Despite record-high gas prices, Americans aren’t skipping Memorial Day — the day honoring fallen service members, which is also considered the unofficial start of summer in the U.S. For Seattle residents this is especially meaningful: after a long, rainy spring warm weather finally arrives, kicking off the season for road trips and outdoor recreation. AAA predicts that 39.1 million people will travel more than 50 miles (about 80 kilometers) from home between Thursday and Monday — nearly as many as last year. Top destinations include the mountains, the coast, the islands, and the eastern part of Washington state. If you’re heading out of Seattle, expect delays. But you can be part of a smaller wave of cars if you choose the right times.
For those driving south on I‑5 between Tacoma and Lacey, the best times are early morning or after-dinner hours from Thursday through Saturday. Heading back north, traffic will be lighter: leave before 10 a.m. or after dinner. Eastbound on I‑90 (from North Bend to Cle Elum) there should be few problems on Thursday. If you can’t leave that day, plan to travel Friday or Saturday before 9 a.m. or after dinner.
Highway 2, which crosses the Stevens Pass and links western Washington to popular recreation spots in the east — places like Leavenworth with its Bavarian architecture, Lake Wenatchee, North Cascades National Park, Lake Chelan and the sunny parts of eastern Washington — will be mostly clear on Thursday. Congestion on that route increases Friday, with a peak around early afternoon. Saturday is even heavier, especially from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Northbound on I‑5 from Bellingham to the Canadian border, traffic will build from breakfast through dinner on Thursday and Friday. The worst times are Thursday afternoon, and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. into the evening.
Returning west (on I‑90 and Highway 2), avoid early afternoon on Sunday. Monday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. will be particularly bad. For Highway 2, it’s best to return before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m. on Monday. If possible, depart Sunday morning or evening — or wait until Tuesday. Southbound from the border, plan to travel before 9 a.m. or after dinner on Monday, or better yet, on Tuesday after breakfast.
Based on: Memorial Day 2026: Best and worst times to drive in and out of Seattle