# North Luzon Expressway

The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), signed as E1 of the Philippine expressway network, partially as N160 of the Philippine highway network, and partially as R-8 of the Metro Manila arterial road network, is a controlled-access highway that connects Metro Manila to the provinces of the Central Luzon region in the Philippines. The expressway, which includes the main segment and its various spurs, has a total length of 101.8 kilometers (63.3 mi) and travels from its northern terminus at Santa Ines Interchange in Mabalacat, Pampanga, to its southern terminus at Balintawak Interchange in Quezon City, which is adjacent to its connection to Skyway, an elevated toll road that connects the expressway to its counterpart in the south, the South Luzon Expressway. The segment of the expressway between Santa Rita Exit in Guiguinto and the Balintawak Interchange is part of Asian Highway 26 of the Asian highway network. Although its name implies a connection to northern Luzon, the expressway's northern end is actually in Central Luzon.
The North Luzon Expressway was built in the 1960s as part of the government's program to develop areas adjacent to Metro Manila, with NLEX serving the north. The expressway was originally controlled by the Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC), until the expressway's operations and maintenance was transferred on February 10, 2005, to the NLEX Corporation, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (a former subsidiary of Lopez Holdings Corporation until August 2008). The expressway was expanded and rehabilitated from 2003 to February 2005, modernizing the road and its facilities.

## Route description
### NLEX Main

The North Luzon Expressway's main segment, called the North Luzon Tollway (NLT) or NLEX Main, cuts northwards from Quezon City to the provinces in Central Luzon.
The expressway begins in Quezon City as a four lane road at the Balintawak Interchange with EDSA as a continuation of A. Bonifacio Avenue. The main segment spans 84 km (52 miles), passing through Caloocan and Valenzuela in Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga in Central Luzon. It currently ends in Mabalacat. The NLEX runs parallel to the MacArthur Highway, which is officially known as the Manila North Road.
From Balintawak, the NLEX follows a straight north route, with sections lined by billboards. Two service roads run on either sides of the expressway from Balintawak to Barangay Lias, Marilao, albeit discontinuously and one service road on the west from Marilao Exit to Duhat, Bocaue. The N160 concurrency end in the city boundaries of Caloocan and Malabon, near the Eternal Gardens Memorial Park and just below Skyway and its Balintawak Exit and few meters south of the former site of Balintawak toll plaza that operated until 2005. The expressway then bends westward at Harbor Link Interchange in Valenzuela and in Tambubong Interchange in Bocaue, Bulacan. The following exit, Tabang, leads passengers to the Tabang Spur Road. The Tabang Spur Road is a four-lane, 3.36-kilometer (2.09 mi) spur road in Bulacan that branches off NLEX Main at Tabang Exit in Balagtas and terminates at a partial cloverleaf interchange with MacArthur Highway and Cagayan Valley Road at Guiguinto Exit in Guiguinto. The spur road carried the final leg of the expressway until the present route was extended to Pampanga.
The expressway narrows to three lanes per direction past Tabang Exit. It continues on a straight route, traversing paddy fields on the outskirts of Guiguinto, Malolos, and Pulilan. The Asian Highway 26 (AH26) concurrency leaves NLEX at Santa Rita Exit, where it follows Maharlika Highway, also known as Cagayan Valley Road, towards Baliwag and Cagayan Valley. A few meters after Pulilan Exit is the Candaba Viaduct (officially known as Pulilan-Apalit Bridge). The bridge traverses rice paddies and swampland in the municipalities of Pulilan, Calumpit, Bulacan and Apalit, Pampanga, and crosses Apalit Bypass Road and Pampanga River before the viaduct ends. The expressway continues again on a straight alignment. After San Fernando Exit, the expressway narrows into two lanes per direction. It continues a mostly straight and gently winding route through the rural areas of Mexico, crossing Abacan and Quitangil rivers, and traversing the eastern parts of Angeles and Mabalacat. NLEX connects with Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway via Clark Spur Road, which ends Radial Road 8 concurrency before the main line terminates at Sta. Ines Interchange, with a toll plaza serving the exit.

### NLEX Harbor Link

Collectively known as the North Luzon Expressway Harbor Link Project (NLEX Harbor Link Project), these series of expressways connect the North Luzon Expressway to various points in Metro Manila. It currently runs from Mindanao Avenue in Valenzuela to Radial Road 10 in Navotas, linking the North Luzon Expressway to the Port of Manila. Once completed, it will run from Katipunan Avenue, a component of Circumferential Road 5, in Quezon City at the east.

