RV propane on ferries, bridges and tunnels: what each crossing allows, and when to shut it off

Last verified: October 30, 2026

Disclosure: Some links on this site may be affiliate links; see our disclosure. We are not affiliated with any agency or company named here. Rules change and crews have the final say, so check local rules and posted signs and follow your RV and appliance owner's manuals. Safety: if you smell gas, close the cylinder or tank valve, put out all flames, and get everyone out and away before you look for the leak.

"Do you leave the propane on while you drive?" comes up in RV groups and on X every week, and the answers are all over the place. There is no single national rule for private RVs. What you will run into are the rules for specific crossings (ferries, bridge-tunnels and urban tunnels) and the warnings in your appliance manuals. Here's what those official sources say, so you can plan the day before you're stuck in the lineup.

Quick table: crossings with written propane rules

Crossing	What the operator says
Washington State Ferries	Portable propane: total weight, including the tanks, can't go over 100 lb. WSF's example is two 20-lb tanks, about 76 lb total. Fixed tanks permanently installed on the frame or chassis don't count toward that limit. If you also carry gasoline cans, propane plus gasoline can't exceed 12 gallons (water capacity) combined. [1]
Alaska Marine Highway	Propane valves must be closed and sealed by terminal personnel, and cylinders must be upright and firmly secured. RVs may have a maximum of two cylinders connected to a regulator and secured in or on the vehicle, plus a third cylinder no larger than 20 lb (9 kg) for a BBQ. Cars and boats on trailers: one cylinder up to 20 lb each. [2]
Texas ferries (Galveston–Bolivar, Port Aransas)	RVs with large propane bottles can board if the bottles are secured to the vehicle and tied into the system. Any extra bottle must be shut off and secured, and can't exceed 33 lb. Port Aransas allows two 7.5-gallon (30 lb of gas each) or one 10-gallon (40 lb) container, with a shut-off valve that is closed on the ferry; Galveston–Bolivar allows one container up to 33 lb of gas. The captain can refuse passage for a safety risk. [3]
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, VA	For non-commercial vehicles: no more than two non-permanently mounted containers of up to 105 lb water capacity (45 lb LP-gas) each, or one container of up to 60 lb LP-gas; or no more than two permanently mounted containers totaling 300 lb water capacity when used as motor fuel. Tanks must be DOT-approved, properly secured and valves closed while crossing, and are subject to inspection at the toll plaza. Flames used for heating vehicles must be put out before entering. [4]
Holland and Lincoln tunnels, George Washington Bridge lower level (NY–NJ)	Prohibited: house trailers, camper trailers, self-propelled campers, RVs and other vehicles equipped with LPG installations for cooking, heating or refrigeration. The rules add that there is no "Materials of Trade" exemption for propane. [5]
Queens Midtown and Hugh L. Carey tunnels (NYC, MTA)	MTA says the transportation of all hazardous materials is prohibited in both tunnels. [6] Plan an MTA bridge route instead and check MTA's hazmat regulations for your rig.
Fort McHenry (I-95) and Baltimore Harbor (I-895) tunnels, MD	Bottled propane in containers over 10 lb is prohibited, empty or full (maximum ten 10-lb containers). MDTA points travelers to the western I-695 route around the harbor. [7][8]
Virginia's six state-owned tunnels (incl. Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, I-64)	VDOT says hazmat rules for these tunnels are published in DMV's Size, Weight and Equipment Requirements, and lists a phone number for each tunnel (Hampton Roads: 757-727-4832). We couldn't confirm RV-specific propane wording on an official page, so call before you go. [9]

Going through New York or Baltimore? Our propane refill guide covers those tunnels, plus why a station might refuse to fill your tank.

Ferry day: a checklist that fits every operator above

Read your route's rule the night before. The limits are different on every system: WSF counts total weight including tanks [1], Texas counts pounds of gas [3], and Alaska counts cylinders [2].
Count your spare bottles. The extra 20-lb tank for the grill or the generator is the one that usually puts you over. Alaska allows one 20-lb BBQ cylinder on top of the two hooked up [2]; Texas allows an extra bottle up to 33 lb, shut off and secured [3].
Close the valves before the lineup. Alaska terminal staff close and seal them [2]; Port Aransas requires the valve closed on board [3]; CBBT requires valves closed while crossing [4]. That means the fridge, furnace and water heater won't run on gas during the crossing, so pre-cool the fridge and keep the doors shut.
Secure every cylinder upright so it can't tip. [2][4]
Expect an inspection at CBBT, and know that a ferry captain can turn you away. [3][4]
Gasoline cans count too on WSF (12-gallon combined limit with propane) [1] and on Texas ferries. [3]

Propane on or off while you drive?

We couldn't find a federal rule that tells a private RV owner to drive with the propane on or off, and we won't make one up. What the official sources do agree on:

Shut it off to refuel. Dometic's refrigerator manual warns: "When refueling or parked near gasoline pumps shut off all LP gas appliances." [10] The concern is an open flame near gasoline vapor.
Shut it off where the crossing says to: the ferries and bridge-tunnels above, and anywhere the signs say so. [1][2][3][4]
No open flames heating the vehicle going into the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. [4]
Otherwise, follow your owner's manuals. Your RV maker and each appliance maker set the rules for running the fridge or furnace while you're moving. Some fridges switch to 12-volt or AC power when they're available; check your model's manual.

Truckers with a sleeper heater or a camper on the pickup: the ferry rules count any propane you carry, not just RV tanks. Ask the terminal if you're not sure. [1][2][3]

Sources

Sourced from the official agency and manufacturer pages listed above. Last verified October 30, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Crossing staff have the final say; follow posted signs and your owner's manuals.