Gordie Howe Bridge Tolls, the Free Bike Path, and Your Opening Day Guide

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is open. It began carrying traffic Monday, July 27, 2026, and tolls run $5.75 U.S. (or $8 Canadian) each way for most cars. The walking and biking path opens Wednesday, August 5, and it is completely free. Here is your practical guide to crossing Detroit’s new front door, from discount rates to what documents you need at the border.

The announcement story is one thing. Actually using the bridge is another. This is the using-it guide, and we will update it after we make the first crossing ourselves. For the full opening story, including the 15-year economic development fund, read our Gordie Howe Bridge opening report.

At a Glance

Detail	Info
Opens	Monday, July 27, 2026
Car toll	$5.75 USD / $8.00 CAD standard, each way
Discount	$4.35 USD / $6.00 CAD with the bridge’s Breakaway program
Motorcycles	Same rate as cars
Trucks, buses, RVs	$8.75 USD / $12.00 CAD per axle (vehicles over 7.5 feet tall)
Walking and biking	FREE on the multi-use path
Path specs	About 1.5 miles long, nearly 12 feet wide, barrier-separated
Connects	I-75 in Detroit to Highway 401 in Windsor
Documents	Passport, passport card, enhanced license, or NEXUS

How Much Are the Gordie Howe Bridge Tolls?

The official rates are out. Most passenger cars, SUVs, minivans, motorcycles, and light-duty trucks under 7.5 feet tall pay $5.75 U.S. or $8 Canadian each way at the standard rate.

Two money-saving details worth knowing before your first crossing:

• The Breakaway discount drops a car crossing to $4.35 U.S. ($6 Canadian). It is the bridge’s own discount program, so if you plan to cross regularly, sign up through the official toll page before you go.
• Pay attention to your card currency. If you pay by debit or credit card at the toll lane, the Canadian rate applies. Depending on your card’s exchange rate and fees, that can change what you actually pay.

Larger vehicles pay per axle: $8.75 U.S. ($12 Canadian) standard, or $6.90 U.S. ($9.60 Canadian) per axle with Breakaway. That covers commercial trucks, buses, RVs, and anything over 7.5 feet tall.

Can You Walk or Bike Across the Gordie Howe Bridge? Yes, for Free

This is the part Detroit has never had. The bridge includes a multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists, and crossing it costs nothing.

The path runs about 1.5 miles across the Detroit River, nearly 12 feet wide, separated from traffic by concrete barriers, with lighting, security cameras, and emergency call stations along the way. Both ends connect to dedicated border processing for path users, so you clear customs on foot or on your bike just like drivers do in their lanes.

One thing to confirm before you lace up: the bridge authority has published the path details, but check the official multi-use path page for the path’s opening timing and hours before making the trip. We will confirm and update this guide once path access is verified on the ground.

What Documents Do You Need to Cross?

It is an international border, on foot or behind the wheel. U.S. citizens re-entering from Canada need a passport, a passport card, a Michigan enhanced driver’s license, or a trusted traveler card like NEXUS. Kids have different rules depending on age and how they are traveling, so check the official CBP guidance before a family trip.

That enhanced license detail matters for Michiganders: if you already have one, a Windsor lunch by bike just became a document-ready day trip with zero extra paperwork.

The Bridge Is Open. Here Is What Changed

The bridge opened to traffic on Monday, July 27, connecting I-75 directly to Highway 401. It is the region’s first new border crossing in nearly a century, and the first with a freeway-to-freeway route, which pulls international truck traffic off Windsor’s city streets.

Expect opening day itself to be busy with first-crossing traffic and plenty of cameras, ours included. If you just need to get to Windsor efficiently that day, the tunnel may honestly be the faster play. If you want to be part of it, roll down the windows and take the new road. Make a day of it with our Caesars Windsor guide, and see what else is changing across the city in our Detroit projects to watch in 2026.

Gordie Howe Bridge Crossing FAQ

How much are the Gordie Howe Bridge tolls?

Gordie Howe Bridge tolls are $5.75 U.S. or $8 Canadian each way for most cars, SUVs, minivans, and motorcycles. The Breakaway discount program lowers that to $4.35 U.S. ($6 Canadian). Larger vehicles over 7.5 feet tall pay $8.75 U.S. ($12 Canadian) per axle.

Is it free to walk or bike across the Gordie Howe Bridge?

Yes. The multi-use path is toll-free. It runs about 1.5 miles, is nearly 12 feet wide, and is separated from vehicle traffic by concrete barriers, with lighting, cameras, and emergency call stations. You still clear customs at dedicated facilities on each end.

What documents do I need to cross the Gordie Howe Bridge?

U.S. citizens need a passport, passport card, Michigan enhanced driver’s license, or a NEXUS card to re-enter from Canada, whether crossing by car, bike, or on foot. Check official CBP guidance for children’s document rules.

When does the Gordie Howe Bridge open?

The bridge opened Monday, July 27, 2026, connecting I-75 in Detroit with Highway 401 in Windsor. It is the first new Detroit River crossing in nearly a century.

Is there a discount for frequent crossings?

Yes. The bridge’s Breakaway program discounts car crossings to $4.35 U.S. ($6 Canadian) and per-axle commercial rates to $6.90 U.S. ($9.60 Canadian). Sign up through the official bridge website.

Two Countries, $5.75, or Free If You Pedal

For the price of a coney and a coffee, you can drive to another country on a brand-new bridge. Or bring a bike and do it for free. Detroit has waited almost a century for a new way across the river, and it opens July 27. Will your first crossing be by car, bike, or on foot? Tell us in the comments, and follow @rawdetroit for our first-crossing coverage.

Updated July 14, 2026. Toll rates come from the bridge authority’s official published schedule and are subject to change; confirm path opening timing on the official site before you go.