2022 Memorial Day Travel: Best & Worst Times To Hit The Road In WA

SEATTLE — Hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians are expected to hit the road for the long weekend as Puget Sound welcomes the unofficial start of summer with Memorial Day trips and festivities.

AAA Washington estimates more than 800,000 Washingtonians have road trips planned for the holiday, and state transportation officials have assembled a list of tips and tricks to help drivers navigate around peak congestion times along major travel corridors.

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, most construction work will be on pause for the three-day weekend, but drivers should keep their eyes open for shifted lanes or marked work zone areas that may still be in place. Even without roadwork, drivers can expect holiday traffic volumes on popular routes, including Interstate 5, Interstate 90 and Highway 2.

WSDOT shared its annual travel charts for those heading out for Memorial Day, charting some of the most challenging days and times to hit the road.

On Interstate 5, WSDOT said drivers headed north should expect congestion between Lacey and Tacoma starting Thursday and lasting into Tuesday. High traffic volumes are projected for nearly 12 hours on Friday, Monday and Tuesday. The situation looks similar for southbound trips, with a shorter window for congestion projected Sunday and Monday.

The situation looks a bit better for drivers headed over Snoqualmie Pass, where WSDOT sees heavier congestion holding off until mid-morning Friday for eastbound trips between North Bend and Cle Elum, with only moderate volumes expected on Thursday and Sunday through Tuesday.

Westbound trips should stay relatively smooth until Sunday afternoon and traffic is likely to peak Monday, with heavy congestion projected from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Drivers can sign up for text message alerts for real-time delays by texting "WSDOT Snoqualmie" to 468311.

On US 2, drivers heading east between Skykomish and Stevens Pass can expect peak traffic on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, while westbound trips look to be the most challenging throughout the day Monday.

Drivers will also have to contend with soaring gas prices, which are highest along the west coast and averaged more than $5.20 per gallon in Washington on Monday. The holiday weekend also marks the beginning of the "100 deadliest days," and travel firm AAA estimates more than 7,000 Americans die in crashes between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Washingtonians with travel plans that include a ferry should plan for the longest waits on westbound routes Thursday and Friday. WSDOT expects eastbound ferry volumes will run highest on Sunday and Monday.

Here are a few helpful resources for smoother holiday travel, from WSDOT:

• Get informed about WSDOT's online tools, including the WSDOT mobile app, traffic cameras and email alerts.
• Visit online traveler information for traffic, weather, ferry schedules and a real-time travel map.
• Follow WSDOT on social media, such as several Twitter accounts and Facebook page.
• Pre-program your vehicle radio to 530 AM and 1610 AM for highway advisory radio alerts.
• Call 5-1-1 for updated road conditions.
• Have a backup outdoor destination as parks and other outdoor recreation sites tend to fill up quickly on holiday weekends. If a site’s parking is full, never park along road shoulders, as this is unsafe for everyone on the roadway.
• Allow extra time for travel to avoid rushing or distraction.