## History
### Planning and construction

The original stretch of the highway, named Manila North Expressway, from Balintawak Interchange in Quezon City up to Guiguinto Exit in Bulacan, was completed on August 4, 1968. It is a fully fenced limited-access highway that consisted of a four-lane rural divided roadway, nine twin bridges, one railroad overpass, seven underpasses, and three interchanges. The executive order was signed to designate the highway as a toll road.
Originally a project of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the completion of the major portion of the job fell on the Construction Development Corporation of the Philippines (CDCP, the precursor to PNCC) to pioneer the toll concept of funding infrastructure. It was carried out under the private financing scheme provided by Republic Act No. 3741.
Additional work required by the government included the construction of the Balintawak – Novaliches Interchange Complex, the Tabang Interchange, and the approach road of the underpasses.
The construction of the extension, began in April 1974 and was completed in August 1977. The route, consisting of 50.9 kilometers (31.6 mi) of concrete road, was built as part of a highways program of the International Bank for Reconstruction Development (World Bank) linking major urban centers to the production centers in the north. The project features a 4-lane limited-access highway with a 5-kilometer (3.1 mi) Candaba Viaduct, a construction innovation utilizing precast beam system, 6 interchanges, 12 bridges, and overpass/underpass structures.
Between 1982 and 1989, under the administrations of Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino, the expressway was extended by another 5 kilometers (3.1 mi) from its terminus at Dau Exit to Santa Ines Exit in Mabalacat, Pampanga, with a northbound lane from Dau Exit to the future connection to SCTEX had an asphalt overlay while the southbound lane was originally a concrete road before an asphalt overlay was added upon the expressway's rehabilitation.

### Planned extension to Pangasinan and La Union

Early in the plans that would have extended the expressway beyond its northern terminus in Mabalacat, Pampanga, towards the Ilocos region. These various different proposals have been made throughout the years.
In 1977, President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. signed a presidential decree that proposes an expressway extension to Rosales, Pangasinan. They later mentioned it again in 1983. In 1989, the PNCC proposed an extension of the expressway, totaling by 20 kilometers (12 mi) from Mabalacat to Capas, Tarlac, and 82 kilometers (51 mi) to Rosales.
In 1994, the PNCC entered into a MOU with Italian-Thai Development for the extension of the North Luzon Tollway to Pangasinan and La Union, as well as the widening of the expressway from four to eight lanes under the build-operate-transfer scheme. However, the agreement turned into a deadlock, and Congressman Mike Defensor was assailed for imputing motivations to Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. for resolving, and also, Benpres (now Lopez Holdings Corporation), which involved the rehabilitation and expansion of the expressway, was planned to include the extension to Pangasinan and La Union with agreement as its revision. Nothing came out of that undertaking.
Filipinas Dravo Corporation also made a study on the expressway extension that would extend to San Fernando, La Union, totaling 162 kilometers (101 mi) in 1996 and proposed it in the 1997 master plan.
On December 30, 1996, Japanese company Itochu signed an agreement with the PNCC to build the extension of the expressway to Pangasinan, and a feasibility study was conducted. Meanwhile, the route has a total length of 88 kilometers (55 mi) from Mabalacat to Urdaneta, Pangasinan, with a planned extension to La Union. When the proposal was not realized, the extension of the expressway was split into two expressways, the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway and its segment between Clark and Tarlac City, and the Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway. No new proposals have made since then.

### Expansion and rehabilitation

On April 30, 1998, the MNTC was granted the concession for the expressway, manifested in a Supplementary Toll Operation Agreement (STOA). Under the STOA, the government confirmed the assignment by PNCC of its usufructuary rights, interest and privileges over the existing expressway, including all extensions, linkages and diversions in favor of MNTC. These concession rights authorized MNTC to construct, finance, manage, operate and maintain all the project roads and charge tolls thereon.
From February 2003 to February 2005, the expressway underwent a major rehabilitation. Works included the widening of the Balintawak–Tabang segment from 6 to 8 lanes and the Tabang–Sta. Rita segment from 4 to 6 lanes, asphalt overlay, and the demolition of old tollbooths. The main contractor of the rehabilitation work was Leighton Asia with Egis as the main subcontractor for the toll, telecommunication and traffic management systems. To help maintain the safety and quality of the expressway, various rules are in effect, such as restricting the left lane to passing vehicles only and banning overloaded trucks. On February 10, 2005, commercial operations began following the Toll Regulatory Board's issuance of the Toll Operation Permit. On the same day, the operation and maintenance of the expressway was transferred from the government-owned PNCC to the privately owned MNTC, which would later become known as NLEX Corporation.
On February 12, 2007, the entire stretch of the expressway began another rehabilitation regarding its drainage systems. Within this period, certain lanes of the road were closed to the traffic. This in turn caused massive traffic jams along the road and the speed limit on the construction sites were reduced from 80 km/h (50 mph) and 100 km/h (62 mph), respectively, to 60 km/h (37 mph). The program was finished on October 7, 2007.

