Zambales to Manila Toll Fee — SCTEX → NLEX
Class 1₱857.00Cars, jeeps, vans, SUVs
Class 2₱1956.00Buses, light trucks
Class 3₱2569.00Heavy trucks
Route: Tipo/Subic → Balintawak
Zambales back to Manila enters SCTEX at Tipo, joins NLEX at Mabalacat, and exits at Balintawak. Same total fare as the outbound run.
Per-expressway breakdown (Class 1)
- NLEXTipo/Subic → Balintawak₱857.00
When to drive this route
Sunday-afternoon NLEX southbound from Bocaue to Marilao is the slow patch (3 PM–9 PM). Leaving Iba/San Antonio before 11 AM Sunday clears the worst of it.
Where to exit
Mindanao Avenue, Karuhatan, or Balintawak. NLEX-SLEX Connector for SLEX onward trips.
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 Zambales 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 Zambales to Manila route?
- SCTEX → NLEX. Plazas: Tipo/Subic (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 2–2.5 hours for the 130 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.