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Avoiding the toll booth on Alligator Alley

There are two options to avoiding the Alligator Alley Toll.

If one was driving from Miami or the Keys to the Gulf coast of Florida, one could take US-41, which runs south of Alligator Alley and goes right into Miami and Naples. Driving from Naples to Miami on US-41 (first map below) adds only 5 minutes and takes away 37 miles. It is also more pleasant and interesting.

If driving from the Gulf coast to the Atlantic coast, one can enter Alligator Alley at FL-29 and drive it to the Atlantic coast for free (second map below). If one is driving from the Alantic coast from the Fort Lauderdale area, it may not be worth driving down to US-41 or avoiding the toll. To ride Alligator Alley for free from westbound, one must enter at West State Road 84 (third map below).

Shunning the Indiana Toll Road and the Chicago Skyway

Driving Westbound to Chicago from Ohio Line

(Follow Opposite instructions for driving eastbound from Chicago)

Most people drive the Indiana Toll Road to and from Chicago.

The Chicago Skyway is connected to the Indiana Toll Road as part of I-90. Both can be avoided for driving an additonal 2 miles and 25 minutes of driving. The drive through Indiana has some pretty moments. The Indiana Toll Road can be avoided by taking US-20 to I-94. One would take US-20 most of the way, but it is faster to use IN-2 for part of the route (one gets on IN-2 from US-20 and then gets back on US-20 from IN-2).

There are two options to avoid the Skyway. One involves taking I-94 into Chicago. For 3 less miles and extra minutes, one can enter Chicago on US-41/Lake Shore Drive I like taking Lake Shore Drive because it goes along Lake Michigan, and the parts through Indiana are weird and intersting. The traffic on I-94 can also be bad, and although it can on be on Lakeshore when you get closer to the Loop it is more interesting.

This is the route for avoiding the Indiana Roll Road and Chicago Skyway taking I-94 into the Loop.

This is the route using Lake Shore Drive.

Shunning the West Virginia Turnpike

Avoiding the toll booths on the West Virginia

This is probably the funniest shunpike route. There are three toll booths that collect tolls on the turnpike instead of a ticket system. If one clicks avoid tolls on the on Google Maps, it will navigate tell one when to exit and re-enter the turnpike to avoid the tolls. It may not always be the most efficient, but it is funny. Avoiding all three booths adds 10 miles and about 30 minutes. At some point, do yourself a favor and hit a Tudor's Biscuit World (check hours). I recommend the "Duke." I recommend Tamarack only if you have time to kill.

Cheylan (Toll Plaza C, Milepost 83): Avoiding the northernmost toll booth is the most efficient shunpike. It adds only 2 minutes and no miles. That one is a no-brainer. The route is pretty nice to travel and parallels the turnpike. It follows Cabin Creek.

Pax (Toll Plaza B, Milepost 56): This is the most adventureous shunpike of the 3. It involves a road (Paint Creek Rd.) that 1½ lanes for about 4 miles but takes 2-way traffic. It is a pretty route. This route adds on 2 miles and about 8 minutes. It follows Paint Creek.

Ghent (Toll Plaza A, Milepost 30): The southernmost toll booth is the longest shunpike of the 3. It adds on 8 miles and about 20 minutes.

Shunning the Pennsylvania Turnpike

Driving Eastbound to Pittsburgh from I-80

The Pennsylvania Turnpike is notoriously expensive. When driving eastbound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, there is a flat flee that must be paid when entering the state. That fee will get one to Pittsburgh via I-79. There is no toll from I-79 to the Pennsylvania state line on the westbound trip. If driving westbound, one can take advantage of the free toll. However, one must take exit 10 off of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, or one will run into the Ohio Turnpike. It might be worth it if you won't be on the Ohio Turnpike too long. There are some options dor avoiding the flat-fee toll on the way to Pittsburgh. I prefer the southern routes that are less miles. If one goes the OH-11 south to US-30 east route, one will touch West Virginia. It is near the Mountaineer Casino.

Driving Eastbound to Philadelphia and southern New Jersey

(Follow opposite instructions for driving westbound from Philadelphia and southern New Jersey)

Take I-80 and take the I-99 exit just east of the State College area. Stop at the Berkey Creamery if you want some ice cream. After exiting I-99, various roads are taken to get into Philadelphia. It is definitely worth it as driving the entire Pennsylvania turnpike on a regular 2-axle vehicle costs about $50.

