Do you pay tolls both ways on the GWB and the tunnels?

No. The Port Authority collects tolls on the George Washington Bridge and the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels only in the New York-bound (eastbound) direction. With our service, tolls are already included in your quote.

Which is faster into Midtown, the GWB or the Lincoln Tunnel?

For most of Midtown, the Lincoln Tunnel is the more direct route — but when the helix is backed up, the GWB and the Henry Hudson Parkway can win, especially for the Upper West Side.

Local Know-How

GWB vs Lincoln Tunnel vs Holland Tunnel: Which Hudson Crossing Is Fastest From New Jersey?

How chauffeurs choose between the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, and Holland Tunnel — by destination, time of day, and NJ starting point.

By the Black Car Service Limo dispatch team · Updated September 24, 2026 · 6 min read

Key takeaways

Your Manhattan destination matters more than your starting point: GWB for uptown and the Bronx/Queens, Lincoln for Midtown, Holland for Downtown.
The George Washington Bridge is also the usual path from Bergen County to LaGuardia and often JFK.
Port Authority crossings charge tolls only in the New York-bound direction.
The “best” crossing changes hour by hour — live traffic beats habit.

George Washington Bridge (I-95)

Connects Fort Lee to Washington Heights. Best for Upper Manhattan, the Upper East and West Sides via the Harlem River Drive or Henry Hudson Parkway, the Bronx, and — via the Cross Bronx Expressway — LaGuardia, JFK, and Long Island. The upper and lower levels split traffic, and knowing which approach is moving saves real time.

Lincoln Tunnel (Route 495)

Connects Weehawken to Midtown West around the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Best for Midtown, the Theater District, Hudson Yards, and the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. The morning exclusive bus lane moves huge numbers of commuters but narrows the lanes available to cars, so the inbound helix can back up on weekday mornings.

Holland Tunnel

Connects Jersey City to Hudson Square near Canal Street. Best for Tribeca, SoHo, the Financial District, and Lower Manhattan, and a common route toward Brooklyn. The Jersey City approach and Canal Street exit are the chokepoints.

Which crossing from where?

Starting in	To Midtown	To Downtown	To LaGuardia / JFK
Fort Lee, Edgewater, Englewood	GWB or Lincoln	Lincoln or Holland	GWB
Central & northwest Bergen	Lincoln (via Route 3) or GWB	Lincoln	GWB
Hoboken, Jersey City	Lincoln	Holland	Lincoln/Holland, then Queens-Midtown or RFK
Essex & Passaic County	Lincoln (via Route 3)	Holland (via Turnpike)	Lincoln or GWB
Morris County	Lincoln (via I-280) or GWB (via I-80)	Holland	GWB