How to Disable Toll Roads on Google Maps

Nobody wants a surprise toll charge halfway through a road trip. Whether you're watching your budget, driving a vehicle that can't use electronic toll systems, or simply prefer staying on free roads, Google Maps lets you avoid tolls entirely — across both Android and iOS. Here's exactly how it works, and what to keep in mind before you rely on it.

What "Avoid Tolls" Actually Does in Google Maps

When you enable toll avoidance in Google Maps, the app reroutes you around roads that typically charge a fee — including toll highways, toll bridges, and toll tunnels. Google Maps pulls this data from its road database, which is updated regularly but not always in real time.

It's worth understanding that "avoid tolls" is a routing preference, not a hard filter. In rare cases — particularly when no practical toll-free alternative exists — Google Maps may still route you through a toll road, sometimes with a warning. This is more common in areas where toll infrastructure is dense, such as parts of the northeastern United States or certain European motorway networks.

How to Turn Off Toll Roads Before You Start a Route

This is the most straightforward method and works on both Android and iPhone.

1. Open Google Maps and enter your destination
2. Tap Directions
3. Before starting navigation, tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the upper right corner
4. Select Route options
5. Toggle on Avoid tolls
6. Google Maps will recalculate your route

If multiple routes are available, the app will prioritize the toll-free option. You'll often see the estimated time difference between the toll route and the alternative, which can range from a few minutes to significantly longer depending on your location.

How to Set Toll Avoidance as a Permanent Default

If you want Google Maps to always avoid tolls without adjusting it for every trip, you can set it as a default preference.

On Android:

1. Open Google Maps
2. Tap your profile picture in the top right
3. Go to Settings
4. Tap Navigation settings
5. Under "Route options," enable Avoid tolls

On iPhone (iOS):

1. Open Google Maps
2. Tap your profile picture
3. Go to Settings
4. Tap Navigation
5. Enable Avoid tolls under Route options

Once set, this preference applies to every route Google Maps generates — you won't need to toggle it each time. Keep in mind that this setting is tied to your Google account on that device, so if you use Google Maps on multiple devices or switch phones, you may need to re-enable it.

Avoiding Tolls Mid-Route 🗺️

If you're already navigating and want to switch to a toll-free route on the fly:

1. Tap the search bar or the route card at the bottom of the screen while navigating
2. Tap the three-dot menu
3. Select Route options
4. Toggle on Avoid tolls — Google Maps will reroute you from your current position

This works well if you missed toggling the setting before departing or if you change your mind about a route partway through.

Other Avoidance Options Worth Knowing

When you're in Route options, you'll notice toll avoidance sits alongside two other toggles:

These can be combined. For example, turning on both Avoid tolls and Avoid highways produces routes that stick entirely to surface streets and free roads — useful for scenic drives or when traveling in an RV with height or weight restrictions.

Factors That Affect How Well Toll Avoidance Works

Not every user gets the same result from this feature, and that comes down to a few key variables.

Geographic density of toll infrastructure. In regions where nearly every major route involves a toll — think New Jersey, Illinois, or parts of Texas — toll-free alternatives may add substantial time or take you through significantly less efficient roads. In other regions, the detour may be minimal.

Accuracy of Google's toll data. Google Maps relies on map data that may not reflect newly opened toll roads, recently converted free roads, or variable toll zones. In fast-changing infrastructure areas, there's always a lag. 🚧

Your starting point and destination. A short urban trip may have several viable toll-free alternatives. A long interstate journey may have very few, and the rerouting could add considerable distance.

Device and app version. The navigation interface has been updated multiple times across both Android and iOS. The exact location of Route options may vary slightly depending on which version of Google Maps you're running. If the steps above don't match what you see, check that your app is updated through the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

When Toll Avoidance Changes Your Travel Time Significantly

Google Maps will typically show you the time difference between your fastest route (with tolls) and the toll-free alternative before you start navigating. That gap varies enormously — from under five minutes on a short trip to over an hour on a long highway journey where the only free alternative is a surface road network.

That trade-off is entirely personal. Some drivers value the savings; others find the time cost not worth it. The app gives you the information — the weighting is yours to decide.

Whether the toll-free option is practical for your specific trip depends on your starting point, destination, available time, and how your local road network is structured. Those factors look different for every driver and every route.