Confusion about E470 tolls

[Zundfolge]

Maybe one of you Denverites can help me out here.

Tomorrow we're driving up from the Springs on I25 to get to I76 to go visit some of the wife's kin in Nebraska.

I was planning on taking E470 around the city instead of driving straight through on I25 but I find the tolls kind of confusing.

So in looking at this map: https://www.expresstoll.com/Documents/E-470%20Map_website-2015.pdf

Does this mean if I get on at Toll Plaza "A" and pay $2.50, is that all I pay to ride the thing all the way to I76? Or do I have to pay an additional $2.75 at Toll Plazas "B-D" for a total of $10.75?

If the latter is the case, is it really worth it to go that way instead of just driving up I25 to I76 for free?



Also ... I haven't put the front plate on my car (we just bought it from a dealer in New Mexico so it doesn't have a front plate bracket) so should I just avoid the toll roads all together (since I understand that you don't have to stop and pay, but that cameras will figure out where to send the bill based on your license plate ... if that's the case how do they deal with out of state drivers ... especially with states without front plates?)

[kwando]

You have to pay the fees per toll...

I would avoid I25 from 0600-1000 and 1500-1800. Otherwise it's not that bad.

Are you towing anything? If so don't forget to account the additional axles.

Another alternative is to go I25 to I225 to I70 to Pena to E470 (less tolls fees).

[00tec]

It is the latter, plus there may be a charged exit on 76 (not sure, didn't look at the map)

Whether or not it is worth it depends on the time of day.

[BushMasterBoy]

All I can tell you is the bastards sent me a bill that arrived the day before it was due for extra charges for being late. I called and paid it by credit card a couple days before the late charge would have been applied.

[cstone]

From I-25 on E470 around the east side to I-76 will cost about $10 give or take and if you don't have a sticker, it may cost a bit more and you will get a bill in the mail based on your tag being photographed as you pass through the toll areas.

Depending on the time of day, you would be just as good taking I-25 as far north as you can. I-225 is normally a mess, but it has gotten somewhat better and will take you up to I-70 near Pena Blvd. which will take you up towards the airport. Get off Pena at Tower Rd and go north on Tower to 120th Ave, turn left (west) at 120th and go to Sable Rd. Turn right (north) on Sable and you will intersect I-76.

You could always drive east from the Springs and go north on CO 71 till you intersect I-76 near Brush [Flower]

Be safe.

[colorider]

I got a bill for 30 cents. The bill states I have to give them $30 to have credit on my account.

[newracer]

Depending on the time of day the tolls are worth it, even more in my opinion. I recently took it from 85 and E470 all the way south to I-25, I think it was $14.

You could also go to Kiowa and then take the Kiowa Bennett road north all the way to 52. Then go east to CR 73 which will take you to Hwy 76 at Roggen.

[newracer]

You could always drive east from the Springs and go north on CO 71 till you intersect I-76 near Brush [Flower]

Be safe.

Or this, 24 to Limon, then 71 to 76.

[Zundfolge]

Or this, 24 to Limon, then 71 to 76.

Well now there we go ... According to Google Maps that way will only take me 16 minutes longer than taking I25 up to E470 around to I76 and is 14 miles less distance.

I'm assuming that 71 is a 2 lane? The wife won't like it but I think that's the way we're going.

[cstone]

It is two lanes, but other than a truck or two, you will be mighty lonely and able to adjust your speed appropriately.

[Zundfolge]

It is two lanes, but other than a truck or two, you will be mighty lonely and able to adjust your speed appropriately.

I don't mind old 2 lane highways ... they make my wife nervous (but hell she's not doing the driving and I can't help but think those old 2 lanes have to be safer than driving around Denver).

[BushMasterBoy]

24... watch out for cows. Once I had a traffic jam near Falcon for a crashed plane! I'd take the drive to Limon on 24 over the I-25 anyday.

[newracer]

Well now there we go ... According to Google Maps that way will only take me 16 minutes longer than taking I25 up to E470 around to I76 and is 14 miles less distance.

I'm assuming that 71 is a 2 lane? The wife won't like it but I think that's the way we're going.

