Clark to Manila Toll Fee — SCTEX → NLEX
Coming back to Manila from Clark, you enter SCTEX at Clark North, merge onto NLEX at Mabalacat, and pay out at Balintawak. The same fare as the outbound, but Sunday-afternoon NLEX southbound is where you’ll spend the time, not the fare.
Per-expressway breakdown (Class 1)
- NLEXClark North → Balintawak₱467.00
When to drive this route
Sunday returns from Clark stack up between 4 PM and 9 PM at the Marilao to Bocaue stretch. Leaving Clark by 1 PM or waiting until 9 PM is the difference between 90 minutes and 3 hours.
Where to exit
For Quezon City use Mindanao Avenue or Karuhatan; for EDSA-Caloocan use Balintawak. To bypass NLEX southbound traffic on Sunday afternoons, link via the NLEX–SLEX Connector at C5 North — it adds a flat ₱90 (Class 1) but skips EDSA entirely.
Plan your fuel cost too
Tolls are only one part of the trip budget. Combine this calculator with our live national fuel-price tracker or check diesel prices in Manila. For more drive-cost guides, see the TipidGas blog.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is the Clark to Manila toll fee?
- The total toll for a private car (Class 1) is shown above. Class 2 (buses, light trucks) is roughly 2× the Class 1 rate. Class 3 (heavy trucks) is roughly 3×. All fares already include the 12% VAT.
- What expressways are used on the Clark to Manila route?
- SCTEX → NLEX. Plazas: Clark North (entry) → Balintawak (exit). Cross-expressway transitions are charged automatically — you only stop at the entry and exit plazas.
- Which RFID system do I need?
- Both Easytrip (NLEX, SCTEX, TPLEX, CAVITEX, CALAX, Skyway) and Autosweep (SLEX, STAR, Skyway Stages 1–2) work end-to-end at all plazas. Top up before the trip — running out at a closed-system entry plaza is the most common pain point.
- How long does the drive take?
- Approximately 1.5–2 hours for the 100 km drive, in clear traffic. Allow extra time for weekday morning rush hour at NLEX or SLEX, and for Sunday-afternoon return queues.
- Are these toll fees up to date?
- Yes. Fares come from the official Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) toll-rate matrices via the public expressway.ph API. The data is re-synced weekly.