diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index b63a5a0c00ae2..c2a40ba883eb4 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -286,10 +286,15 @@ jobs:
             gotestsum --junitfile /test-results/op-batcher.xml -- -coverpkg=github.com/ethereum-optimism/optimism/... -coverprofile=coverage.out -covermode=atomic ./...
           working_directory: op-batcher
       - run:
-          name: test op-e2e
+          name: test op-e2e (WS)
           command: |
             gotestsum --format standard-verbose --junitfile /test-results/op-e2e.xml -- -coverpkg=github.com/ethereum-optimism/optimism/... -coverprofile=coverage.out -covermode=atomic ./...
           working_directory: op-e2e
+      - run:
+          name: test op-e2e (HTTP)
+          command: |
+            OP_E2E_USE_HTTP=true gotestsum --junitfile /test-results/op-e2e.xml -- -coverpkg=github.com/ethereum-optimism/optimism/... -coverprofile=coverage.out -covermode=atomic ./...
+          working_directory: op-e2e
       - run:
           name: test op-service
           command: |
diff --git a/op-e2e/actions/l1_replica.go b/op-e2e/actions/l1_replica.go
index 719ac00f43cde..97c0210d19b67 100644
--- a/op-e2e/actions/l1_replica.go
+++ b/op-e2e/actions/l1_replica.go
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ func (s *L1Replica) EthClient() *ethclient.Client {
 func (s *L1Replica) RPCClient() client.RPC {
 	cl, _ := s.node.Attach() // never errors
 	return testutils.RPCErrFaker{
-		RPC: cl,
+		RPC: client.NewBaseRPCClient(cl),
 		ErrFn: func() error {
 			err := s.failL1RPC
 			s.failL1RPC = nil // reset back, only error once.
diff --git a/op-e2e/actions/l2_engine.go b/op-e2e/actions/l2_engine.go
index 1dc7ebb62285d..60a5a32e266d1 100644
--- a/op-e2e/actions/l2_engine.go
+++ b/op-e2e/actions/l2_engine.go
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func (s *L2Engine) EthClient() *ethclient.Client {
 func (e *L2Engine) RPCClient() client.RPC {
 	cl, _ := e.node.Attach() // never errors
 	return testutils.RPCErrFaker{
-		RPC: cl,
+		RPC: client.NewBaseRPCClient(cl),
 		ErrFn: func() error {
 			err := e.failL2RPC
 			e.failL2RPC = nil // reset back, only error once.
diff --git a/op-e2e/geth.go b/op-e2e/geth.go
index 49591241f4733..1445848018379 100644
--- a/op-e2e/geth.go
+++ b/op-e2e/geth.go
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ func initL1Geth(cfg *SystemConfig, wallet *hdwallet.Wallet, genesis *core.Genesi
 	}
 	nodeConfig := &node.Config{
 		Name:        "l1-geth",
+		HTTPHost:    "127.0.0.1",
+		HTTPPort:    0,
 		WSHost:      "127.0.0.1",
 		WSPort:      0,
 		WSModules:   []string{"debug", "admin", "eth", "txpool", "net", "rpc", "web3", "personal", "engine"},
diff --git a/op-e2e/setup.go b/op-e2e/setup.go
index c3c0ad758971e..4e71de5581ab5 100644
--- a/op-e2e/setup.go
+++ b/op-e2e/setup.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"math/big"
+	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -337,13 +338,25 @@ func (cfg SystemConfig) start() (*System, error) {
 