Google maps usually doesn't account for traffic. I bet the 24-71-76 route is actually faster all things considered. Personally I prefer to drive on smaller highways and roads, less traffic and in most cases more to see. That's the route I'd take.

[Great-Kazoo]

Google maps usually doesn't account for traffic. I bet the 24-71-76 route is actually faster all things considered. Personally I prefer to drive on smaller highways and roads, less traffic and in most cases more to see. That's the route I'd take.

This is what i came to post.
The only issues are farm equipment and local yokels / county mounties, who feel 31 in a 30 is a damn good reason to lecture you on the virtues of going the speed limit. Not speaking from personal experience just saying. Sometimes they frown upon a couple on a touring mc doing 105 in a 55. How wacky is that?

[fitz19d]

I always avoid it until I'm doing something like trying to be at centenial gun club for work at 9 am when I am in Frederick. All routes woulda been 2+ hrs iirc via google but like 45mins via E470. Course I'm weeping when the bill comes bet it's $20 as I went ALLL the way around denver.

Google does account for traffic if you actually set the arrive/depart times etc. Might not be available on mobile but I plan before leaving house.

[USMC88-93]

Count me in the category of absolute refusal to use them regardless of convenience. I just can not justify paying extra for something that tax dollars are already subsidizing. ......(heads back to basement kicking can down the stairs......)

But yes there is a toll per section.

[buffalobo]

Or this, 24 to Limon, then 71 to 76.
This will be easiest and fastest, should be 65 speed limit, usually safe at 70-71.

We make bets as to how few cars we will see. You should see 10 times as many speed goats as cars.

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[Aloha_Shooter]

24 to 71 to 76? Really? Wow, that seems like you're driving awfully far east only to hook back west. OTOH, I really hate the snails pace of I-25 through Denver, especially at the times coinciding with picking up or dropping off people for flights.

[Monky]

They have cameras pointing at the back of the cars too.. psst.. that's how they get out of state folks.

[Irving]

24 to 71 to 76? Really? Wow, that seems like you're driving awfully far east only to hook back west. OTOH, I really hate the snails pace of I-25 through Denver, especially at the times coinciding with picking up or dropping off people for flights.

He's going to Nebraska, so he shouldn't be heading out of his way at all.

[Aloha_Shooter]

He's going to Nebraska, so he shouldn't be heading out of his way at all.
Ah, right, that's what I get for skimming through the posts rapidly. The only reason I ever take E470 is to go to DIA and I try to avoid that as much as possible. I've told family that I'll pay the additional fare for them to fly into C Springs instead of DIA.

[Great-Kazoo]

They have cameras pointing at the back of the cars too.. psst.. that's how they get out of state folks.

Little dirt on the plates, prior to travel never hurts.

[patrick0685]

Little dirt on the plates, prior to travel never hurts.

last time i took e470 i had snow all over my plate, guess who never got any bill :)

[Lex_Luthor]

I took E470 from Lafayette to Gun Club Rd and back. I happily paid the $20 instead of spending 3-4 hours in 3:00 traffic to go i-25 to i-70 to i-225, then east. Then to turn around & go back.

I actually just opened up an account with ExpressToll for the switchable transponder to use HOV lanes. With the transponder, HOV travel with 2+ people is free, otherwise they're starting to charge to use them. You can switch it to toll mode to use E470 or express lanes solo, and it charges a reduced rate. Definitely worth it to be able to continue to use HOV lanes. They took the price of the transponder from my initial $35, so I have a balance of $15 to use on tolls before I need to re-up my account.

Colorider, you can just pay the 30 cents without opening an account.

[dustdevil]

One of the only things to watch out for on HWY 71 is the 4 way stop at Last Chance. Other than that if no major weather is forecast for that area you can feel pretty confident that you won't have any major adventures.

[kidicarus13]

Years ago I drove one exit east on E470 from 470 and then backtracked the same one exit to the safety of 470. Each way was supposed to be $0.50. A few weeks later I received a postcard in the mail PLEASE PAY YOUR $0.50 TOLL and I did so through the mail. Weeks later I received notification that I was late paying my other $0.50 toll and I was charged $5+ in late fees. I'm convinced it was not an accident that I did not receive the second post card in the mail. I WILL NEVER USE E470 FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY DAYS IN COLORADO- WON'T DO IT.

