WASHINGTON — On top of the daily traffic congestion and crashes, there are a dizzying array of reversible, restricted and controlled-access highways across the D.C. area.
Below you’ll find the rules of the road and turn-around times for the high-occupancy highways and reversible parkways across the region.
Reversible Roads
Rock Creek Parkway
6:30 a.m. — Closed to northbound traffic
7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. — All lanes southbound
3:45 p.m. — Closed to southbound traffic
4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. — All lanes northbound
Weekdays except observed federal holidays
Clara Barton Parkway between Chain Bridge and Glen Echo
6 a.m. — Closed to outbound traffic
6:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. — All lanes are inbound
10:15 a.m. — Two-way traffic resumes
2:45 p.m. — Closed to inbound traffic
3 p.m. to 7 p.m. — All lanes are outbound
7:15 p.m. — Two-way traffic resumes
Weekdays except some observed federal holidays
Canal Road between Foxhall Road and Arizona Avenue
6 a.m. — Closed to outbound traffic
6:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. — All lanes are inbound
10:15 a.m. — Two-way traffic resumes
2:45 p.m. — Closed to inbound traffic
3 p.m. to 7 p.m. — All lanes are outbound
7:15 p.m. — Two-way traffic resumes
Weekdays except federal holidays
Chain Bridge and Canal Road between Chain Bridge and Arizona Avenue
6:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. — Two lanes inbound, one lane outbound
2:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. — Two lanes outbound, one lane inbound
Weekdays except holidays
95/395 Express Lanes weekdays
2:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. — Open northbound
1 p.m. to 12 a.m. — Open southbound
95/395 Express Lanes Saturdays
12 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Open southbound
4 p.m. to 12 a.m. — Open northbound
95/395 Express Lanes Sundays
Northbound all day long
The express lanes along Interstate 95 and Interstate 395 are closed for about two hours during reversals. The reversal times during summer months and getaway weekends varies.
HOV Hours
I-66 HOT-2 (all lanes inside the Beltway)
5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (eastbound)
3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (westbound)
Dulles Toll Road HOV-2 (left lane)
6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. (eastbound)
4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (westbound)
I-270 HOV-2 (left lane in Montgomery County)
6 a.m. to 9 a.m. (southbound)
3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (northbound)
U.S. Route 50 HOV-2 (left lane in Prince George’s County)
In effect at all times
Express Lanes explained
In the Washington area, not all express lanes are created equal. The term “express lanes” is a catchall for a set of limited-access lanes on a highway.
In Virginia, the term “express lanes” can refer to High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes and High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. In both cases, these lanes are geared toward carpools, van pools, buses and motorcycles — modes capable of moving more people in less time.
HOV lanes are roadways that are restricted to carpools with two or more people. Solo drivers are not allowed in the lanes during rush hours. HOT facilities are a form of toll road, for which the cost to use the lanes changes based on demand and the distance traveled. The price increases during busier times of the day to manage the amount of traffic in the lanes, a measure designed to keep traffic moving without delay.
In a region inhabited by more than 6 million people, not to mention countless daily visitors passing through, every modicum of throughput helps.
The all-electronic express lanes on Interstate 95 in Virginia extend from northern Stafford County to just north of the Capital Beltway in Springfield. The express lanes extend along I-395 as well. The express lanes on the Beltway extend from the Springfield Interchange to just north of the Dulles Toll Road in McLean. On I-95 and the Beltway, the express lanes are sandwiched between the northbound and southbound mainline highways.
Drivers who use these HOT lanes must have an E-ZPass or E-ZPass Flex properly mounted on their windshield. The lanes comprise an all-electronic toll road for solo drivers and carpools alike. With an E-ZPass Flex device, carpools with three or more people can use the lanes for free. Motorcycle drivers are also allowed to use the lanes for free. Otherwise, tolls are in effect 24/7. Vehicles with more than two axles are prohibited.
WTOP Traffic sometimes refers to these lanes are “E-ZPass Lanes” to better convey the requirement for drivers to have an E-ZPass transponder to use the lanes.
The cost to drive in the lanes is based on the amount of traffic in the lanes at that moment in time. This is known as “congestion pricing” and is a tactic operators of the lanes use to moderate the amount of traffic to provide a reliable trip. The prices are displayed on electronic signs near the entrance and exit ramps. Similar toll roads exist in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Seattle, Houston and Denver.
The HOV lanes on I-95 in Virginia were converted to HOT lanes and opened to traffic under a new set of rules in late 2014. The lanes are reversible, open to northbound traffic during the morning rush hour and open to southbound traffic for the afternoon rush hour. On Saturdays, the lanes are open to southbound traffic through early afternoon and to northbound traffic from Saturday afternoon through the rest of the weekend. The lanes are closed for about one to two hours during each reversal so that traffic can safely exit and so crews can clear hazards such as broken-down vehicles.