### Further extensions

Construction of NLEX Segment 8.1 (Mindanao Avenue Link), the first segment of the Harbor Link project, broke ground on April 2, 2009, with actual construction work beginning on April 21, 2009. Right-of-way for the road and interchange was then established throughout its construction where several houses were demolished. It was opened to the traffic on June 5, 2010. The spur road became part of the C-5 Road North Extension and is built to provide another entry point to the expressway from Metro Manila and decongest Balintawak Interchange.
On March 18, 2015, NLEX Segment 9 or the NLEX Karuhatan Link was opened, providing continuation to Segment 8.1 that runs from the other side of the Harbor Link Interchange to MacArthur Highway in Karuhatan, Valenzuela.
On February 28, 2019, the main stretch of NLEX Segment 10 or the NLEX Harbor Link, from Karuhatan to C-3 Road, was opened to traffic. On February 21, 2020, its C3–R10 Section was partially opened up to its Malabon exit ramp; the remaining section to Radial Road 10 was opened on June 15, 2020.
NLEX Segment 8.2, which would extend NLEX Segment 8.1 from Mindanao Avenue to Congressional Avenue, is also set to be constructed, but its construction was delayed due to right of way issues.

#### NLEX Connector

NLEX Connector is a 7.7-kilometer (4.8 mi) elevated highway serving as a connector between NLEX and SLEX. Section 1 was opened to the public, while Section 2, which is 59.12% complete as of December 2023, was partially opened and is planned to be finished in the fourth quarter of 2024.

### Proposed renaming

The main expressway has been a subject of some legislative measures for its proposed renaming. These were filed to commemorate to the historical significance and contributions of its intended namesakes, respectively. However, none has taken effect to date, as these await a counterpart measure from the Senate before it can be signed into law by the President of the Philippines.
On May 10, 2015, the House Committee on Public Works and Highways approved House Bill No. 4820 that seeks to rename the expressway to President Corazon C. Aquino Expressway (CAEX), in honor of former President Corazon Aquino, who was regarded as an icon of democracy. It was authored by Magnolia Rosa Antonino-Nadres, the then-representative from Nueva Ecija's 4th district.
On May 13, 2019, the House of Representatives passed on third and final reading the House Bill No. 8958 that seeks to rename the expressway to the Marcelo H. del Pilar Expressway (MHDPEX), in honor of Marcelo H. del Pilar, a revolutionary writer and patriot from Bulacan. The bill is principally authored by Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, the then-representative from Bulacan's 1st district.

## Future
### Santa Ines extension

Currently, NLEX terminates at the Santa Ines Exit in Mabalacat, Pampanga. Plans to continue the expressway beyond have been raised over the years, with the cooperation of DPWH, to extend the Sta. Ines Interchange towards Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway, also in Mabalacat.

### NLEX Phase 3

NLEX Phase 3 would be a 40-kilometer (25 mi) extension with three segments from NLEX Main, originally planned to be built from San Simon, Pampanga, to Dinalupihan, Bataan, connecting to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone via SCTEX. However, the plan was modified to instead start somewhere between Apalit and San Fernando in Pampanga, then cut across Guagua and end at Dinalupihan. Though the project will tentatively start from Apalit based on the concession, the new alignment has yet to be finalized.

### Santo Tomas Interchange

On January 19, 2024, the NLEX Corporation announced its partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Toll Regulatory Board for the construction of a new interchange in Santo Tomas, Pampanga, as part of the Greater Pampanga Circumferential Road Masterplan. The interchange will connect the future Lubao–Guagua–Minalin–Santo Tomas Bypass Road and aims to alleviate congestion on Jose Abad Santos Avenue.

