Learn the Lanes

The Express Lanes give drivers the option for quicker traveling. While this comes with a price tag (unless you qualify for free travel – more on that under “Travel for free”), it also manages free-flowing travel. This is made possible by our dynamic pricing system.

It’s all about supply and demand

That means we’re able to maintain free-flowing travel by basing toll prices on the number of cars on the road. Don’t forget, we have many entry and exit points, so you can make the call on how long you’d like to travel along the Express Lanes.

Stay up to date on pricing

We’ll keep you in the loop on the rates of the road with overhead signs. And even before hitting the road, you can plug your entry and exit points into the Express Lanes mobile app or on our Map your trip page for an approximate cost of your trip.

1 + 2 = Free

Hop in the pool, the driving is great. Whether you’re slugging or in a vanpool or carpool, all you need is 3 or more people to drive the Express Lanes for free. If you have a headcount of 3 or more in your car, you can ride the Express Lanes for free at any time with your E-ZPass® Flex set to HOV ON.

Play fair or you pay the fare

You should only set your E-ZPass® to HOV ON if you have 3 or more people in your car. Claiming to be HOV when you're not can increase toll prices for drivers who are paying and playing fair.

If you don't have 3 in the car you have to pay a toll. Depending on the type of E-ZPass® Flex you have, set your Flex so HOV ON is covered or the line connects to HOV OFF. 

Virginia State Police troopers can issue tickets of up to $1,000 to drivers who say they are HOV when they are not. Or, camera technology on the Lanes can spot HOV trips and make sure there are at least 3 people in your car. If there aren’t, charges can apply. 

Tips for 395 Express Lanes

If you exit the 395 Express Lanes at the Pentagon or Pentagon City to drop off carpool passengers, you can get back on the Lanes at Eads Street and go to D.C. for free, even if it’s just you in the car. But, you have to get right back on the Lanes and remember to put your Flex in toll mode so a Virginia State Police trooper doesn’t stop you.
 

Seeing purple signs? That means you’re heading in the direction of our Express Lanes. The purple signs with the E-ZPass® logo and "EXPRESS ONLY" share:

• Where to go
• The rules of the road
• Road conditions
• Weather alerts

95 and 395 Express Lanes pricing signs

The 95 and 395 Express Lanes have multiple pricing zones and decision points for drivers. The pricing signs before a 95 and 395 Express Lanes entrance show the cost to travel to a maximum of three upcoming exits. When you enter the 95 or 395 Express Lanes, you lock in your toll rate until you see another pricing sign along your drive. When you see a new 95 or 395 Express Lanes sign, you can decide if you want to pay the toll to keep on traveling or exit onto the regular lanes.

495 Express Lanes pricing signs

You will see pricing signs before all entrances to the 495 Express Lanes. The signs show current toll prices for up to three 495 Express Lanes exits from where you enter. Here’s the signage breakdown:

• The first and second exits displayed on the signs share the cost to travel to 2 popular destinations from your entry point
• The third exit displayed on the signs will show the cost to travel to the farthest point you can travel to in the 495 Express Lanes from that entry point

The 95 and 395 Express Lanes are reversible. That means cars will be able to drive in either direction depending on the day and time of day.

A simple way to remember which direction our Lanes are heading? They go with the traffic flow during the morning and evening commutes. They point north in the morning to help many of our customers heading into D.C. and then point south in the evening for their return trips.

Tips for a safe trip

Before heading out on the reversible 95 and 395 Express Lanes, here’s what you need to know:

• Keep an eye out for on-road signs since some entry points close or open before others
• If the gates at entry points are up, you’re good to go
• For your own safety, don’t enter or exit an access point that’s closed or is about to close

The 495, 95 and 395 Express Lanes run around the clock. Because the 95 and 395 Express Lanes are reversible, the northbound and southbound directions follow an approximate schedule.

We sometimes make temporary changes to the schedule for holidays, area events, or incidents. Check out the 95 and 395 Express Lanes status bar above to get the current direction or follow our Twitter account @VAExpressLanes to check for any changes.

When the 95 and 395 Express Lanes are open

Weekdays:

• Closed for reversal – 1am to 2:30am (except on Monday)
• Open northbound – 2:30am to 11am
• Closed for reversal – 11am to 1pm
• Open southbound – 1pm to 1am

Saturday:

• Open southbound – 12am to 2pm
• Closed for reversal – 2pm to 4pm
• Open northbound – 4pm to 12am

Sunday:

• Open northbound – 12am Sunday to 12am Monday