Free hours, tunnel vs bridge & traffic
The Dart Charge runs 6am to 10pm. Crossings between 10pm and 6am are free. Northbound goes through two tunnels, southbound takes the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.
Charging hours
6am-10pm
every day, including weekends and bank holidays
Free window
10pm-6am
every night, no registration needed
Christmas Day
Free 10pm-6am
standard rate during the day, free overnight
Tunnel or bridge? Here's the rule.
The Dartford Crossing is one charge but two physical routes. Direction decides which one you take.
Kent to Essex: through the tunnels
Two bored tunnels, opened in 1963 and 1980. They sit beneath the Thames, one carrying two lanes. Vehicles taller than 4.88m are diverted onto the bridge in both directions.
- Two tunnels, two lanes each
- Maximum height 4.88m
- Hazardous load restrictions apply (escort vehicle)
- Northbound queues are typically longer than southbound
Essex to Kent: across the bridge
The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, opened October 1991. A cable-stayed bridge, four lanes wide, visible from miles away on the A282 approach.
- Four lanes, southbound only
- No general height restriction (clearance is much higher)
- Closes during severe wind (typically over 60mph)
- Free-flow at off-peak times
When to avoid it
The crossing handles around 150,000 vehicles a day, well above its design capacity. Peak times bunch quickly.
| When | Direction | Typical conditions | Add to your journey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday 6-7am | Both | Light traffic, free until 6am | +5-10 min |
| Weekday 7-9:30am | Southbound | Heavy | +20-45 min |
| Weekday 9:30am-3pm | Both | Moderate | +5-15 min |
| Weekday 4-7pm | Northbound | Very heavy | +30-60 min |
| Friday 3-8pm | Both | Worst of the week | +45-90 min |
| Saturday 10am-4pm | Both | Moderate to heavy | +15-30 min |
| Sunday all day | Both | Light to moderate | +5-15 min |
| 10pm-6am | Both | Free + empty | 0 min |
Live traffic
For real-time conditions, these are the most reliable sources, in order. None of them are run by Dart Charge.
- Google Maps / Waze: community-fed, fastest to spot incidents.
- RAC traffic news: incident details for the M25 region.
- National Highways customer information service: official planned closures and diversions.
- @HighwaysSEAST on X for live alerts on the eastern section of the M25.