### NLEX Air

On August 30, 2024, MPTC announced plans to construct an elevated road, named NLEX Air, extending from the Balintawak Toll Plaza to the Tambubong Interchange. With a total length of 17 kilometers (11 mi), is one of the most congested sections of the expressway, and MPTC believes an elevated tollway would ease traffic buildup in the area. In November, MTC President J Luigi L Bautista announced NLEX Air will be a multi-lane free-flow (MLFF) system or barrier-free tollway, equipped with efficiency antennae, RFID sensors, ALPR and infrared, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

### New Manila International Airport link

Pillars have been built on NLEX between its Balintawak toll plaza and Skyway Stage 3's Balintawak/NLEX off-ramp to accommodate a future toll road to New Manila International Airport in Bulakan, Bulacan. The future project, to be built by San Miguel Corporation, will expand the capacity of NLEX by adding new 4–5 lanes up to Marilao, which was selected for another toll road to the future airport. After the completion of this elevated toll road, NLEX will have 11–13 lanes total (3–4 lanes per direction on NLEX + 5 lanes on the elevated segment) from Balintawak Cloverleaf to Marilao, ultimately bypassing the NLEX's open section.
The toll road project, later known as the Northern Access Link Expressway (NALEX), was approved by the Toll Regulatory Board in June 2022. It would be 19 kilometers (12 mi) long from Skyway Stage 3 to a roundabout in Meycauayan, near the airport. Another 117-kilometer (73 mi) stretch would be built beyond the NMIA roundabout, ending at the southern end of the Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway in Tarlac City. When completed, NALEX would be 136 kilometers (85 mi) long. The NALEX project costs ₱148 billion and the first segment is targeted to be completed by 2026.

## Tolls

The tollway has two sections: an open section and a closed section. The open section, which is between Bocaue Exit and Balintawak Toll Barrier and the entire NLEX Harbor Link, employs the use of a barrier toll system, which charges a flat toll based on vehicle class. It is employed to reduce the number of toll barriers (and associated bottlenecks) within Metro Manila. The closed section, which is from Bocaue Exit northwards and the northbound exit to Philippine Arena (south of Bocaue), is distance-based, charging based on the class of vehicle and distance traveled. The section south of Balintawak toll barrier is toll-free, especially to vehicles travelling between Quirino Highway and Balintawak Interchange.
When the expressway was modernized, an electronic toll collection system was set up for Class 1 vehicles while prepaid magnetic cards were assigned to Class 2 and 3 vehicles to speed up transactions at toll booths. These have since been replaced by a unified ETC system operated by Easytrip Services Corporation. In accordance with law, all toll rates include a 12% Value-Added Tax (VAT). With the movement of the northernmost toll gate to Sta. Ines, the NLEX and SCTEX toll systems have been merged into one combined system, with tolls for all enclosed destinations listed.
The toll rates, implemented since March 2, 2025, are as follows:
| Class | Open system (Balintawak–Marilao) | Closed system (Bocaue–Santa Ines) |
| Class 1 (cars, motorcycles, SUVs, jeepneys) | ₱79 | ₱5.20/km |
| Class 2 (buses, light trucks) | ₱199 | ₱13.00/km |
| Class 3 (heavy trucks) | ₱238 | ₱15.60/km |

## Services
### Emergency phones and parking bays

Emergency telephone boxes are located throughout the whole length of the expressway. Parking bays (lay-bys) are also placed on regular intervals on the expressway, for use in emergency situations.

