The Delaware Memorial Bridge is a massive, twin-span beast that connects Delaware and New Jersey. If you’ve ever driven from Philly to the Jersey Shore or headed down I-95 toward D.C., you’ve likely crossed it. But honestly, the toll situation has become a bit of a headache lately.
Most people just roll through the gates and assume the price is the price. They’re wrong. Depending on what’s stuck to your windshield—or if nothing is stuck there at all—you could be paying significantly more than the person in the lane next to you.
As of early 2026, the cost of crossing has settled into a tiered system that punishes the unprepared. If you're still digging for crumpled fives and singles in your cup holder, you’re in the highest-priced bracket. It’s a deliberate move by the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) to get everyone onto E-ZPass before they eventually pull the plug on cash entirely.
What You’ll Actually Pay Right Now
Let’s get the numbers out of the way. For a standard two-axle passenger car, SUV, or pickup truck, the Delaware Memorial Bridge toll is currently $6.00 if you pay with cash.
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That feels steep for a one-way trip, right? It’s because it’s a "phase one" pricing strategy. The DRBA bumped the cash rate up to six bucks back in April 2025 to "encourage" drivers to switch to electronic tags.
Here is how the breakdown looks for most of us:
- Cash/Pay-by-Mail: $6.00
- Generic E-ZPass (from other states like MD or NY): $5.00
- Delaware or New Jersey E-ZPass: $4.75
It’s a weird quirk of the system. If you have an E-ZPass from Maryland, you pay more than someone with a New Jersey tag, even though it’s the exact same piece of plastic technology. If you’re a regular, those quarters add up.
One thing to keep in mind: you only pay when you're headed Westbound (from New Jersey into Delaware). If you’re driving from Delaware into New Jersey, the ride is technically free. Well, "free" in the sense that they already got your money on the way in or they'll get it on the way back.
The Commuter Discounts Nobody Mentions
If you live in New Castle or Pennsville and cross this bridge for work, paying $4.75 or $6.00 every day is a total scam. There are two specific discount plans that can drop your per-trip cost to basically the price of a cheap coffee.
First, there’s the Commuter Plan. You pay $27.50 upfront for 22 trips. That averages out to **$1.25 per trip**. The catch? You have to use all 22 trips within 30 days. If you don’t, the money is gone. It’s perfect for the 9-to-5 crowd, but a waste of money for casual travelers.
Then there’s the Frequent Traveler Plan. This one is more flexible. It’s $45.00 for 20 trips, and you have 90 days to use them. That brings the cost to **$2.25 per trip**.
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You can’t just show up and ask for these rates at the booth. You have to go into your E-ZPass account settings—specifically a NJ or DE account—and manually add these plans to your transponder. If you don't do that, the system will just keep charging you the full $4.75.
Trucks and Trailers: The Axle Tax
If you’re towing a boat or driving a massive RV, things get pricey fast. The toll isn't based on weight; it’s based on axles.
A car with a one-axle trailer (3 axles total) is $7.50 with E-ZPass or $9.00 with cash. If you have a fifth-wheel or a large boat trailer, you’re looking at $12.00 or more.
For the big rigs—the 5-axle tractor-trailers that keep the East Coast running—the toll is a whopping $35.00 for E-ZPass holders and $40.00 for cash. It’s a major expense for logistics companies, which is why you’ll often see trucks taking the long way around to avoid the bridge if they aren't on a tight schedule.
Is Cash Dead Yet?
Not quite, but it’s on life support. Unlike some of the other bridges further north on the Delaware River—like the ones run by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) which went fully cashless in 2025—the Delaware Memorial Bridge still has staffed booths.
But don't get used to it. The DRBA has been vocal about moving toward All-Electronic Tolling (AET).
They’ve already spent millions on the infrastructure. The goal is to eventually stop the "stop-and-go" traffic at the plaza entirely. When that happens, if you don't have a tag, they’ll just snap a photo of your license plate and send a bill to your house.
Heads up: "Toll-by-Plate" or "Pay-by-Mail" usually comes with an administrative fee. It’s never the cheapest option. Honestly, just get the tag. Even the "Basic" E-ZPass saves you a dollar every time you cross compared to the cash lane.
How to Avoid the Toll (Legally)
If you absolutely hate paying tolls, you have options, but they aren't great.
You could head north and take the Commodore Barry Bridge or the Walt Whitman. However, those are also $6.00. The entire Philadelphia/South Jersey bridge system has basically synchronized their pricing to ensure there’s no "cheap" way across the water.
The only real "free" way across the Delaware River involves driving way up past Trenton to find one of the smaller, non-toll bridges, but by the time you pay for the extra gas and lose an hour of your life in traffic, you’ve spent way more than $6.00.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Trip
- Check your E-ZPass state: If you have an out-of-state tag, you are paying a $0.25 premium per crossing. It’s small, but if you’ve moved to the area, switch your account to a DE or NJ one.
- Avoid Peak Hours: While the bridge itself doesn't have "surge pricing" like some express lanes, the traffic at the toll plaza on Friday afternoons (summer) is legendary. If you’re heading to the beach, cross before 2:00 PM or after 8:00 PM.
- Watch the Lanes: If you’re using cash, stay to the right. The E-ZPass express lanes are on the left and they will not stop for you. If you accidentally go through an E-ZPass lane without a tag, do not stop or back up. It’s dangerous. Just keep going; they’ll mail you a bill for the toll plus a small fine, which you can often get waived if it’s your first time.
- Keep your tag mounted: Don't hold it up to the glass. If the overhead sensor misses it, the camera will record your plate. If your plate isn't linked to your account, you'll get a violation notice in the mail for $25.00 or more.
The reality is that the Delaware Memorial Bridge is a vital link, and they know it. The rates aren't likely to go down. Your best bet is to pick a discount plan that fits your driving habits and make sure your transponder is actually working before you hit the plaza.
Maintain a balance in your account to avoid the dreaded "low balance" light at the booth. If you haven't used your tag in a while, log in and make sure your credit card on file hasn't expired. There's nothing worse than getting a $50 violation notice because of a dead Visa card.