Garden State Drivers Pay Second-Highest Toll Costs Per Mile in Nation

Motorists in New Jersey paid $26.92 per 1,000 miles in tolls during 2023. That ranks second in the country. It’s three times what drivers pay on average nationwide — $8.57. Delaware topped the list at $41.12 per 1,000 miles, while New York came in third at $22.10.

The Toll Burden Index study came from Missouri law firm Beck & Beck. They examined 2023 Federal Highway Administration data. The information covered highway revenue and how many miles vehicles traveled. Beck & Beck divided each state’s toll revenue by total vehicle-miles to figure out cost per mile driven. Twenty-seven states across the country collect tolls.

The Garden State brought in $2.1 billion in total toll revenue during 2023, ranking third behind New York at $2.65 billion and Florida at $2.40 billion. Heavy toll infrastructure on the Turnpike, Parkway, and Atlantic City Expressway pushes revenue density far above most states.

Every state bordering New Jersey also has a top-five toll burden. Pennsylvania ranks fourth at $18.68 per 1,000 miles. Connecticut, just across Long Island Sound, collects zero toll revenue.

“For most firms operating in the Northeast, companies already take into account the cost of tolls for doing business alongside the higher taxes, wages, and real estate costs,” said Danielle Zanzalari, assistant professor of economics at the Stillman School of Business, Seton Hall University, according to ROI-NJ.

Zanzalari pointed out that industries depending on transportation — like logistics or distribution — face higher overall costs from tolls. This can affect routing or where companies set up shop. Commuters bear these ongoing expenses. It can influence commuting decisions, job choice, and where people choose to live.

What makes the ranking worth noting is New Jersey’s high per-mile burden despite having moderate vehicle-miles traveled at 78,007 million. Florida collects $295 million more in total tolls. But its 239,188 million VMT pushes its per-mile cost down to just $10.02, ranked 10th.

At the start of 2026, drivers faced a toll increase of 3% on the Garden State Parkway and the Turnpike. E-Z Pass costs went up. A scheduled gas tax rate hike of 4.2 cents per gallon also hit. The 27 states that collected tolls combined for $16.35 billion in revenue during 2023.

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