Carquinez Bridge Toll 2026
$8.50 for every payment method in 2026. Carpool $4.25 with 3+ occupants during weekday commute hours. The I-80 crossing of the Carquinez Strait, linking Crockett to Vallejo. Tolls eastbound only.
The Carquinez Bridge Toll Is $8.50 in 2026
The Carquinez Bridge carries Interstate 80 across the Carquinez Strait at the northeastern edge of San Francisco Bay. The toll is a flat $8.50 for a passenger car, the same whether you pay with FasTrak or pay-by-plate, collected eastbound only toward Vallejo.
Heading the other way across the strait? The full Bay Area bridges guide compares all eight crossings, and the Bay Area Trip Builder totals a multi-bridge route.
Carquinez Bridge Carpool Hours
The carpool discount runs weekdays 5:00-10:00 AM and 3:00-7:00 PM. Outside those windows, every vehicle pays the standard $8.50 toll.
To qualify for the $4.25 carpool rate you need all three:
- 1. 3 or more occupants in the vehicle (uniform at all seven state-owned bridges since January 1, 2026)
- 2. A FasTrak Flex transponder set to position 3 before you reach the plaza (a standard FasTrak tag does not get the discount here, unlike the Bay Bridge)
- 3. The designated carpool lane during the weekday discount hours
See the carpool guide for how FasTrak Flex positions work across every bridge.
Carquinez Bridge at a Glance
2026 Carquinez Bridge Toll Rates
Eastbound only, at the plaza on the Vallejo side. BATA schedule effective January 1, 2026, verified June 2026. Source: bayareafastrak.org.
| Payment Method | Passenger Car | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FasTrak (standard) | $8.50 | Same price as pay-by-plate until January 2027, when FasTrak becomes $9.00 vs $9.25 plate. |
| Pay-by-plate | $8.50 | License plate captured, bill mailed to registered owner. |
| Carpool (FasTrak Flex 3+) | $4.25 | Transponder set to position 3, three or more occupants, weekdays 5-10 AM and 3-7 PM. |
| Cash | Not accepted | All Bay Area toll bridges have been fully electronic since 2020. |
| Out-of-state E-ZPass / SunPass | Not accepted | Will be billed at the pay-by-plate rate. |
About the Carquinez Bridge
The Carquinez Bridge carries Interstate 80 across the Carquinez Strait at the northeastern end of San Francisco Bay, linking Crockett on the south shore with Vallejo on the north. It is one of two crossings that share Interstate 80 in the Bay Area, the other being the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to the southwest. The crossing carries eight lanes of traffic on two parallel spans.
Eastbound traffic toward Vallejo uses a steel cantilever bridge opened in 1958. Westbound traffic uses the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge, a suspension span that opened on November 11, 2003 and is named for the Bay Area ironworker who worked on the Golden Gate Bridge and other regional crossings. The original 1927 cantilever span, the first major bridge crossing of San Francisco Bay, was demolished in 2007 once the new suspension bridge carried its traffic.
The toll plaza sits on the Vallejo (north) end and charges eastbound traffic only; the westbound trip back toward Crockett and the East Bay is free. A bicycle and pedestrian path runs along the westbound Zampa suspension span. Tolls apply only to motor vehicles.
The bridge is operated by the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA), which runs all seven state-owned Bay Area toll bridges on a single schedule: $8.50 for a two-axle vehicle in 2026, rising in 50-cent annual steps through 2030.
How Carquinez Compares
| Bridge | FasTrak | Pay-by-Plate | Carpool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carquinez (you are here) | $8.50 | $8.50 | $4.25 (3+) |
| Bay Bridge (I-80) | $8.50 | $8.50 | $4.25 (3+) |
| Benicia-Martinez (I-680) | $8.50 | $8.50 | $4.25 (3+) |
| Richmond-San Rafael (I-580) | $8.50 | $8.50 | $4.25 (3+) |
| San Mateo (SR-92) | $8.50 | $8.50 | $4.25 (3+) |
| Dumbarton (SR-84) | $8.50 | $8.50 | $4.25 (3+) |
| Antioch (SR-160) | $8.50 | $8.50 | $4.25 (3+) |
| Golden Gate | $10.25 | $10.50 | $8.25 (3+) |
See the full Bay Area bridges overview or the Golden Gate Bridge toll guide. Planning a multi-bridge trip? The Bay Area Trip Builder totals your route across all eight bridges.
Carquinez Bridge Toll FAQ
How much is the Carquinez Bridge toll in 2026?
The Carquinez Bridge (the I-80 crossing between Crockett and Vallejo) toll for a passenger car is $8.50 since January 1, 2026, the same price whether you pay with FasTrak or pay-by-plate. Payment methods only split into different prices from January 2027, when FasTrak becomes $9.00 versus $9.25 for a license plate account and $10.00 by invoice. Tolls are collected eastbound only, from Crockett toward Vallejo. The westbound crossing back toward the East Bay is free.
What are the Carquinez Bridge carpool hours and rate?
Carpool hours are weekdays 5:00-10:00 AM and 3:00-7:00 PM. During those windows, vehicles with 3 or more occupants pay $4.25 (half the standard $8.50 toll) using a FasTrak Flex transponder set to position 3 in the designated carpool lane. Outside those hours everyone pays the standard toll. Like most Bay Area bridges, the Carquinez requires the switchable FasTrak Flex tag for the discount; a standard FasTrak tag does not qualify here (the Bay Bridge is the one exception). The 3-occupant minimum has applied at every Bay Area bridge since January 1, 2026.
Which direction does the Carquinez Bridge toll, and can I avoid it?
Tolls are collected eastbound only, from Crockett toward Vallejo, at the plaza on the Vallejo side. The westbound trip back toward Crockett and the East Bay is always free. There is no toll-free road alternative across the Carquinez Strait nearby; the next crossing east is the Benicia-Martinez Bridge (I-680, also $8.50, tolled northbound). For regular commuters the realistic way to cut the cost is carpooling (3+ occupants, $4.25 during commute hours).
Can I bike or walk across the Carquinez Bridge?
Yes. A bicycle and pedestrian path runs along the westbound Alfred Zampa Memorial span (the 2003 suspension bridge). The path is free; tolls apply only to motor vehicles, eastbound.
Why are there two Carquinez bridges?
The Carquinez crossing is carried by two parallel spans. Eastbound traffic uses a steel cantilever bridge opened in 1958. Westbound traffic uses the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge, a suspension span opened on November 11, 2003 and named for the Bay Area ironworker who helped build the Golden Gate Bridge. The original 1927 cantilever span (the first major bridge crossing of San Francisco Bay) was demolished in 2007 after the new suspension bridge opened. Both current spans carry Interstate 80; together they handle eight lanes of traffic.
Is the Carquinez Bridge cheaper than the Golden Gate Bridge?
Yes. The Carquinez Bridge is $8.50 for every payment method in 2026, while the Golden Gate Bridge is $10.25 with FasTrak and $10.50 by license plate. The Golden Gate is the most expensive Bay Area toll bridge; the Carquinez and the other six state-owned crossings all share the lower BATA rate. The Carquinez carpool rate ($4.25) is also lower than the Golden Gate carpool rate ($8.25), though the Carquinez discount applies during weekday commute hours only, whereas the Golden Gate carpool rate applies at all hours.