The I-395 HOV lanes were opened as HOT express lanes on November 17, 2019. The rules are now consistent along the entire length of the reversible corridor on I-95 and I-395 from Stafford County to the Pentagon.
North of the Pentagon road network, the reversible express lanes fan into a bi-directional set of lanes that run across the Potomac River at the 14th Street Bridge. On this portion of the lanes, inbound drivers are tolled but outbound drivers are not. Outbound or southbound drivers from the Southwest Freeway and 14th Street SW are not tolled until they pass Crystal City, Virginia.
More on the 395 Express Lanes can be found here.
HOV-3 rules were formally in effect on I-395 from 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ramp to and from Seminary Road remains HOV-3 at all times.
The current carpool rules on Interstate 66 are much different than any other highway in the region, and rush hour commuters must follow two sets of rules when traveling inside and outside the Beltway. There are no restrictions for drivers traveling during off-peak hours or on weekends.
On I-66 inside the Beltway, tolls are in effect for eastbound drivers for four hours in the morning and for westbound drivers for four hours in the afternoon. Tolls are in effect for eastbound drivers from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and for westbound drivers from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. All traffic traveling on I-66 inside the Beltway during those times must have an E-ZPass.
Drivers with one or more passengers (HOV-2 vehicles) can travel for free if their vehicles are equipped with an E-ZPass Flex switched to HOV mode.
Tolls are collected electronically.
Outside the Beltway, the interstate’s left lane between Vienna and Manassas is an HOV-2 only lane. HOV-2 rules are in effect during the same times; eastbound from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and westbound from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The ramps at Monument Drive and Stringfellow Road in Fairfax County are only open to HOV-2 traffic during these times.
The left lane of the Dulles Toll Road is also an HOV-2 lane during rush hours — eastbound from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and westbound from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
In Maryland on I-270, the main lanes are labeled as “express lanes” on the overhead signs. The WTOP Traffic Center refers to these lanes as the main lanes to avoid confusion, since the term “express lanes” denotes a toll road just a short distance away in Virginia. There are no tolls or tolled lanes on I-270.
Two highways in Maryland offer HOV-2 lanes. On Interstate 270 in Montgomery County, the left lanes are HOV during rush hours. Southbound vehicles with two or more occupants may use the HOV lane from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Northbound carpools can use the left HOV lane from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
On U.S. Route 50 between Bowie and the Beltway, the left lanes are full-time HOV-2 lanes. The Maryland Department of Transportation says the decision to enforce the restrictions 24/7 was based on safety concerns and engineering judgment and was made to prevent driver confusion.
HOV and HOT express lanes are capable of moving more people with fewer vehicles, something transportation planners rely on to manage traffic congestion. The incentive for commuters who plan ahead is a speedy, reliable trip.
Reversible Parkways
The Rock Creek Parkway and eastern half of the Clara Barton Parkway between Glen Echo and Chain Bridge are only open to inbound traffic during the weekday morning rush hour and to outbound traffic during the afternoon rush hour. The reversal times are listed above. The changes, including barricade placement and road sign adjustments, are conducted by U.S. Park Police officers.
In Rock Creek Park, northern portions of Beach Drive are closed to vehicular traffic for use by pedestrians, cyclists and authorized vehicles only.
The closures are implemented between Broad Branch Road and Military Road, from the picnic Grove 10 to Wise Road and from West Beach Drive to the Maryland line. The more heavily traveled southern portion of Beach Drive between Rock Creek Parkway and Broad Branch Road is kept open at all times.
Some eastbound and westbound traffic is allowed to cross Beach Drive at certain locations during the closures and some grove parking lots remain open.
Toll Roads and Rates
There are toll facilities on eight roads within the Washington metropolitan area and the rules on each route vary. All tolls in the D.C. area can be paid with a funded, properly mounted E-ZPass. E-ZPasses can be purchased online, at AAA Mid-Atlantic locations, select grocery stores, Virginia DMV locations and Maryland Stop-In Centers.
The following rates are for two-axle vehicles. The price for trucks with three or more axles is significantly higher at all tolling locations.
Dulles Toll Road
Tolls on the Dulles Toll Road are collected at the main toll plaza just west of the Beltway and on most of the westbound off-ramps and eastbound on-ramps. It costs most drivers $3.25 to pass through the main toll plaza and $1.50 at the ramp toll booths. Tolls are higher for drivers of big trucks.
There is no toll to exit or enter the toll road from Wolf Trap National Park, and traffic headed toward or away from Dulles International Airport is not tolled. Drivers en route to the airport should enter the Dulles Airport Access Highway, which runs between the eastbound and westbound lanes of the Dulles Toll Road, as soon as possible to avoid all tolls.
