Log 010: Use Google Maps Toll Avoidance Feature

Google Maps has become as engrained into driving as the old paper maps of the past.  Its turn by turn directions at your fingertips, and automatically updating directions when you miss a turn is just so fabulous when driving.  Or for that matter, driving a very long distance.

On a recent road trip to visit some great friends of mine in Madison Wisconsin, I discovered a rather amazing feature – but somewhat – hidden feature in the Google Maps app.  A feature that has changed the way that I take road trips now.  Well, it has at least changed the way that I first look for directions when heading into a route that has tolls.  As the title may suggest, this feature is toll avoidance.

While it is not practical in all cases, my trip to Madison was saved nearly $30.00 – a good drinks budget – by simply exploring the route differences for a Detroit to Madison drive.  You see, the tolls between Detroit and Madison on I-80 are terrible.  I mean you have to pass through Chicago: a city where driving is best described as slightly better than Boston.  I digress; however, the toll avoidance feature allowed me to quickly find a toll free route to save money.  But more than this, it allowed me to see the difference in time between a tolled route and a toll free route.  This is the most important aspect to me.  Empowered with this knowledge, you can simply figure out whether the cost for the tolls is worth the, typical, extra time driving of the toll free route.  For my Madison trip, I found that the toll free route added only five minutes of extra drive time while saving me $30.00 in total in tolls!  And, I’ve got to say that is well worth it for me.  I fully suggest at least checking it out on your next tolled driving route to at least see if you, like me, can save good money for a small extra drive time.

Instructions:

Step One: Click the three dot menu!

Step Two: Select Route Options!

Step Three: Check “Avoid Tolls,” and touch “DONE”