### Service areas

North Luzon Expressway has two service areas with 5 on both northbound and southbound of the main line, mostly located on the closed toll section north of Bocaue, and one on Tabang Spur Road; one northbound service area on the main line is currently under construction. Each service station hosts a gas station, a convenience store, restrooms, car repair, and lubrication services. Most of these also have restaurants and ATMs, with some also providing ETC installation and reloading for Easytrip RFID users.
| Location | Kilometer | Name | Services | Notes |
| Valenzuela | 17 | NLEX Drive&Dine | Phoenix, 7-Eleven, JT's Manukan Grille, KFC, McDonald's, Pancake House, Army Navy, Nike, Levi's, Casio Watch Outlet Store, Yellow Cab, Kenny Rogers Roasters, Empanada Nation, Banapple, Pizza Hut, Max's, Tokyo Tokyo, Subway | Southbound only. Formerly a standalone Caltex service station, which was expanded and later replaced by Phoenix Petroleum. |
| Marilao | 23 | Petron Km. 23 | Petron, Jollibee, Chowking, Tapa King, SereniTea, Puma Outlet Store, Burby's, Treats, KFC, Krispy Kreme, Max's, Army Navy, Café France, Shakey's, Seafood Island, Burger King, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Pancake House, Starbucks, Kenny Rogers Roasters, Hap Chan, Mister Donut, BPI ATM, RCBC ATM, UCPB ATM | Northbound only. Expanded in 2012. |
| Bocaue | 30 | Petron Km. 30 | Petron, McDonald's, Fruitas, Pancake House, Subway, Yellow Cab, Army Navy, Max's, Bibingkinitan, Chowking, KFC, Turks, Treats, Starbucks, BPI ATM, Bank of Commerce ATM | Southbound only |
| Balagtas | 31 | Shell NLEX Northbound | Shell, Select, Jollibee, KFC, Burger King, Kenny Rogers Roasters, Starbucks, Chowking, Cinnabon, Hen Lin, Pancake House, Bulacan Lugaw Kitchen, Mang Inasal, Krispy Kreme, Kettle Korn, Don's Original Spanish Churros, Go Mango, BPI ATM, RCBC ATM | Northbound only |
| Guiguinto | 36 | Shell Tabang NLEX | Shell, Shell Shop | Located on Tabang Spur Road. Eastbound only. |
| Guiguinto | 37 | Shell of Asia | Shell, Burger King, Adidas Outlet, Chowking, Mang Inasal, Starbucks, Puma Outlet Store, Fusion Outlet, Raptor Concept Store, Lauro's, DBP ATM, RCBC ATM, Lucky Dragon, Potato Corner | Southbound only |
| Plaridel | 42 | Petron Km. 42 | Petron, Treats, McDonald's | Northbound only |
| Apalit | 55 | Total NLEX | Total, Bonjour, Mang Inasal, Burby's Grill, Max's, Pancake House, Tim Hortons, Tropical Hut, Tapa King | Northbound only |
| San Fernando | 62 | Caltex Mega Station | Caltex, 7-Eleven (formerly Star Mart), Army Navy, KFC, Chowking, Jollibee, Tokyo Tokyo, Nike Factory Store, Teresa's, Kenny Rogers Roasters, Razon's of Guagua, Fashion Rack Designer Outlets, Raptor Concept Store, Café France, BPI ATM, RCBC ATM | Southbound only |
| Mexico | 71 | Petron Km. 71 Lakeshore | Petron, Treats, McDonald's, Starbucks Coffee, Tapa King, Tokyo Tokyo, Kenny Roger's Roasters, BPI ATM, Bank of Commerce ATM | Northbound only |
| Mexico | 76 | Shell NLEX Southbound | Shell, Jollibee, Wendy's, Max's, Krispy Kreme, Tapa King, Hap Chan, Chowking, Select, Yellow Cab, Chatime, Pancake House, Fashion Rack Designer Outlets, BPI ATM, RCBC ATM | Southbound only |
| Mexico | 77 | Shell Mexico Mobility Haven | Shell | Northbound only. Under construction. |