 	// Configure connections to L1 and L2 for rollup nodes.
 	// TODO: refactor testing to use in-process rpc connections instead of websockets.
+
+	l1EndpointConfig := l1Node.WSEndpoint()
+	useHTTP := os.Getenv("OP_E2E_USE_HTTP") == "true"
+	if useHTTP {
+		log.Info("using HTTP client")
+		l1EndpointConfig = l1Node.HTTPEndpoint()
+	}
+
 	for name, rollupCfg := range cfg.Nodes {
+		l2EndpointConfig := sys.nodes[name].WSAuthEndpoint()
+		if useHTTP {
+			l2EndpointConfig = sys.nodes[name].HTTPAuthEndpoint()
+		}
 		rollupCfg.L1 = &rollupNode.L1EndpointConfig{
-			L1NodeAddr: l1Node.WSEndpoint(),
+			L1NodeAddr: l1EndpointConfig,
 			L1TrustRPC: false,
 		}
 		rollupCfg.L2 = &rollupNode.L2EndpointConfig{
-			L2EngineAddr:      sys.nodes[name].WSAuthEndpoint(),
+			L2EngineAddr:      l2EndpointConfig,
 			L2EngineJWTSecret: cfg.JWTSecret,
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/op-node/client/polling.go b/op-node/client/polling.go
index 2f51c1d965dcd..637371477cc69 100644
--- a/op-node/client/polling.go
+++ b/op-node/client/polling.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ var ErrSubscriberClosed = errors.New("subscriber closed")
 // via a polling loop. It's designed for HTTP endpoints, but WS will
 // work too.
 type PollingClient struct {
-	c        RPCGeneric
+	c        RPC
 	lgr      log.Logger
 	pollRate time.Duration
 	ctx      context.Context
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func WithPollRate(duration time.Duration) WrappedHTTPClientOption {
 // NewPollingClient returns a new PollingClient. Canceling the passed-in context
 // will close the client. Callers are responsible for closing the client in order
 // to prevent resource leaks.
-func NewPollingClient(ctx context.Context, lgr log.Logger, c RPCGeneric, opts ...WrappedHTTPClientOption) *PollingClient {
+func NewPollingClient(ctx context.Context, lgr log.Logger, c RPC, opts ...WrappedHTTPClientOption) *PollingClient {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 	res := &PollingClient{
 		c:         c,
@@ -143,6 +143,8 @@ func (w *PollingClient) pollHeads() {
 		time.AfterFunc(w.pollRate, w.reqPoll)
 	}
 
+	reqPollAfter()
+
 	defer close(w.closedCh)
 
 	for {
diff --git a/op-node/client/polling_test.go b/op-node/client/polling_test.go
index 66bc514ff1d4c..63c5b8df619dc 100644
--- a/op-node/client/polling_test.go
+++ b/op-node/client/polling_test.go
@@ -203,6 +203,6 @@ func requireChansEqual(t *testing.T, chans []chan *types.Header, root common.Has
 	}
 }
 
-func doSubscribe(client RPCGeneric, ch chan<- *types.Header) (ethereum.Subscription, error) {
+func doSubscribe(client RPC, ch chan<- *types.Header) (ethereum.Subscription, error) {
 	return client.EthSubscribe(context.Background(), ch, "newHeads")
 }
diff --git a/op-node/client/rpc.go b/op-node/client/rpc.go
index dd466aca393a8..3e6bc71796208 100644
--- a/op-node/client/rpc.go
+++ b/op-node/client/rpc.go
@@ -2,42 +2,99 @@ package client
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"regexp"
 
+	"github.com/ethereum-optimism/optimism/op-node/backoff"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum-optimism/optimism/op-node/metrics"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rpc"
 )
 
+var httpRegex = regexp.MustCompile("^http(s)?://")
+
 type RPC interface {
 	Close()
 	CallContext(ctx context.Context, result interface{}, method string, args ...interface{}) error
 	BatchCallContext(ctx context.Context, b []rpc.BatchElem) error
-	EthSubscribe(ctx context.Context, channel interface{}, args ...interface{}) (*rpc.ClientSubscription, error)
+	EthSubscribe(ctx context.Context, channel interface{}, args ...interface{}) (ethereum.Subscription, error)
 }
 
