Best & Worst Times To Travel Over July 4 Weekend In WA: WSDOT

SEATTLE — An extended weekend of holiday travel is already getting underway around the Evergreen State, and a few popular routes are about to get a whole lot busier heading toward July 4.

AAA predicts at least one million Washingtonians are traveling at least 50 miles for Independence Day festivities, and more than 80 percent are likely to do so by car. This week, the Washington State Department of Transportation unveiled its annual July 4 travel charts, helping drivers get a better idea of the typical peak days and times for congestion along Interstate 5, Interstate 90 and Highway 2.

Interstate 5

For Interstate 5, WSDOT focuses on the stretch between Lacey and Tacoma, where officials expected heavy northbound traffic would kick up as early as Thursday morning. Similarly, Friday is likely to have several periods of congestion throughout the day, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., but leveling off around 6 p.m.

The window for high traffic should be shortest on Saturday and Sunday and longest on Tuesday, according to the charts.

For drivers headed south, Friday could be slowgoing from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and between 9 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. Independence Day itself should offer the smoothest rides, before things kick back up Tuesday.

Interstate 90 (Snoqualmie Pass)

Those headed over the Cascades via Snoqualmie Pass look to have shorter bursts of congestion to contend with, barring crashes and other mishaps, with traffic for Eastbound trips likely peaking Friday, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and Saturday, between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. From Sunday on should be relatively calm.

Drivers headed west over the pass should generally see less traffic overall, apart from a surge in congestion expected Monday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Check out the charts for each day on WSDOT's website:

• Interstate 5 (Lacey - Tacoma)
• Interstate 90 (North Bend - Cle Elum)
• Highway 2 (Stevens Pass - Skykomish)

While most major construction projects will be on pause through the holiday weekend, drivers whose trips take them through downtown Seattle should plan ahead for delays due to Revive I-5 work, which means lane reductions between Friday evening and early Monday morning.

As for tolls, WSDOT said weekend rates will be in effect from Saturday through July 4 for the State Route 520 bridge and the State Route 99 tunnel. The I-405 express toll lanes will be free to all drivers over the same timeframe.

Families utilizing a ferry as part of their trip should also be aware of likely delays along most routes, along with potentially changing schedules for the Edmonds/Kingston route.

Here are some other tools to help before you hit the road:

• 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's social media accounts, such as several Twitter accounts and the agency Facebook page.
• Pre-program your vehicle radio to 530 AM and 1610 AM for highway advisory radio alerts.
• Have a backup outdoor destination if your first choice is full. If parking lots are full, find an alternative site and never park along road shoulders, as this is unsafe for everyone on the roadway.
• Allow extra time for travel to avoid rushing or distraction.
• Carry extra food and water as well as extra masks and hand sanitizer as an added precaution for emergencies or unexpected stops.