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Austin has more toll roads than most visitors expect, and almost none of them have a booth where you can hand over cash. They are all electronic: the road reads a toll tag or photographs your plate, and the bill comes later. If you are driving a rental, that raises two questions: which roads are tolled, and are they worth paying for?
This guide walks through each toll road around Austin, what it is good for, and how to set your navigation so you only use them when you mean to.
How tolls work in Austin
Toll roads around Austin have more than one operator: the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority runs MoPac Express, 183A, 183 Toll, 290 Toll and the 71 Toll Lane, while TxDOT runs SH 45 North and most of SH 130, and a private operator runs SH 130's southern end. All of them are cashless. Drivers with a TxTag or another compatible Texas tag pay the posted rate, and drivers without a tag are billed by mail at a higher rate. The Mobility Authority says its Pay By Mail rates run about 33 percent above tag rates, plus a statement fee per bill.
On a rental, the way tolls are handled depends on the car and the company. With us, ask us how it works on your rental before you start driving, or call or text 512-851-0490. Do not assume your personal TxTag carries over to another vehicle.
MoPac Express Lanes
Where: the middle of MoPac (Loop 1) between Parmer Lane in North Austin and Cesar Chavez Street downtown. Northbound you can get on near Cesar Chavez or near RM 2222. Southbound you can get on near Parmer Lane or near RM 2222.
How it is priced: the toll changes with traffic. When the regular lanes are jammed, the express lane costs more. When traffic is light, it costs little.
When it is worth it: weekday rush hours, roughly 7 to 9 a.m. southbound and 4 to 7 p.m. northbound, when the regular MoPac lanes can crawl between the Domain area and downtown. If you have a flight out of AUS or a meeting downtown at 8:30, this lane can save 15 to 20 minutes. Outside rush hour, the regular lanes usually move fine.
SH 130
Where: a long bypass east of Austin, running from north of Georgetown, past Pflugerville and the airport area, down to I-10 near Seguin.
When it is worth it: any time you are going north to south and I-35 is a mess, which is most afternoons. It is also the road to Circuit of the Americas and to Tesla's Giga Texas plant in Del Valle. The section south of SH 45 toward Seguin carries an 85 mph speed limit, among the highest posted limits in the country, which makes it a fast way to San Antonio if you do not mind the extra miles.
Skip it when: you are going downtown. SH 130 runs well east of the city, so it only helps if your trip actually goes around Austin.
SH 45 North and SH 45 Southeast
SH 45 North runs east to west across the top of the metro, about 13 miles from RM 620 through Round Rock to SH 130 at Pflugerville. It is the fast link between Cedar Park, North Austin and Round Rock without using surface streets like Parmer Lane.
SH 45 Southeast connects I-35 near Buda to SH 130, a handy cut-through if you are staying in Kyle or Buda and need to reach the airport area or COTA without driving through Austin.
183A Toll
Where: from US 183 near SH 45 in North Austin, north through Cedar Park and Leander to SH 29 in Liberty Hill.
When it is worth it: daily if you are staying in Cedar Park or Leander and working in the Domain area or downtown. The free frontage road works, but it has traffic lights at nearly every major cross street. For more on that area, see our Cedar Park and Leander pages.
183 Toll
Where: about eight miles of tolled lanes in the middle of US 183 on the east side, between US 290 and SH 71 near the airport. The free lanes alongside were rebuilt at the same time.
When it is worth it: getting between the airport and East Austin, Mueller or the US 290 corridor at busy times. The flyover ramps at SH 71 are tolled too, and they are the quickest way to and from AUS from the north on this side of town.
71 Toll Lane and 290 Toll
71 Toll Lane: about four miles, one toll lane each way on SH 71 from near Presidential Boulevard at the airport east to SH 130. Useful when SH 71 backs up heading toward Del Valle, Giga Texas or Bastrop.
290 Toll (Manor Expressway): toll lanes in the middle of US 290 east of US 183 toward Manor. Mainly a commuter road.
How to avoid tolls with your phone
Every car we rent has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so your phone's navigation runs on the dashboard. All the major apps let you avoid toll roads:
- Google Maps: route options, then turn on Avoid tolls.
- Apple Maps: in the directions settings, choose to avoid tolls.
- Waze: settings, navigation, then turn on Avoid toll roads.
Set this before you leave the airport, then turn it off for a single trip when you decide a toll is worth it. Around central Austin, avoiding tolls usually costs only a few minutes. Around the edges, especially Cedar Park, Round Rock and anything along SH 130, it can add 15 minutes or more.
A simple rule for visitors
Use the free roads for most trips. Pay for MoPac Express at rush hour when you are on a schedule, SH 130 when I-35 is jammed and you are going around the city, and 183A if you are staying in Cedar Park or Leander. Leave the rest alone unless your app says the savings are real.
If you are landing at AUS, our guide to AUS pickup without the counter covers the first drive into town, and our Hill Country day trips guide covers routes west of the city, where there are no toll roads at all.
Picking the car
For city driving and the odd toll road, a Toyota Corolla or similar at $98 a day is easy on gas and easy to park. If you will spend hours on SH 130 or I-35 for work, the roomier Honda Accord or similar at $114 a day is more comfortable. We deliver free anywhere in Greater Austin and explain everything on the rental before you pay, including how tolls are handled. Choose a car on our economy car rental in Austin page or call or text 512-851-0490.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay cash on Austin toll roads?
No. Austin-area toll roads are cashless. They charge a toll tag or bill the plate by mail, and Pay By Mail rates are higher than tag rates.
How are tolls billed on a rental car from you?
It depends on the rental, so ask us how it works on your rental when you book, or call or text 512-851-0490. We explain it before you pay.
Is the MoPac Express Lane worth it?
Usually only at weekday rush hours. The toll rises with traffic, and outside the morning and evening peaks the regular MoPac lanes tend to move well.
Can I get from the airport to downtown Austin without tolls?
Yes. SH 71 west to I-35 or US 183 north to downtown streets are free. Set your navigation app to avoid tolls before you leave AUS.