-// RPCGeneric is a temporary interface added to make compilation work until interfaces
-// are updated to support the generic EthSubscribe that returns ethereum.Subscription
-// below
-type RPCGeneric interface {
-	Close()
-	CallContext(ctx context.Context, result interface{}, method string, args ...interface{}) error
-	BatchCallContext(ctx context.Context, b []rpc.BatchElem) error
-	EthSubscribe(ctx context.Context, channel interface{}, args ...interface{}) (ethereum.Subscription, error)
+// NewRPC returns the correct client.RPC instance for a given RPC url.
+func NewRPC(ctx context.Context, lgr log.Logger, addr string, opts ...rpc.ClientOption) (RPC, error) {
+	underlying, err := DialRPCClientWithBackoff(ctx, lgr, addr, opts...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	wrapped := &BaseRPCClient{
+		c: underlying,
+	}
+	if httpRegex.MatchString(addr) {
+		return NewPollingClient(ctx, lgr, wrapped), nil
+	}
+	return wrapped, nil
+}
+
+// Dials a JSON-RPC endpoint repeatedly, with a backoff, until a client connection is established. Auth is optional.
+func DialRPCClientWithBackoff(ctx context.Context, log log.Logger, addr string, opts ...rpc.ClientOption) (*rpc.Client, error) {
+	bOff := backoff.Exponential()
+	var ret *rpc.Client
+	err := backoff.Do(10, bOff, func() error {
+		client, err := rpc.DialOptions(ctx, addr, opts...)
+		if err != nil {
+			if client == nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("failed to dial address (%s): %w", addr, err)
+			}
+			log.Warn("failed to dial address, but may connect later", "addr", addr, "err", err)
+		}
+		ret = client
+		return nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return ret, nil
+}
+
+// BaseRPCClient is a wrapper around a concrete *rpc.Client instance to make it compliant
+// with the client.RPC interface.
+type BaseRPCClient struct {
+	c *rpc.Client
+}
+
+func NewBaseRPCClient(c *rpc.Client) *BaseRPCClient {
+	return &BaseRPCClient{c: c}
+}
+
+func (b *BaseRPCClient) Close() {
+	b.c.Close()
+}
+
+func (b *BaseRPCClient) CallContext(ctx context.Context, result interface{}, method string, args ...interface{}) error {
+	return b.c.CallContext(ctx, result, method, args...)
+}
+
+func (b *BaseRPCClient) BatchCallContext(ctx context.Context, batch []rpc.BatchElem) error {
+	return b.c.BatchCallContext(ctx, batch)
+}
+
+func (b *BaseRPCClient) EthSubscribe(ctx context.Context, channel interface{}, args ...interface{}) (ethereum.Subscription, error) {
+	return b.c.EthSubscribe(ctx, channel, args...)
 }
 
 // InstrumentedRPCClient is an RPC client that tracks
 // Prometheus metrics for each call.
 type InstrumentedRPCClient struct {
-	c *rpc.Client
+	c RPC
 	m *metrics.Metrics
 }
 
-// NewInstrumentedRPC creates a new instrumented RPC client. It takes
-// a concrete *rpc.Client to prevent people from passing in an already
-// instrumented client.
-func NewInstrumentedRPC(c *rpc.Client, m *metrics.Metrics) *InstrumentedRPCClient {
+// NewInstrumentedRPC creates a new instrumented RPC client.
+func NewInstrumentedRPC(c RPC, m *metrics.Metrics) *InstrumentedRPCClient {
 	return &InstrumentedRPCClient{
 		c: c,
 		m: m,
@@ -60,14 +117,10 @@ func (ic *InstrumentedRPCClient) BatchCallContext(ctx context.Context, b []rpc.B
 	}, b)
 }
 
-func (ic *InstrumentedRPCClient) EthSubscribe(ctx context.Context, channel interface{}, args ...interface{}) (*rpc.ClientSubscription, error) {
+func (ic *InstrumentedRPCClient) EthSubscribe(ctx context.Context, channel interface{}, args ...interface{}) (ethereum.Subscription, error) {
 	return ic.c.EthSubscribe(ctx, channel, args...)
 }
 
-func (ic *InstrumentedRPCClient) Client() Client {
-	return NewInstrumentedClient(ic.c, ic.m)
-}
-
 // instrumentBatch handles metrics for batch calls. Request metrics are
 // increased for each batch element. Request durations are tracked for
 // the batch as a whole using a special <batch> method. Errors are tracked
diff --git a/op-node/node/client.go b/op-node/node/client.go
index ebf4f6c404ca4..6e7f1e36043b3 100644
--- a/op-node/node/client.go
+++ b/op-node/node/client.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 
-	"github.com/ethereum-optimism/optimism/op-node/backoff"
+	"github.com/ethereum-optimism/optimism/op-node/client"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	gn "github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/node"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rpc"
@@ -13,13 +13,13 @@ import (
 
 type L2EndpointSetup interface {
 	// Setup a RPC client to a L2 execution engine to process rollup blocks with.
-	Setup(ctx context.Context, log log.Logger) (cl *rpc.Client, err error)
+	Setup(ctx context.Context, log log.Logger) (cl client.RPC, err error)
 	Check() error
 }
 