[TRnCO]

One of the only things to watch out for on HWY 71 is the 4 way stop at Last Chance.Hwy. 36 doesn't stop, so it's just a two way stop.

[buffalobo]

One of the only things to watch out for on HWY 71 is the 4 way stop at Last Chance. Other than that if no major weather is forecast for that area you can feel pretty confident that you won't have any major adventures.
Only north and south bound 71 has stop sign, east/west 36 does not stop.

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[buffalobo]

Hwy. 36 doesn't stop, so it's just a two way stop.
Sorry, I should have read last two posts before I replied.

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[rondog]

I got off 36 onto 71 southbound at Last Chance once, just for the hell of it because I'd never been on it before. As I recall, 71 was rougher than hell and I had no desire to ever drive it again.

[TheGrey]

We have E470 budgeted in to our monthly expenses. Time is not only money, it is also a sanity saver when trying to deal with the cluster that I-25 and I-225 created twice per day, week in and week out. Some things are just worth the cost.

[hurley842002]

I HATE metro area I25, that is all (this seemed like a good time to note my frustration).

[sniper7]

Bonus about buying a new vehicle with a temp tag....take e470 all you want and no bill shows up!

[Lex_Luthor]

That's what I did when I went from Lafayette to Gun Club Rd. A friend from work took me, so I paid his tolls. I drove my new car back & didn't pay anything!

[Monky]

Years ago I drove one exit east on E470 from 470 and then backtracked the same one exit to the safety of 470. Each way was supposed to be $0.50. A few weeks later I received a postcard in the mail PLEASE PAY YOUR $0.50 TOLL and I did so through the mail. Weeks later I received notification that I was late paying my other $0.50 toll and I was charged $5+ in late fees. I'm convinced it was not an accident that I did not receive the second post card in the mail. I WILL NEVER USE E470 FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY DAYS IN COLORADO- WON'T DO IT.

You should have called them... They'll wave most fees. It's called 'customer service' they have it


Sent by a free-range electronic weasel, with no sense of personal space.

[fitz19d]

Bonus about buying a new vehicle with a temp tag....take e470 all you want and no bill shows up!

I was wondering when that aforementioned $20 bill was going to show. Was done in my new tundra...

[BushMasterBoy]

Years ago I drove one exit east on E470 from 470 and then backtracked the same one exit to the safety of 470. Each way was supposed to be $0.50. A few weeks later I received a postcard in the mail PLEASE PAY YOUR $0.50 TOLL and I did so through the mail. Weeks later I received notification that I was late paying my other $0.50 toll and I was charged $5+ in late fees. I'm convinced it was not an accident that I did not receive the second post card in the mail. I WILL NEVER USE E470 FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY DAYS IN COLORADO- WON'T DO IT.

I was thinking I was the exception. Wikipedia says this is a quasi-governmental organization. This kind of government abuse should be banned. What a scam!

[Aloha_Shooter]

Bonus about buying a new vehicle with a temp tag....take e470 all you want and no bill shows up!

Not worth being that close to Horrora or Denver itself.

[jhood001]

Capitalism? Eminent domain?

Time to reconcile your beliefs, gentlemen.

I avoid toll roads like the plague.

[Zundfolge]

I got off 36 onto 71 southbound at Last Chance once, just for the hell of it because I'd never been on it before. As I recall, 71 was rougher than hell and I had no desire to ever drive it again.

Well they must have resurfaced it since then because other than a few miles south of Brush, 71 was probably the best bet of road the whole trip so far. I76 east of Brush was horrible though.

[rondog]

Well they must have resurfaced it since then because other than a few miles south of Brush, 71 was probably the best bet of road the whole trip so far. I76 east of Brush was horrible though.
Could be, that was several years ago.

[fitz19d]

I dont know while fairly smooth surface, some very jumpy/bumpy curvy "lumps when I went from 144th to Centennial. Forget where exactly but was a little surprised.