Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day in 2026 are not far apart: the Mid-Autumn holiday runs from September 25 to 27, while the National Day holiday runs from October 1 to 7. However, for travelers driving themselves, the toll rules for the two holiday periods are not the same—normal charging applies during the Mid-Autumn Festival, while during National Day, eligible vehicles can pass for free.

The most likely source of misunderstanding is this: the two holidays are only three days apart—why can’t they be treated as one continuous free period? If a vehicle crosses midnight at 00:00 on October 1 or 24:00 on October 7, should the calculation be based on the time the vehicle enters the expressway or the time it leaves the expressway?

【Whether it is free or not does not depend on how close the two holidays are】

The policy for free passage on toll roads during major public holidays covers the Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, National Day, and their surrounding holiday days. The Mid-Autumn Festival is not listed separately as a free holiday.

Therefore, whether a passage is free is determined not by whether two holidays are adjacent on the calendar, but by whether the holiday period falls within the free range explicitly stated in the policy. In 2026, the Mid-Autumn Festival is scheduled as a standalone 3-day holiday, not as a contiguous holiday period of National Day. As a result, toll roads are charged normally from September 25 to September 27.

The free period for National Day is from 00:00 on October 1 to 24:00 on October 7. The dates from September 28 to September 30 after the Mid-Autumn holiday also do not fall within the National Day free period, so the two holiday segments cannot be combined for calculation.

【Not all vehicles and not all roads are free】

Free passage during the National Day holiday applies to small passenger vehicles with 7 seats or fewer. Passenger vehicles with 8 seats or more, freight trucks, and passenger-cargo dual-purpose vehicles do not fall within this free category.

Actual determination cannot be based only on whether a vehicle is commonly called a “small car” or a “business car” in daily life. It should be based on the vehicle’s registration and the vehicle’s actual situation. Whether a motorcycle can enter expressways also depends on the specific regulations in each locality.

The policy targets toll roads. During the free period, qualified vehicles can pass for free on toll expressways and ordinary toll roads according to the relevant rules. For roads that were not toll roads in the first place, there is no issue of fee reductions or exemptions.

【Crossing midnight—what matters is when you leave the expressway】

For expressways, whether a vehicle is within the free period is determined by the time the vehicle leaves the exit toll lane, not by when it enters the expressway.

This means that even if a vehicle that qualifies for free passage enters the expressway on the evening of September 30, as long as it leaves the exit toll lane after 00:00 on October 1, it will be handled as being within the free period. Conversely, if the vehicle only leaves the expressway after 24:00 on October 7, then even if it entered the expressway while the free period was still ongoing, it is already outside the free period.

The decision point for ordinary toll roads is slightly different: it is based on the time when the vehicle passes through the toll gate’s toll lane. Both types of roads relate to the “moment when billing is determined,” but for expressways, the key is the exit. You cannot simply assume that if you are on the road during the free period, the entire trip is guaranteed to be free.

【Fee decisions must not override driving safety】

Knowing how to calculate cross-midnight timing is for planning routes and timing reasonably, not for trying to “hit the deadline” by driving at the right moment. Transportation departments clearly remind drivers not to park in expressway emergency lanes or at toll plazas waiting for the free time, and not to speed in order to leave the expressway before the free period ends.

If you expect you cannot safely leave the expressway before 24:00 on October 7, drive according to normal itinerary. Do not temporarily accelerate or park in violation. Before departure, also confirm the vehicle information on the vehicle registration, and check the temporary control measures and real-time road conditions released by the transportation authorities at your destination.

What you can determine in advance are the nationally applicable free dates, vehicle type range, and timing rules. What cannot be predicted solely from these rules is the extent of congestion in each locality at that time, as well as traffic organization and on-site passage arrangements. If navigation prompts or traffic management instructions differ from your original plan, prioritize safe guidance on site.

For research and study only and does not constitute investment advice.