 type L1EndpointSetup interface {
 	// Setup a RPC client to a L1 node to pull rollup input-data from.
-	Setup(ctx context.Context, log log.Logger) (cl *rpc.Client, trust bool, err error)
+	Setup(ctx context.Context, log log.Logger) (cl client.RPC, trust bool, err error)
 }
 
 type L2EndpointConfig struct {
@@ -40,12 +40,12 @@ func (cfg *L2EndpointConfig) Check() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (cfg *L2EndpointConfig) Setup(ctx context.Context, log log.Logger) (*rpc.Client, error) {
+func (cfg *L2EndpointConfig) Setup(ctx context.Context, log log.Logger) (client.RPC, error) {
 	if err := cfg.Check(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	auth := rpc.WithHTTPAuth(gn.NewJWTAuth(cfg.L2EngineJWTSecret))
-	l2Node, err := dialRPCClientWithBackoff(ctx, log, cfg.L2EngineAddr, auth)
+	l2Node, err := client.NewRPC(ctx, log, cfg.L2EngineAddr, auth)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func (cfg *L2EndpointConfig) Setup(ctx context.Context, log log.Logger) (*rpc.Cl
 
 // PreparedL2Endpoints enables testing with in-process pre-setup RPC connections to L2 engines
 type PreparedL2Endpoints struct {
-	Client *rpc.Client
+	Client client.RPC
 }
 
 func (p *PreparedL2Endpoints) Check() error {
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func (p *PreparedL2Endpoints) Check() error {
 
 var _ L2EndpointSetup = (*PreparedL2Endpoints)(nil)
 
-func (p *PreparedL2Endpoints) Setup(ctx context.Context, log log.Logger) (*rpc.Client, error) {
+func (p *PreparedL2Endpoints) Setup(ctx context.Context, log log.Logger) (client.RPC, error) {
 	return p.Client, nil
 }
 
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ type L1EndpointConfig struct {
 
 var _ L1EndpointSetup = (*L1EndpointConfig)(nil)
 
-func (cfg *L1EndpointConfig) Setup(ctx context.Context, log log.Logger) (cl *rpc.Client, trust bool, err error) {
-	l1Node, err := dialRPCClientWithBackoff(ctx, log, cfg.L1NodeAddr)
+func (cfg *L1EndpointConfig) Setup(ctx context.Context, log log.Logger) (cl client.RPC, trust bool, err error) {
+	l1Node, err := client.NewRPC(ctx, log, cfg.L1NodeAddr)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("failed to dial L1 address (%s): %w", cfg.L1NodeAddr, err)
 	}
@@ -92,33 +92,12 @@ func (cfg *L1EndpointConfig) Setup(ctx context.Context, log log.Logger) (cl *rpc
 
 // PreparedL1Endpoint enables testing with an in-process pre-setup RPC connection to L1
 type PreparedL1Endpoint struct {
-	Client   *rpc.Client
+	Client   client.RPC
 	TrustRPC bool
 }
 
 var _ L1EndpointSetup = (*PreparedL1Endpoint)(nil)
 
-func (p *PreparedL1Endpoint) Setup(ctx context.Context, log log.Logger) (cl *rpc.Client, trust bool, err error) {
+func (p *PreparedL1Endpoint) Setup(ctx context.Context, log log.Logger) (cl client.RPC, trust bool, err error) {
 	return p.Client, p.TrustRPC, nil
 }
-
-// Dials a JSON-RPC endpoint repeatedly, with a backoff, until a client connection is established. Auth is optional.
-func dialRPCClientWithBackoff(ctx context.Context, log log.Logger, addr string, opts ...rpc.ClientOption) (*rpc.Client, error) {
-	bOff := backoff.Exponential()
-	var ret *rpc.Client
-	err := backoff.Do(10, bOff, func() error {
-		client, err := rpc.DialOptions(ctx, addr, opts...)
-		if err != nil {
-			if client == nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("failed to dial address (%s): %w", addr, err)
-			}
-			log.Warn("failed to dial address, but may connect later", "addr", addr, "err", err)
-		}
-		ret = client
-		return nil
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return ret, nil
-}
diff --git a/op-node/node/server_test.go b/op-node/node/server_test.go
index bac92cf3c1b8a..83b9206551875 100644
--- a/op-node/node/server_test.go
+++ b/op-node/node/server_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"math/rand"
 	"testing"
 
