GWB Toll on Holidays
No holiday discount exists. Holidays follow the standard peak schedule: weekdays 6-10 AM & 4-8 PM, weekends 11 AM-9 PM.
Tariff effective 4 January 2026 | Verified 10 June 2026 | Source: Port Authority of NY and NJ
Holiday Toll Schedule
| Holiday | Date | Toll Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| New Year Day | 1 January | Schedule of the day it falls on |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Third Monday in January | Standard weekday (peak 6-10 AM, 4-8 PM) |
| Presidents Day | Third Monday in February | Standard weekday (peak 6-10 AM, 4-8 PM) |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday in May | Standard weekday (peak 6-10 AM, 4-8 PM) |
| Juneteenth | 19 June | Schedule of the day it falls on |
| Independence Day | 4 July | Schedule of the day it falls on |
| Labor Day | First Monday in September | Standard weekday (peak 6-10 AM, 4-8 PM) |
| Columbus Day | Second Monday in October | Standard weekday (peak 6-10 AM, 4-8 PM) |
| Veterans Day | 11 November | Schedule of the day it falls on |
| Thanksgiving Day | Fourth Thursday in November | Standard weekday (peak 6-10 AM, 4-8 PM) |
| Day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) | Friday after Thanksgiving | Standard weekday (peak 6-10 AM, 4-8 PM) |
| Christmas Eve | 24 December | Schedule of the day it falls on |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | Schedule of the day it falls on |
| New Year Eve | 31 December | Schedule of the day it falls on |
"Schedule of the day it falls on" means the weekday windows (peak 6-10 AM, 4-8 PM) if the date lands Monday-Friday, or the weekend window (peak 11 AM-9 PM) if it lands Saturday or Sunday.
There Is No Holiday Toll Discount
The Port Authority's published toll schedule defines exactly two kinds of peak window: weekdays 6:00-10:00 AM and 4:00-8:00 PM, and Saturdays and Sundays 11:00 AM-9:00 PM. Everything else is off-peak. There is no list of holidays with special treatment, and no all-day off-peak holiday rate. Sites and forums sometimes claim major federal holidays are billed off-peak all day; the PANYNJ tariff contains no such provision.
In practice, that means a Memorial Day Monday 8:00 AM crossing is peak ($16.79 for an E-ZPass car), exactly like any other Monday morning. The same applies to Labor Day, MLK Day, Presidents Day, Thanksgiving Day, and any other holiday that falls Monday through Friday.
How to Pay Less on a Holiday
The off-peak windows are the same as on any other day, so plan around them:
- Weekday holidays: cross 10:00 AM-4:00 PM, after 8:00 PM, or before 6:00 AM for the $14.79 E-ZPass rate
- Holiday-weekend Saturdays and Sundays: cross before 11:00 AM or after 9:00 PM
- Without E-ZPass: timing does not matter; Toll-by-Mail is a flat $23.30 for cars
Holiday Traffic Is the Real Cost
What does change on holidays is congestion. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the Friday before Memorial Day weekend, and the evening returns on holiday Mondays are among the heaviest traffic days of the year at the GWB. The toll stays the same; your time does not. If your plans are flexible, the early-morning off-peak windows give you both the lower rate and the lighter traffic.
Toll-by-Mail Is Unchanged on Holidays
The Toll-by-Mail rate of $23.30 for cars does not change for holidays, weekends, or time of day. Non-E-ZPass drivers pay the same flat rate every day of the year. Time-of-day savings are exclusive to E-ZPass holders, which is another reason to get a NY or NJ E-ZPass tag.
Related Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GWB toll cheaper on federal holidays?
No. The Port Authority does not publish any holiday exceptions to its toll schedule. Every day follows the standard windows: weekdays have peak hours 6:00-10:00 AM and 4:00-8:00 PM, and Saturdays and Sundays have peak hours 11:00 AM-9:00 PM. A holiday Monday such as Memorial Day is billed as a normal Monday. E-ZPass cars pay $16.79 in peak windows and $14.79 off-peak; Toll-by-Mail is $23.30 at all times. Tariff effective 4 January 2026.
Does Memorial Day or Labor Day have off-peak tolls all day?
No. Both fall on Mondays and follow the standard weekday schedule: peak 6:00-10:00 AM and 4:00-8:00 PM. A Memorial Day 8:00 AM eastbound crossing with E-ZPass costs the peak rate of $16.79 for a passenger car. The midday window (10 AM-4 PM) is off-peak at $14.79, the same as any other Monday.
Is Black Friday off-peak on the GWB?
No. Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) is a standard weekday for toll purposes, with peak hours 6:00-10:00 AM and 4:00-8:00 PM. The midday shopping window of 10 AM-4 PM is off-peak at $14.79 for E-ZPass cars, the same as any Friday.
When is the cheapest time to cross on a holiday weekend?
With E-ZPass, the off-peak rate of $14.79 applies outside the standard peak windows. On the Saturday or Sunday of a holiday weekend, that means before 11:00 AM or after 9:00 PM. On the holiday Monday itself, it means 10:00 AM-4:00 PM, after 8:00 PM, or before 6:00 AM. Toll-by-Mail drivers pay $23.30 whenever they cross.
Do holiday traffic volumes change the toll?
No. The toll is set by the clock, not by congestion. Holiday getaway traffic (the Friday before a long weekend, the holiday Monday evening return) can be among the heaviest of the year, but the rate you pay depends only on the time you cross and your payment method.