## Exits

Exit numbers are based on kilometer post. Exits begin at 9 because the NLEX is a logical continuation of A. Bonifacio Avenue. Rizal Park in Manila is designated as Kilometer Zero.
| Region | Province | City/Municipality | km | mi | Exit | Name | Destinations | Notes |
| Metro Manila | Quezon City | Quezon City | 9 | 5.6 | | Balintawak Cloverleaf | AH 26 (N1) (EDSA) – Cubao, Monumento, Manila | Southern end of AH26 concurrency and southern terminus; continues south as N160 (A. Bonifacio Avenue) |
| Metro Manila | Quezon City | Quezon City | 9 | 5.6 | | | N127 (Quirino Highway) – Novaliches | Half-Y interchange; Northbound exit and southbound entrance; consists of the Old and New Novaliches Flyovers |
| Metro Manila | Caloocan–Malabon boundary | Caloocan–Malabon boundary | 11 | 6.8 | North end of N160 concurrency | North end of N160 concurrency | North end of N160 concurrency | North end of N160 concurrency |
| Metro Manila | Caloocan–Malabon boundary | Caloocan–Malabon boundary | 11 | 6.8 | Manila North Expressway: Balintawak toll plaza (1968–2005, demolished) | Manila North Expressway: Balintawak toll plaza (1968–2005, demolished) | Manila North Expressway: Balintawak toll plaza (1968–2005, demolished) | Manila North Expressway: Balintawak toll plaza (1968–2005, demolished) |
| Metro Manila | Caloocan | Caloocan | 11 | 6.8 | | | E2 (Skyway) – Makati, Alabang | Balintawak/NLEX Exit of Skyway; northbound entrance and southbound exit |
| Metro Manila | Caloocan | Caloocan | 11 | 6.8 | | Libis Baesa | Libis Baesa, Potrero | Southbound exit only |
| Metro Manila | Caloocan | Caloocan | 12 | 7.5 | Balintawak Toll Plaza (northbound only) | Balintawak Toll Plaza (northbound only) | Balintawak Toll Plaza (northbound only) | Balintawak Toll Plaza (northbound only) |
| Metro Manila | Caloocan | Caloocan | 12 | 7.5 | Balintawak Toll Plaza expansion (northbound only; exclusively for Class 1 vehicles) | Balintawak Toll Plaza expansion (northbound only; exclusively for Class 1 vehicles) | Balintawak Toll Plaza expansion (northbound only; exclusively for Class 1 vehicles) | Balintawak Toll Plaza expansion (northbound only; exclusively for Class 1 vehicles) |
| Metro Manila | Valenzuela | Valenzuela | 13 | 8.1 | 13 | Harbor Link Interchange | E5 (NLEX Harbor Link) – Mindanao Avenue, Port of Manila | Cloverleaf interchange |
| Metro Manila | Valenzuela | Valenzuela | 14 | 8.7 | | Mapulang Lupa | Mapulang Lupa, Paso de Blas, Parada | Northbound exit only; demolished |
| Metro Manila | Valenzuela | Valenzuela | 15 | 9.3 | 15 | Paso de Blas (Valenzuela City) | N118 (Paso de Blas Road) – Paso de Blas, Novaliches, Fairview, VGC | Diamond interchange |
| Metro Manila | Valenzuela | Valenzuela | 17 | 11 | NLEX Drive&Dine (southbound) | NLEX Drive&Dine (southbound) | NLEX Drive&Dine (southbound) | NLEX Drive&Dine (southbound) |
| Metro Manila | Valenzuela | Valenzuela | 17 | 11 | 17 | Lawang Bato | Lawang Bato, Punturin | Northbound entrance and exit only; entrance exclusively for Class 1 and 2 RFID users only |
| Metro Manila | Valenzuela | Valenzuela | 17 | 11 | 17 | Lingunan | Lingunan, Canumay, Lawang Bato | Southbound exit only. Southbound entrance under construction |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Meycauayan | 19 | 12 | 19 | Libtong | Libtong | Northbound exit only |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Meycauayan | 20 | 12 | 20 | Meycauayan | N117 (Malhacan Road) / Iba Road – Meycauayan, Obando | Folded diamond interchange |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Meycauayan | 21 | 13 | 21 | Pandayan | Pandayan | Southbound exit only (class 1 only) |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Meycauayan | 22 | 14 | 22 | F. Raymundo | F. Raymundo | Northbound exit only (class 1 only) |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Marilao | 23 | 14 | Petron KM 23 service area (northbound only) | Petron KM 23 service area (northbound only) | Petron KM 23 service area (northbound only) | Petron KM 23 service area (northbound only) |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Marilao | 23 | 14 | 23 | Marilao | Marilao | Northbound exit only; replaced by a new exit with the same name a few meters north |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Marilao | 23 | 14 | 23 | Marilao | M. Villarica Road / Patubig Road – Marilao, San Jose del Monte, Norzagaray | Folded diamond interchange |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Marilao | 24 | 15 | | NLEX-C6 Interchange | | Links to the proposed C6 Expressway; interchange type not yet known |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Bocaue | 26 | 16 | 26 | Ciudad de Victoria | | Northbound exit only; replaced by a proper northbound-southbound exit |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Bocaue | 26 | 16 | | Philippine Arena | Ciudad de Victoria, Philippine Arena, Santa Maria | Half diamond interchange and partial cloverleaf interchange |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Bocaue | | | | Bocaue Bypass | | Southbound entry only; under construction |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Bocaue | 27 | 17 | Bocaue Toll Plaza (southbound only) North end of barrier toll system. South end of closed road toll system. | Bocaue Toll Plaza (southbound only) North end of barrier toll system. South end of closed road toll system. | Bocaue Toll Plaza (southbound only) North end of barrier toll system. South end of closed road toll system. | Bocaue Toll Plaza (southbound only) North end of barrier toll system. South end of closed road toll system. |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Bocaue | 27 | 17 | Bocaue Toll Plaza expansion (southbound only) North end of barrier toll system. South end of closed road toll system. | Bocaue Toll Plaza expansion (southbound only) North end of barrier toll system. South end of closed road toll system. | Bocaue Toll Plaza expansion (southbound only) North end of barrier toll system. South end of closed road toll system. | Bocaue Toll Plaza expansion (southbound only) North end of barrier toll system. South end of closed road toll system. |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Bocaue | 27 | 17 | 27 | Bocaue | Fortunato Halili Avenue – Bocaue, Santa Maria | Diamond interchange |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Bocaue | 28 | 17 | 28 | Tambubong | Taal, Tambubong (Bocaue), Santa Maria | Northbound entrance, northbound exit, and southbound entrance only. |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Bocaue | 30 | 19 | Petron KM 30 service area (southbound only) | Petron KM 30 service area (southbound only) | Petron KM 30 service area (southbound only) | Petron KM 30 service area (southbound