GWB Upper vs Lower Level
The toll is the same on both levels. The choice is about vehicle type, height, and traffic, not cost.
Tariff effective 4 January 2026 | Rates verified 2 October 2026 | Source: Port Authority of NY and NJ toll schedule
George Washington Bridge height restrictions
Both decks carry the same published height limit, 13 feet 6 inches: the Port Authority’s Truckers’ Guide lists GWB Upper Level and GWB Lower Level at that figure side by side. What separates them is a vehicle-type rule, not clearance. All trucks and anything towing a trailer must use the upper level; cars, SUVs, minivans and pickups can use either. The toll is the same on both.
| Feature | Upper Level | Lower Level |
|---|---|---|
| Toll (car, E-ZPass peak) | $16.79 | $16.79 |
| Total lanes | 8 (4 each way) | 6 (3 each way) |
| Published height limit | 13 feet 6 inches | 13 feet 6 inches |
| Cars allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Trucks allowed | Yes | No |
| RVs / tall vehicles | Yes, up to 13ft 6in | Only single-rear-wheel, under 13ft 6in |
| With trailer | Yes | Generally no (axle limits) |
| Built | 1931 | 1962 |
| Bicycles / pedestrians | South sidewalk only | Not permitted |
Toll Is the Same on Both Levels
The Port Authority charges the same toll regardless of which level you use. A passenger car with E-ZPass pays $16.79 peak or $14.79 off-peak whether you cross on the upper deck or the lower deck. The toll gantry reads transponders on both levels at the same rate.
This was not always the case for other multi-level bridges, but the GWB has always priced both levels uniformly. If anyone tells you the lower level is cheaper, they are wrong.
Upper Level: Cars, Trucks, Tall Vehicles
The upper level opened with the bridge in 1931. It has 8 lanes (4 eastbound, 4 westbound) and, despite being an open-air deck, a published height limit of 13 feet 6 inches, the same as the lower level. Every vehicle class can use it within that limit: passenger cars, trucks of all sizes, RVs, vehicles with trailers, motorcycles and buses.
Upper-level lanes are wider than lower-level lanes, making the upper level the default choice for large vehicles. The upper level also has a south-side sidewalk that permits pedestrian and bicycle crossings (the lower level has no walkway).
Lower Level: Cars Only, 13ft 6in Limit
The lower level opened in 1962 to handle growing commuter demand. It has 6 lanes (3 each way) and the same published 13 feet 6 inches height limit as the deck above it. What it does not take is trucks of any size or anything towing a trailer, and that prohibition is independent of how tall the vehicle is. Enforcement is by signage and overhead clearance bars at the approach.
For passenger cars, SUVs, minivans, and pickup trucks within the height limit, the lower level is a valid alternative. It often has lighter traffic than the upper level during peak hours because trucks (which slow upper-level flow) are not present.
How to Choose: Upper vs Lower
If you have a truck, RV, tall vehicle, or trailer: upper level is your only option. The toll plaza lane signage will route you there automatically.
If you have a passenger car within the height limit: choose based on current traffic. Real-time traffic apps (Google Maps, Waze, the Port Authority traffic feed) show both levels separately for the GWB. In general:
- Eastbound mornings (6:00 AM to 10:00 AM): upper level often faster, less merge friction at the Manhattan side
- Eastbound afternoons: roughly even
- Westbound afternoons (4:00 PM to 7:00 PM): lower level often faster, fewer truck slowdowns
- Late night and weekends: either is fine, lower level slightly faster on average
Bicycles and Pedestrians
The south sidewalk on the upper level is open to bicycles and pedestrians. The walkway is free (no toll for non-motorised crossings). The lower level has no walkway. The Port Authority publishes seasonal opening hours for the bicycle and pedestrian path on the upper level.
Related Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GWB upper level cheaper than the lower level?
No. The toll is identical on both levels. A passenger car with E-ZPass pays $16.79 peak / $14.79 off-peak / $23.30 by mail regardless of whether you use the upper level or the lower level. The toll gantry reads transponders and license plates on both decks at the same rate. Tariff effective 4 January 2026.
Can trucks use the GWB lower level?
No. The Port Authority's Truckers' Guide states it as a flat rule: ALL TRUCKS must use the upper level of the George Washington Bridge, violators subject to summons and/or fine. It is not a height matter, because the Guide publishes the same 13 feet 6 inches height limit for both the upper and the lower level. Trucks of every size, plus vehicles with trailers, belong on the upper deck whatever they measure.
Which level is faster on the GWB?
It depends on the time of day and direction. Eastbound mornings, the upper level often moves faster because lower-level traffic backs up at the Manhattan approach where lower-level lanes merge before the deck. Westbound afternoons, the lower level is sometimes faster because it avoids upper-level commuter congestion. Real-time traffic apps show current conditions.
How many lanes are on each level of the George Washington Bridge?
The upper level has 8 lanes (4 in each direction). The lower level has 6 lanes (3 in each direction). Total bridge capacity is 14 lanes, making the GWB the only 14-lane suspension bridge in the world.
What is the height restriction on the GWB lower level?
13 feet 6 inches, and the figure many sources get wrong is the upper level: the Port Authority publishes 13 feet 6 inches there too, not an unlimited open-air deck. Its Truckers' Guide lists GWB Lower Level 13 feet 6 inches and GWB Upper Level 13 feet 6 inches side by side. Pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans sit well under that on either deck. What sends a vehicle to the upper level is usually the truck rule rather than its height, and anything over 13ft 6in is an oversize vehicle at this crossing, which is a different process again.
What is the height limit on the George Washington Bridge?
13 feet 6 inches, on both levels. The Port Authority Truckers' Guide (English, April 2026) prints GWB Lower Level 13 feet 6 inches and GWB Upper Level 13 feet 6 inches, and the lower level is additionally closed to all trucks and to vehicles with trailers whatever their height. Switching decks does not buy clearance at this bridge, and the Goethals Bridge, Outerbridge Crossing and Bayonne Bridge publish the same 13ft 6in figure, so they are not a taller alternative either. The Lincoln Tunnel is lower at 13 feet and the Holland Tunnel lower still at 12 feet 6 inches. A vehicle over the published limit is an oversize vehicle: it needs approval from the facility Communications Desk, a Port Authority Police escort, a $40 escort fee, and it pays double the established toll.
Does a pickup truck or SUV fit on the GWB lower level?
Yes. Standard pickup trucks, SUVs, minivans, and cargo vans sit under the 13 foot 6 inch lower-level clearance and are single-rear-wheel passenger-class vehicles, so they can use either level. Only dual-rear-wheel trucks, box trucks and any vehicle with a trailer are required to use the upper level, and that is a rule about vehicle type rather than height: both decks carry the same published 13ft 6in limit. The toll is the same on both.