The best way to pay is with an E-ZPass, since it is accepted at all toll booths. Credit or debit cards are not accepted anywhere on the Dulles Toll Road. Drivers paying with cash should look for toll booths labeled “full service.” These booths are located on the right side of the main toll plaza and on the left side of most ramp toll plazas. Toll booths on the ramps are unstaffed from 9:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. every night and during these times an E-ZPass or exact change is required.
Coins are accepted on the DTR, but in recent years the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has reduced the number of “exact change” toll lanes available at the main toll plaza and some exit ramps. A trip on the Dulles Toll Road requires many more quarters today than it did 20 years ago!
The tolling is operated by the Metropolitan Airports Authority.
Dulles Greenway
The Dulles Greenway is a privately-owned toll facility separate from, but connected to, the Dulles Toll Road.
A trip along the entire Greenway from the Dulles Toll Road to Leesburg ranges from about $5 to $6 depending on the time of day.
The off-peak cost to drive the entire length of the westbound lanes Dulles Greenway between the Dulles Toll Road and the Leesburg Bypass is $5.40. A partial westbound trip between exits is $4.40 during off-peak hours. The eastbound cost ranges from $2.80 to $5.40 and is dependent on both the destination and method of payment; E-ZPass users pay about 50 cents less than those paying with cash or credit.
Drivers pay an extra 95 cents during rush hours — that’s between 6:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The short segment from Route 15 to Battlefield Parkway is free at all hours of the day.
Tolls for trucks are significantly higher than those for smaller passenger vehicles. The price increases for each additional axle. The maximum toll for the largest trucks traveling during rush hour is $22.25.
95 and 495 Express Lanes
Tolls for the express lanes on I-95 and I-495 are collected electronically. Drivers who opt for these lanes are required to have a properly mounted E-ZPass in the vehicle, since there are no toll booths.
The tolls are variable and fluctuate as traffic volume in the express lanes rises and falls. When traffic is light, the cost to drive in the express lanes can get down to 20 cents per mile. During rush hours or when traffic is otherwise heavy, it can exceed 80 cents per mile. The prices to travel specific segments of the express lanes are displayed on signs above the lanes and near the entry points.
The facilities are operated by Transurban through a public-private partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation. Click here for and trip planner and real time toll rates.
I-66 Express Lanes
On I-66 inside the Beltway, tolls are in effect for all eastbound drivers for four hours in the morning and for all westbound drivers for four hours in the afternoon. Tolls are in effect for eastbound drivers from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and for westbound drivers from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Drivers on I-66 inside the Beltway during tolled hours must have an E-ZPass.
Drivers with one or more passengers (HOV-2 vehicles) can travel for free provided their vehicles are equipped with an E-ZPass Flex switched to HOV mode.
Tolls are not collected on federal holidays.
Tolls are variable, rising and falling based on demand, and collected electronically. The cost to drive during rush hour varies depending on distance traveled and the time of day. Motorcycles travel toll-free.
The tolling is operated by VDOT. Click here for real time toll rates.
Intercounty Connector
Maryland Route 200, the Intercounty Connector, is an all-electronic toll road that courses through upper Montgomery County between I-95 in Laurel and I-270 in Gaithersburg. The Maryland Transportation Authority, operator of the highway, urges drivers to have an E-ZPass before committing to the road. Drivers without E-ZPasses are legally allowed to travel the road but should expect to receive a bill in the mail for 150 percent of the base toll.
Unlike the Virginia Express Lanes, tolls on the ICC are not based on real-time traffic flow but are based on average demand and distance traveled. Tolls are highest during rush hours and lowest during the overnight hours. Drivers of two-axle vehicles and motorcycles can expect to pay up to $3.86 during rush hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. During off-peak daytime hours, the cost to drive the entire stretch drops to $2.98. It costs nighttime drivers up to $1.23 to travel the length of the highway between 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Traveling between exits is cheaper.
Click here for more information on ICC tolls.
Bay Bridge and Nice/Middleton Bridge
Eastbound drivers on Route 50 in Anne Arundel County are expected to pay tolls before crossing the Bay Bridge. The is no westbound toll.
Tolls are collected electronically. The base E-ZPass toll is $4 but Maryland E-ZPass users are only charged $2.50. Maryland also offers daily commuters a discount plan, good for 25 trips within 45 days for a cost of $35.
The base video toll is $6, with higher tolls for big trucks.
At the Route 301 Nice-Middleton Bridge, tolls are only collected for traffic leaving Maryland in the southbound direction.
A $6 toll is collected for two axle vehicles but Maryland E-ZPass users are only charged $4.50. Daily Maryland commuters can pay $52.50 for 25 trips within 45 days.
The base video toll is $9, with higher tolls for big trucks.
Both facilities, along with the ICC, are operated by the Maryland Transportation Authority. Click here for more information on specific toll rates at the Bay Bridge.
Editor’s Note: This tutorial was updated on February 4, 2022, to reflect the discontinuation of HOV-3 restrictions on I-395, the long term closure of Beach Drive and all-electronic tolling in Maryland.