only) |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Balagtas | 31 | 19 | Shell (NLEX Northbound) service area | Shell (NLEX Northbound) service area | Shell (NLEX Northbound) service area | Shell (NLEX Northbound) service area |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Balagtas | 31 | 19 | | Burol | Burol, Guiguinto | Northbound exit only; sections of the former exit are now used as residential road and exit point from Shell service area. |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Balagtas | 32 | 20 | 32 | Tabang (Guiguinto) | E1 (Tabang Spur Road) – Tabang, Guiguinto, Malolos | Half-Y interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance; former northern terminus (1968-1977) |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Balagtas | 33 | 21 | 34 | Balagtas | N247 (Plaridel Bypass Road) – Balagtas, Bustos, San Rafael | Trumpet interchange; northbound entry/exit and southbound entrance, southbound exit ramp under construction |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Guiguinto | 36 | 22 | | NLEX-NLEE Interchange | | Links to the proposed provincial spur road of North Luzon East Expressway; interchange type not yet known |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Guiguinto | 37 | 23 | Shell of Asia service area (southbound only) | Shell of Asia service area (southbound only) | Shell of Asia service area (southbound only) | Shell of Asia service area (southbound only) |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Guiguinto | 38 | 24 | 38 | Santa Rita | AH 26 (N1) (Maharlika Highway / Cagayan Valley Road) – Guiguinto, Plaridel, Baliwag, Cabanatuan, Bustos, Pulilan | Folded diamond interchange; north end of AH26 concurrency |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Malolos | | | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Plaridel | 42 | 26 | Petron KM 42 service area (northbound only) | Petron KM 42 service area (northbound only) | Petron KM 42 service area (northbound only) | Petron KM 42 service area (northbound only) |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Pulilan | 45 | 28 | 45 | Pulilan | N115 (Pulilan Regional Road) – Pulilan, Calumpit, Baliwag, Malolos | Diamond interchange |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Pulilan | 46 | 29 | South end of Candaba Viaduct | South end of Candaba Viaduct | South end of Candaba Viaduct | South end of Candaba Viaduct |
| Central Luzon | Bulacan | Calumpit | | | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | Apalit | 52 | 32 | North end of Candaba Viaduct | North end of Candaba Viaduct | North end of Candaba Viaduct | North end of Candaba Viaduct |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | Apalit | 55 | 34 | Total (NLEX) service area (northbound only) | Total (NLEX) service area (northbound only) | Total (NLEX) service area (northbound only) | Total (NLEX) service area (northbound only) |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | San Simon | 56 | 35 | 56 | San Simon | Quezon Road – San Simon, Apalit, Minalin, Santo Tomas | Diamond interchange |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | Santo Tomas | 60 | 37 | | Santo Tomas | Lubao–Guagua–Minalin–Santo Tomas Bypass Road | |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | San Fernando | 62 | 39 | Caltex Mega Station (southbound only) | Caltex Mega Station (southbound only) | Caltex Mega Station (southbound only) | Caltex Mega Station (southbound only) |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | San Fernando | 65 | 40 | 65 | San Fernando | N3 (Jose Abad Santos Avenue) – San Fernando, Bacolor, Guagua, Mexico, Subic Freeport Zone, Bataan | Half partial cloverleaf (east half) and half diamond interchange (west half) |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | Mexico | 71 | 44 | Petron KM 71 Lakeshore (northbound only) | Petron KM 71 Lakeshore (northbound only) | Petron KM 71 Lakeshore (northbound only) | Petron KM 71 Lakeshore (northbound only) |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | Mexico | 72 | 45 | 72 | Mexico (closed) | Mexico, Lakeshore Estate | Half partial cloverleaf interchange (demolished); replaced by a current exit few meters north |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | Mexico | 72 | 45 | 72 | Mexico | Mexico-Calulut Road – Mexico, Dalisdis (Mexico), Panipuan (San Fernando) | Trumpet interchange |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | Mexico | 76 | 47 | Shell service station (southbound only) | Shell service station (southbound only) | Shell service station (southbound only) | Shell service station (southbound only) |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | Mexico | 77 | 48 | Shell Mexico Mobility Haven service station (northbound only, under construction) | Shell Mexico Mobility Haven service station (northbound only, under construction) | Shell Mexico Mobility Haven service station (northbound only, under construction) | Shell Mexico Mobility Haven service station (northbound only, under construction) |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | Angeles | 81 | 50 | 81 | Angeles | Angeles–Magalang Road – Angeles, Magalang | Partial cloverleaf interchange (1984–2005, demolished); replaced by a current exit few meters north |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | Angeles | 81 | 50 | 81 | Angeles | Angeles–Magalang Road/Pandan Road/Aniceto Gueco Street – Angeles, Magalang, Clark | Trumpet interchange |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | Mabalacat | 82 | 51 | Dau Toll Plaza (2005–2016, demolished) | Dau Toll Plaza (2005–2016, demolished) | Dau Toll Plaza (2005–2016, demolished) | Dau Toll Plaza (2005–2016, demolished) |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | Mabalacat | 83 | 52 | 83 | Dau | N215 (Dau Access Road) – Dau, Mabalacat | Trumpet interchange; formerly a signalized intersection; former northern terminus (1977-1989) |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | Mabalacat | 85 | 53 | 85 | SCTEX | E1 (Clark Spur Road) – Clark Airport, Tarlac City, Baguio, Subic | Half trumpet interchange; northern end of R-8 concurrency; northbound exit and southbound entrance |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | Mabalacat | 87 | 54 | Sta. Ines Toll Plaza (1989–2005, 2016–present) | Sta. Ines Toll Plaza (1989–2005, 2016–present) | Sta. Ines Toll Plaza (1989–2005, 2016–present) | Sta. Ines Toll Plaza (1989–2005, 2016–present) |
| Central Luzon | Pampanga | Mabalacat | 88 | 55 | 88 | Santa Ines | N213 (Mabalacat–Magalang Road) – Clark Airport, Concepcion, Mabalacat | Trumpet interchange; current northern terminus |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Closed/former Concurrency terminus Incomplete access Tolled Unopened |||||||||