+	rpcclient "github.com/ethereum-optimism/optimism/op-node/client"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/mock"
 
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ func TestOutputAtBlock(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, server.Start())
 	defer server.Stop()
 
-	client, err := dialRPCClientWithBackoff(context.Background(), log, "http://"+server.Addr().String())
+	client, err := rpcclient.DialRPCClientWithBackoff(context.Background(), log, "http://"+server.Addr().String())
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
 	var out []eth.Bytes32
@@ -127,7 +128,7 @@ func TestVersion(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, server.Start())
 	defer server.Stop()
 
-	client, err := dialRPCClientWithBackoff(context.Background(), log, "http://"+server.Addr().String())
+	client, err := rpcclient.DialRPCClientWithBackoff(context.Background(), log, "http://"+server.Addr().String())
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
 	var out string
@@ -162,7 +163,7 @@ func TestSyncStatus(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, server.Start())
 	defer server.Stop()
 
-	client, err := dialRPCClientWithBackoff(context.Background(), log, "http://"+server.Addr().String())
+	client, err := rpcclient.DialRPCClientWithBackoff(context.Background(), log, "http://"+server.Addr().String())
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
 	var out *eth.SyncStatus
diff --git a/op-node/sources/eth_client_test.go b/op-node/sources/eth_client_test.go
index 16535f3888584..bca40e087a73b 100644
--- a/op-node/sources/eth_client_test.go
+++ b/op-node/sources/eth_client_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"math/rand"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/mock"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ func (m *mockRPC) CallContext(ctx context.Context, result interface{}, method st
 	return m.MethodCalled("CallContext", ctx, result, method, args).Get(0).([]error)[0]
 }
 
-func (m *mockRPC) EthSubscribe(ctx context.Context, channel interface{}, args ...interface{}) (*rpc.ClientSubscription, error) {
+func (m *mockRPC) EthSubscribe(ctx context.Context, channel interface{}, args ...interface{}) (ethereum.Subscription, error) {
 	called := m.MethodCalled("EthSubscribe", channel, args)
 	return called.Get(0).(*rpc.ClientSubscription), called.Get(1).([]error)[0]
 }
diff --git a/op-node/sources/limit.go b/op-node/sources/limit.go
index 9de8933ffe596..d722631e31b43 100644
--- a/op-node/sources/limit.go
+++ b/op-node/sources/limit.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum-optimism/optimism/op-node/client"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rpc"
 )
 
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ func (lc *limitClient) CallContext(ctx context.Context, result interface{}, meth
 	return lc.c.CallContext(ctx, result, method, args...)
 }
 
-func (lc *limitClient) EthSubscribe(ctx context.Context, channel interface{}, args ...interface{}) (*rpc.ClientSubscription, error) {
+func (lc *limitClient) EthSubscribe(ctx context.Context, channel interface{}, args ...interface{}) (ethereum.Subscription, error) {
 	// subscription doesn't count towards request limit
 	return lc.c.EthSubscribe(ctx, channel, args...)
 }
diff --git a/op-node/testutils/rpc_err_faker.go b/op-node/testutils/rpc_err_faker.go
index c1e9810b4b9b9..8aa5735a47255 100644
--- a/op-node/testutils/rpc_err_faker.go
+++ b/op-node/testutils/rpc_err_faker.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package testutils
 import (
 	"context"
 
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rpc"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum-optimism/optimism/op-node/client"
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ func (r RPCErrFaker) BatchCallContext(ctx context.Context, b []rpc.BatchElem) er
 	return r.RPC.BatchCallContext(ctx, b)
 }
 
-func (r RPCErrFaker) EthSubscribe(ctx context.Context, channel interface{}, args ...interface{}) (*rpc.ClientSubscription, error) {
+func (r RPCErrFaker) EthSubscribe(ctx context.Context, channel interface{}, args ...interface{}) (ethereum.Subscription, error) {
 	if r.ErrFn != nil {
 		if err := r.ErrFn(); err != nil {
 			return nil, err