Turn off toll roads in Google Maps settings

Google Maps lets you exclude toll roads from your route suggestions. Open Google Maps on your phone or computer, tap or click the menu icon (three horizontal lines), scroll down to Settings, then tap Navigation settings. You'll see a toggle for Avoid tolls — turn it on. From that point forward, Google Maps will suggest routes that skip toll roads whenever possible.

This setting sticks with your account across devices if you're signed into Google. If you use Google Maps without signing in, you'll need to set this preference each time you open the app.

Key Takeaways

  • The Avoid tolls toggle in Navigation settings tells Google Maps to skip toll roads in route suggestions.
  • You can also avoid tolls, highways, or ferries one trip at a time by tapping the route options menu before you start navigating.
  • Google Maps will still show you toll roads as alternatives if no toll-free route exists, so you can choose to take one if needed.
  • The setting works on both Android and iPhone, and syncs across devices when you're signed into your Google account.

Avoid tolls for a single trip without changing your settings

If you only want to skip tolls on one particular route, you don't need to change your permanent settings. Enter your destination in Google Maps, and you'll see several route options appear. Tap the route you want to examine, then look for a menu icon or the word Options near the top of the route details.

Tap that menu and you'll see checkboxes for Avoid tolls, Avoid highways, and Avoid ferries. Check the box next to Avoid tolls, and Google Maps will recalculate the route to skip toll roads. This choice only affects that one trip — your default settings stay the same.

What happens when you avoid tolls

When you turn on Avoid tolls, Google Maps will prioritize routes without toll roads. However, if no reasonable toll-free route exists to your destination, Google Maps will still show you the toll road option. You can see this by looking at the route suggestions — toll roads appear with a small toll icon and the estimated cost.

The app calculates "reasonable" based on time and distance. If a toll-free route adds an hour to your trip, Google Maps may still suggest the toll road as your primary option, but you can tap it to see toll-free alternatives. This means the setting guides your navigation without trapping you if you truly need to take a toll road.

Where toll roads appear on your map

Google Maps marks toll roads with a small icon that looks like a dollar sign or toll booth. When you're looking at route options before you start navigating, the estimated toll cost appears next to the route time. Once you're actively navigating, toll roads show up in a different color or with a label so you can see them coming.

If you've turned on Avoid tolls but Google Maps suggests a route with a toll road anyway, it means the app determined there's no practical alternative. You can still choose a different route by tapping other options, or you can proceed with the toll road if you decide it's worth it.

Differences between Android and iPhone

The steps are nearly identical on both platforms. On Android, open Google Maps, tap the menu icon (three lines), tap Settings, then Navigation settings, and toggle Avoid tolls on. On iPhone, the path is the same: menu icon, Settings, Navigation settings, then the Avoid tolls toggle.

The one-trip method also works the same way on both. Enter your destination, tap a route, tap Options or the menu icon, and check Avoid tolls. If you're using Google Maps on a computer's web browser, you can't set a permanent Avoid tolls preference, but you can still see toll costs for each route before you navigate.

Why you might want to avoid tolls

Toll roads add up quickly, especially on long trips or frequent commutes. A single toll might be $3 to $15 depending on the road and your vehicle type, but multiple tolls on one route can easily exceed $20 or $30. Over weeks or months, choosing toll-free routes can save hundreds of dollars.

Some people also avoid tolls because they don't have a toll pass or transponder set up, or because they prefer not to deal with toll booths or cameras. Others live in areas where tolls are common and want to reserve toll roads only for emergencies or time-critical trips. The Avoid tolls setting gives you that control without having to think about it each time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Google Maps show me the toll cost before I start driving?

Yes. When you look at route options before you navigate, Google Maps displays the estimated toll amount next to the route time. This lets you decide whether to take the toll road or choose a toll-free alternative. Once you're navigating, you can still see toll roads coming up on your route.

Can I turn off the avoid tolls setting for just one trip?

Yes. If you have Avoid tolls turned on permanently but want to take a toll road for one trip, enter your destination and look at the route options. Tap the route with the toll road, then tap Options and uncheck Avoid tolls. Google Maps will recalculate to show you the toll road route.

What if there's no toll-free route to my destination?

Google Maps will still show you the toll road as your best option. The Avoid tolls setting guides the app to prefer toll-free routes, but it doesn't block toll roads entirely. You can choose to take the toll road or look for other alternatives manually.

Does the avoid tolls setting work on Google Maps web?

You can see toll costs on Google Maps in a web browser, but there's no permanent Avoid tolls toggle for the desktop version. The setting only works in the Google Maps mobile app on Android and iPhone. You can still view toll information before you navigate and make your choice.