Fort McHenry Tunnel

I remember going through this lengthy underwater tunnel when I was a kid. My dad used to say «is that water leaking down the side of the tunnel?» lol
Now 35 years later I find myself driving through the tunnel several times a week… and smiling. Of course there is no water leaking, and it is very safe. The tunnel is nice, well kept up and two lines of traffic that move in the same direction. This area has lots of tunnels and bridges… I love it. It does cost $ 4.00 for most tolls unless you have an EZ pass… and we are waiting for ours.

$ 4 for cash and EZ PASS. I highly suggest getting yourself EZ PASS to avoid long waits on the cash lines. The cash line waits can take up to 2 hours!
The tunnel has smooth roads, which is a plus for me.

How to REDUCE the number of car in tunnels… I feel like there’s always traffic or massive amount of cars while driving through this freaken tunnel… Lights are extremely bright… Feel like your driving lights speed… weeewww…

It does the job…$ 4 was alittle high I though though.

Hrmmmm I wonder if people actually read reviews of tunnels but I frequent this one and have a ton of useful info! So here goes:
1) Pay with EZ pass, free account online and MUCH faster than paying with cash:
2) When going SOUTH through the tunnel, if you need to take exit 55 (key highway) you MUST STAY IN THE RIGHT LANE IN THE TUNNEL. Yes, it takes forever as you tailgate the truck going 20 MPH but your exit is literally feet beyond the end of the tunnel. Otherwise you WILL MISS your exit!
3) There are police everywhere before and after the tunnel-​rush hour, in between hours, everything. Don’t be a dummy.

Traffic leading up to the toll booth of the tunnel going towards Baltimore can be annoying at times.
But this tunnel is nice to drive through, especially since it brings me right to the Port of Baltimore whenever I need to board a cruise ship, like the Carnival Pride!
Other times, I know that once I come out of the tunnel, I am closer to Washington D. C, and seeing my relatives in Maryland and Virginia.
Happy Travels!

Forgive me for getting sentimental about a roadway, but I’m old enough to remember when this was built. As a matter of fact, I still refer to it as «The New Tunnel.»
Most of the memories are from riding to with my grandparents. We lived in Elkridge and they lived in Perry Hall, so we came this way quite frequently. My grandfather was always prepared with his dollar bill ready and out the window as we pulled up (yes, the toll was only a $ 1 back then).
I still prefer the Harbor Tunnel when I’m traveling through the area because 895 feels quicker to the airport. I could just be fooling myself, but it gives me a chance to pretend like I’m a local expert.

Hey, its a transit tunnel… that costs $ 4 to go through! I suppose it’s a small price to pay if you are travelling in that direction, rather than crossing the city or going around on I-​695.

First of all, I was super excited to learn that I could Unilocal review the tunnel! Awesome! I take this tunnel every afternoon on my commute from VA back to Canton and never have any problems with it. The EZ-​Pass lane on the far left can get crowded on the northbound lanes in the afternoon/​evening, but there are a lot of people trying to go the same way at the same time… nothing MTA can do about that. I find that the EZ-​Pass lane on the far right is super fast… just follow the purple bubbles!

So my last few times under the Baltimore Harbor I have not been able to check in or snap a picture. This time, I was!
This tunnel is a great work around from the crazy, space-​age, floating freeways of downtown Baltimore. And they seem to take youu around traffic.
I love the Fort McHenry Tunnel. EZ Pass yeah!

Yay tunnel! I can get there faster going under things. Except when I can’t. Please find a way to make the EZ Pass lanes faster.

Can’t we fix the long lines to the toll booths, especially for E-​Z Pass users?! Why is it all bunched up in the left lane, which is supposed to be ONLY for E-​Z Pass while the right lane was fine?!? This makes no sense.
The good news is that you’ll still have cell reception in the tunnel. My map app did just fine in here as I was checking out the traffic & I could even do check-​ins while I was in it.

A tunnel is a cool man-​made piece of art! I’m in awe of all the sea creatures that are swimming about as I’m passing thru. But, then again — you also can’t help but imagine and get wigged out about any cracks in the dike…

Of the three tunnels/​bridge systems in Baltimore, this one is surely the longest one. Be prepared for extremely long lines if choosing this route, as the toll booths here, are always bottled up in zillions of cars (unless you have E-​Z Pass-​in which case, there are no bottle-​ups). When I was there a few years ago, you had to pay $ 4 both ways (2007), but that all could have changed now, and because I had an E-​Z Pass from a different state (NY) at the time, I had no problem choosing a quick line at the toll booth. Thank you for enabling E-​Z Pass here, MTAMD.
Side note: each (south/north)bound area consists of 2 iron-​clad tunnel systems. Upon exiting the toll booth you’ll be faced with the two tunnels you must choose between. However, may I suggest just driving ahead into your closest one)(unless other issues don’t permit this). Just remember not to change lanes inside this tunnel.

It’s a long one, but I can totally hold my breath the whole way. Go me!
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edit: and ya’ll need to stop «that’s what she said!“ing me… if whoever SHE is, holds her breath during what ever you might happen to be referring, I’d be worried.
jerks. :P
this is going to get flagged now, isn’t it.

Uh…
Why am I being given an opportunity to review this Fort McHenry tunnel? It’s fine when there isn’t traffic and it sucks when there is.

I tried to hold my breath but I could not make it.

The Fort McHenry Tunnel. Been traversing under the Patapsco River for many years now — since it opened in 1985.
I’ve been a fan of tunnels since I was a little kid! It’s like traversing a wormhole or transwarp conduit and emerging in a different region of space! Cool tunnel!