Driving Eastbound from Ohio to Maryland, Washington, DC, and surrounding areas (Follow Opposite instructions for driving westbound from Maryland, Washington, DC, and surrounding areas) I-68 is a shunpiking alternative to the Pennsylvania turnpike. It can be accessed from I-79. It goes through West Virginia and the penhandle of Maryland, passing through the pretty town of Cumberland. I-68 ends when it runs into I-70.

Shunning the New York Thruway

Driving Eastbound to Buffalo, Canada, points east of Buffalo

(Follow Opposite instructions for driving westbound from Buffalo, Canada, points west of Buffalo)

NY-5 is a beautiful, peaceful shunpike route that straddles Lake Erie. There are points in which Lake Erie is viewable while driving, and there are several parks. It contains several McDonald's, Tim Horton's, and a Burger King, as well as two Tops grocery stores. There are also some lakeside dining options. Taking this route also takes you onto a Seneca Indian reservation, where you can get the cheapest gas in the state of New York (great for filling up before driving into Canada especially) and really cheap Indian cigarettes (less than $20/carton). I recommend Catt-Rez Enterprises for gas and cigarettes. This route reduces the miles by 4 and can add about 20 minutes to the entire drive from the New York line to Buffalo.

After entering New York from I-90 in Pennsylvania, take the Shortman Rd exit (you get to drive a small portion of the Thruway for free). Turn left onto Shortman Rd. and turn right onto NY-5. NY-5 goes straight into downtown Buffalo as the Buffalo Skyway. It is great for accessing downtown Buffalo, the Peace Bridge, or taking the Niagara Thruway toll road (small toll) over Grand Island to Niagara Falls, NY. That Niagara Thruway drive is nice. If you want to avoid that and are driving to Canada, take the Peace Bridge. The Peace Bridge is the only bridge that accepts E-ZPass.

Driving Eastbound toward Albany and New England

(Follow Opposite instructions for driving westbound from Albany and New England

The Southern Tier Expressway is a beautiful shunpike route that goes through the Southern Tier of New York, and briefly through the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania, although one really has to pay attention to realize one was in Pennsylvania. One will pass through Chautauqua Lake and the Southern Tier Brewing Company is near.

When traveling eastbound on I-90 after passing Erie, take the I-86 exit. That will get you on the Southern Tier Expressway. If you drive all the way to the Schenectady/Albany area, it will add approximately 20 minutes and 27 miles.

Shunning the Ohio Turnpike

Use I-80 and I-76 when they are not the turnpike.

The section of I-80 between I-76 and the Pennsylvania border is not part of the Ohio turnpike.

The section of I-76 between I-80 and the Pennsylvania border is part of the Ohio turnpike.

Driving Westbound to Toledo, Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Points North

(Follow Opposite instructions for driving eastbound from Toledo, Detroit, Ann Arbor, and points north to Cleveland, Akron, Pittsburgh, and points east)

OH-2 is a shunpike route that runs north of the turnpike closer to Lake Erie. It carries the Thomas Edison Memorial Bridge through Sandusky Bay.

This route adds about 4 miles distance and approximately 12 minutes to your drive as opposed to taking the turnpike.

If traveling westbound on the turnpike, exit at the OH-57 exit and go northbound.

If traveling westbound on I-90, take the OH-2 split when I-90 splits between OH-2 and the turnpike.

Connect to OH-2 westbound. That will take you into the Toledo area. To get onto I-75 northbound toward Detroit, take OH-2 to I-280. If you wish to get to US-23, which runs west of Detroit to Ann Arbor, take I-280 north to I-75 south, which runs westbound, to I-475 westbound, and exit onto US-23 northbound. You can also take I-475 to US-20 to go west to shunpike to the Indiana border.

Points of interest near and along route:

Kiedrowski's Simply Delicious Bakery

Vermilion, Ohio

Sawmill Creek Resort

Sandusky, Ohio

Kalahari

Cedar Point

Catawba Island

Kelly's Island (via ferry)

Put-in-bay, South Bass Island (via ferry)

Johnson's Island's Confederate Cemetery

Firelands Winery

Brown's Dairy Dock

Lakeside, Ohio

East Harbor State Park

Blue Hole

Port Clinton, Ohio

Various Lake Erie Beaches

Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant

Maumee Bay State Park

Magee Marsh Wildlife Area

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge

Marblehead Lighthouse State Park

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