A go-to Memorial Day weekend travel guide for Pierce County — avoid these hours
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- WSDOT advises leaving before 5 a.m. or after 10 p.m. per travel charts.
- WSDOT will suspend most highway work Friday, May 22 to Monday, May 25.
- Pierce County ferry Peak Season begins May 22 with higher vehicle and motorcycle fares.
Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner, and road soon will be flooded with cars.
The American Automobile Association estimates 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles between Thursday, May 21 and the official holiday on Monday, May 25.
This travel rush comes amid soaring gas prices, with the average cost in Pierce County at $5.88 per gallon.
“Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and for most Americans, it’s a three-day weekend,” Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in a news release. “Travel demand remains strong, and despite higher fuel prices, many people are prioritizing leisure travel during holiday breaks.”
The Washington State Department of Transportation urges residents to plan ahead by leaving when there will be the fewest number of people on the road or by making reservations as soon as possible if they’re taking a train, plane, ferry or bus.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of time — including when you should leave your house.
Interstate 5: Lacey to Tacoma
According to travel charts from WSDOT, people should generally leave before 5 a.m. or after 10 p.m. in order to be a part of the smallest wave of traffic.
Here is when the roads are expected to be busiest.
Northbound
- Thursday, May 21: Peak congestion at 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and again from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday, May 22: Peak congestion from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, May 23: Peak congestion from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, May 24: Peak congestion from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday, May 25: Peak congestion from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 26: Peak congestion from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Southbound
- Thursday, May 21: Peak congestion from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday, May 22: Peak congestion from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, May 23: Peak congestion from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, May 24: Peak congestion from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Monday, May 25: Peak congestion from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 26: Peak congestion from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and again from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WSDOT also has travel charts for Interstate 90 from North Bend to Cle Elum, U.S. Route 2 between Stevens Pass and Skykomish and Interstate 5 from Bellingham to the Canadian border.
Construction Projects
WSDOT said it will suspend most highway construction work from Friday, May 22 to Monday, May 25 to ease congestion, but drivers should still be on the lookout.
“Travelers should stay alert for lane shifts or work zone staging that may remain in place,” a news release stated. “Emergency repairs and crash response can still occur, so drivers need to give crews plenty of space to work safely.”
There are three major projects in Pierce County that might still make the road a maze, even without the work happening:
- The Interstate 5 Mounts Road to Steilacoom-Dupont Road Corridor Improvements Project, with closures in place in Steilacoom, DuPont and Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Pendleton Avenue between West Way and Main Street at JBLM will remain closed until May 22. JBLM’s DuPont Gate at 4085 West Way will be closed from 9 p.m. on May 22 to 5 a.m. on June 9.
- State Route 167 Gateway Project in Fife and Puyallup. The project will build six miles of tolled highway between Puyallup and the Port of Tacoma. Work will stop on Memorial Day weekend, but there might be temporary lane alignments or construction signage around the Interstate 5/Fife curve and state Route 167 in Puyallup.
- Two new roundabouts at State Route 507 and 208th Street South in Spanaway, and State Route 702 at Harts Lake Road South near McKenna. There will be single-lane, alternating traffic in both areas from 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20 to 5 a.m. on Thursday, May 21. Drivers who use state Route 507 to bypass Interstate 5 will likely find shifted lanes and traffic staging.
Mount Rainier National Park
The state Route 410/Chinook Pass and state Route 123/Cayuse Pass will reopen at 8 a.m. on Friday, May 22, just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
“When the gates open, park visitors can travel SR 410/Chinook Pass between Crystal Mountain Boulevard, about 12 miles northwest of the summit, and Morse Creek, five miles east of the summit,” WSDOT said in a previous news release. “SR 123/Cayuse Pass will open within the park boundaries between the southern park entrance near Packwood, WA and the SR 410 junction.”
Both passes close every winter because of snow levels and avalanche risks.
Tolling
Toll rates for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge will stay in effect for drivers heading from Gig Harbor to Tacoma. Rates are $4.50 with a Good to Go pass, $5.50 at the toll booth and $6.50 when paying by mail.
For drivers passing through King County, the Interstate 405 and state Route 167 express toll lanes will be free on Monday, May 25, WSDOT said.
Weekend toll rates will be in effect on the state Route 520 bridge, state Route 509 expressway and state Route 99 tunnel in King County, WSDOT said.
Ferries
WSDOT says residents should be prepared for extended wait times at ferry terminals.
“People boarding a ferry by vehicle can expect the busiest sailings will likely be westbound (or onto an island) Thursday through Saturday, May 21-23, and eastbound (or off island) Saturday through Monday, May 23-25,” WSDOT said in a news release. “Walk-on passengers can bypass vehicle lines and usually board much faster.”
The Port Defiance/Tahlequah route will be running on a weekend schedule, WSDOT said. Residents can check times at www.wsdot.com/ferries/schedule.
Pierce County runs the ferries that go from Steilacoom to Anderson and Ketron islands. According to Pierce County’s website, the routes will run on a weekend schedule and won’t depart Steilacoom at 4:45 a.m. or Anderson Island at 5:15 a.m.
May 22 does start the ferry’s “Peak Season,” meaning there will be extra runs added at 12:45 p.m., 2:05 p.m., 3:20 p.m. and 4:35 p.m. when departing Steilacoom and 1:20 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. when departing Anderson Island.
“Peak Season” fares also go into effect on May 22, with tickets for a vehicle rising from $24.94 to $33.86. Motorcycle tickets will go from $11.29 to $16.01. Passengers walking on the ferry will pay $8.14 if they are 19 years old or older, while those 18 years old or younger can walk on for free.
Residents departing from Ketron Island must reserve a spot on the ferry 60 minutes in advance by calling 253-588-1950, Pierce County’s website says.
To stay in the loop, sign up for Washington State Ferries Alerts by visiting wsdot.com/ferries/schedule/bulletin, downloading the WSDOT app on your phone, or visiting www.piercecountywa.gov/Ferry.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
According to a news release from the Port of Seattle, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is expected to see 970,000 travelers from May 21 to 26.
The busiest days are expected to be Thursday, May 21; Friday, May 22; and Monday, May 25, the release said.
Residents should arrive at the airport two hours before domestic flights, the release said, and three hours before international flights.
Residents can reserve parking ahead of time, which the airport recommends doing as soon as possible, since parking for Memorial Day weekend is expected to sell out.
“Bypass the congested Arrivals and Departures drives by using public transportation, airport parking, rideshares, a taxi/limo, a scheduled airporter, door-to-door van service, or a shuttle option,” the release said. “When picking someone up, briefly park in the SEA Airport parking garage, entering from the International Boulevard entrance to meet arriving travelers in the terminal, then exit together through the garage without ever using the drives.”
To stay updated on the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, visit www.portseattle.org/sea.
Other Resources
WSDOT urged drivers to find safety rest areas ahead of time, in case they get drowsy behind the wheel.
“Have a backup outdoor destination as parks and other outdoor recreation sites tend to fill up quickly on holiday weekends,” the release said. “If a site’s parking lot is full, never park along road shoulders as this is unsafe for everyone on the roadway, including emergency response vehicles.”
Residents can stay in the loop by visiting WSDOT’s real-time traffic map, looking at its traffic cameras or signing up for email alerts.
They can also download WSDOT’s mobile app.