### Tabang Spur Road

The entire route is located in Bulacan.
| City/Municipality | km | mi | Exit | Name | Destinations | Notes |
| Guiguinto | 36 | 22 | 36 | Guiguinto | N1 (MacArthur Highway / Cagayan Valley Road) – Guiguinto, Malolos, Balagtas | Partial cloverleaf interchange; western terminus; continues west as N2 (MacArthur Highway) |
| Guiguinto | 36 | 22 | | | St. Francis Street | T-intersection |
| Guiguinto | 36 | 22 | Shell service station (eastbound only) | Shell service station (eastbound only) | Shell service station (eastbound only) | Shell service station (eastbound only) |
| Guiguinto | 36 | 22 | Tabang Toll Plaza | Tabang Toll Plaza | Tabang Toll Plaza | Tabang Toll Plaza |
| Guiguinto | 34 | 21 | | Tabe | Tabe | Access for westbound motorists only |
| Balagtas | 32 | 20 | 32 | | AH 26 (E1) (NLEX Main) – Manila | Half-Y interchange; Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; Eastern terminus |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Closed/former Incomplete access Tolled |||||||

## In popular culture

* The expressway was featured in the music video to the song "Toll Gate" by the band Hale.
* It was also featured in the film Sa North Diversion Road in 2005, based on Tony Perez's stage play of the same name. It was created by Dennis Marasigan.
* From June 6–17, 2007, On North Diversion Road, the play written by Tony Perez, was performed at The Arts House, Singapore, by young & W!LD, an actor training division of Singapore's W!LD RICE Theatre.
* Some of the stunt scenes of the 2009 Japanese film Wangan Midnight: The Movie were shot here.