route suitable for an ordinary passenger vehicle is permitted for a vehicle carrying regulated cargo.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What older traffic data can—and cannot—tell you
MDTA’s Baltimore Harbor Traffic Management Study, completed in 2009, examined I-95, I-895 and I-695. It described I-895 as an alternative to I-95 and reported that I-895 and I-695 were more often used for local than through trips in the conditions observed at that time. That historical finding is not a current traffic forecast or a basis for predicting which crossing will be quicker today. See the 2009 Baltimore Harbor Traffic Management Study for its context.
Quick Recap
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- E-PASS ACCOUNT & ACTIVATION REQUIRED: E-PASS toll account is required to activate the Uni toll pass. If you do not have an E-PASS account, you will be prompted to create one during the activation process. The Uni toll pass cannot be added to a SunPass or E-ZPass toll account. E-PASS is managed by the Central Florida Expressway Authority. Activation may take up to 24 hours. Detailed instructions are on the packaging.
- TOLL ROAD ACCESS IN 19 STATES: Accepted on all Florida toll roads and express lanes, including “SunPass Only” and I-4 Express lanes, plus toll roads in: Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Minnesota. Accepted for parking at Orlando International Airport (including the Brightline station) and Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal 3.
- SAVE ON FLORIDA TOLL ROADS: Enjoy lower toll rates than Pay By Plate rates in Central Florida, plus additional savings with exclusive E-PASS Volume Toll Discounts on Central Florida Expressway Authority roads. No monthly or annual account fees.
- PORTABLE: Attaches to the interior windshield behind the rearview mirror with suction cups for easy transfer between 2-axle vehicles, including rental cars. If you transfer the Uni between vehicles, make sure you update your E-PASS account with the new vehicle’s license plate. For motorcycles, place the transponder in a saddlebag or storage compartment. Not for trailers or multi-axle vehicles.
- RENTAL CAR USE: A Uni toll pass can be used with rental cars of the same class — 2-axle vehicles. Make sure to add the rental vehicle's license plate to your E-PASS account. It may take up to 24 hours to link; during this time, tolls may be processed as an invoice. Make sure to remove the plate from your account after returning the vehicle to avoid charges from subsequent renters.
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