GWB vs Mario Cuomo (Tappan Zee) Bridge Toll
Mario Cuomo is much cheaper: $5.75 NY E-ZPass vs $16.79 GWB E-ZPass peak. But 25 miles north of the GWB.
Tariff effective 4 January 2026 | Verified 21 May 2026 | Source: Port Authority of NY and NJ, NY State Thruway Authority
| Feature | GWB | Mario Cuomo Bridge |
|---|---|---|
| Car NY E-ZPass | $16.79 peak / $14.79 off-peak | $5.75 |
| Car out-of-state E-ZPass | $16.79 peak / $14.79 off-peak | $7.00 |
| Car cashless / Tolls-by-Mail | $23.30 | $9.00 (NYSTA Tolls by Mail) |
| Operating agency | Port Authority of NY and NJ | NY State Thruway Authority |
| Direction tolled | Eastbound only | Eastbound only |
| Location | Fort Lee NJ to Manhattan NY | Tarrytown NY to Nyack NY |
| Total length | 4,760 ft (suspension) | 16,013 ft (cable-stayed twin spans) |
| Year opened | 1931 (replaced span 2018) | 2018 (replaced 1955 Tappan Zee) |
$11 Cheaper, But 50 Miles Out of the Way
The Mario Cuomo Bridge (formerly the Tappan Zee Bridge) costs $11.04 less per crossing for NY E-ZPass holders ($5.75 vs $16.79 GWB peak). For a daily commuter, that is $5,740 in annual savings on 520 crossings per year. But that math only works if your origin and destination naturally fit the Mario Cuomo route.
The Mario Cuomo crosses the Hudson between Tarrytown (Westchester County) and South Nyack (Rockland County). It is 25 miles north of the GWB. For drivers between northern New Jersey and Manhattan, taking the Mario Cuomo means driving 25 miles north on the Palisades Parkway, then crossing the bridge, then driving 25 miles south on I-87 to reach upper Manhattan, then potentially another 5 to 15 miles south to actual destinations. The detour adds 50+ miles and 60+ minutes each way.
When the Mario Cuomo Makes Sense
The Mario Cuomo Bridge is the right choice when both origin and destination are along the I-87/I-287 corridor:
- Northern New Jersey to Westchester County (White Plains, Yonkers, Tarrytown)
- Rockland County to anywhere in Westchester or upstate NY
- Bergen County to Connecticut (Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk)
- Northern New Jersey to upstate NY via the Thruway (Albany, Saratoga)
For these routes, the Mario Cuomo is geographically natural and saves $11 vs detouring south to the GWB and back north.
When the GWB Makes Sense
The GWB is the right choice for:
- Northern New Jersey to Manhattan (any neighbourhood)
- Northern New Jersey to the Bronx
- Northern New Jersey to Queens or Brooklyn (via Manhattan)
- Through-traffic on I-95 between northern New England and the mid-Atlantic
For these routes, the GWB is geographically necessary or significantly faster. The toll savings of the Mario Cuomo do not compensate for the detour distance and time.
Mario Cuomo Tolls by Agency
The Mario Cuomo Bridge is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA), not the Port Authority. Toll rates and billing systems are different:
- NY E-ZPass: $5.75 per car
- Out-of-state E-ZPass (PA, MA, NJ, etc.): $7.00 per car
- No E-ZPass (NYSTA Tolls by Mail): $9.00 per car
The cashless tolling system at the Mario Cuomo Bridge captures license plates for non-E-ZPass vehicles and bills the registered owner. The fee structure is different from PANYNJ Toll-by-Mail at the GWB.
Bridge Engineering Differences
The Mario Cuomo Bridge is a modern cable-stayed twin-span bridge that opened in 2018, replacing the 1955 Tappan Zee Bridge. It spans 3.1 miles (16,013 ft) across the widest part of the Hudson River. The GWB is a 1931 suspension bridge spanning 4,760 ft at a narrower point. The GWB carries roughly twice the daily vehicle volume of the Mario Cuomo.
Related Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Mario Cuomo Bridge cheaper than the GWB?
Yes, significantly. The Mario Cuomo Bridge (formerly Tappan Zee Bridge) charges $5.75 with NY E-ZPass for passenger cars eastbound. The GWB charges $16.79 with E-ZPass during peak hours. The Mario Cuomo is roughly $11 cheaper per crossing for NY E-ZPass holders. Tariff effective 4 January 2026; Mario Cuomo rate per NY State Thruway Authority.
Why is the Tappan Zee/Mario Cuomo Bridge so much cheaper than the GWB?
The two bridges have different operating agencies. The GWB is operated by the Port Authority of NY and NJ, which prices Hudson crossings as a system to fund Port Authority operations including PATH train, airports, and bus terminals. The Mario Cuomo (Tappan Zee) is operated by the NY State Thruway Authority and prices its tolls to fund Thruway operations only. Different agencies, different cost structures.
Should I take the Mario Cuomo Bridge instead of the GWB to save money?
Only if your route makes sense for it. The Mario Cuomo Bridge is 25 miles north of the GWB, between Tarrytown (Westchester) and Nyack (Rockland County). If you are travelling between northern New Jersey and Westchester/upstate NY, the Mario Cuomo can save $11 per crossing plus avoid Manhattan traffic. If you are going to Manhattan, the Mario Cuomo route adds 50+ miles of driving each way, costing more in fuel and time than the toll difference.
Does the Mario Cuomo Bridge use E-ZPass?
Yes. The Mario Cuomo Bridge is fully cashless and accepts E-ZPass at all toll gantries. NY E-ZPass holders pay $5.75 for cars. Out-of-state E-ZPass holders pay $7.00. Vehicles without E-ZPass are billed via Tolls by Mail through the NYSTA system at $9.00 for cars (this is the standard NYSTA Tolls by Mail rate, distinct from PANYNJ Toll-by-Mail).
Which has worse traffic: GWB or Mario Cuomo?
Both can have significant peak-hour congestion. The GWB sees more total volume (around 280,000 vehicles per day) but has 14 lanes to handle it. The Mario Cuomo sees about 130,000 vehicles per day across 8 traffic lanes plus shared-use paths. Per lane, the Mario Cuomo tends to flow more smoothly because there is less commuter volume on the I-87/I-287 corridor than on I-95 through Manhattan.