Sign up for Scenic Six
Navigate the endless possibilities of New England travel with Boston.com.
Here is when and where Memorial Day traffic will be the worst
Travelers are expected to set a new record this Memorial Day weekend, according to AAA.
A record number of Americans will travel this year for Memorial Day weekend, according to AAA.
AAA says 45.1 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, an increase of 1.4 million and a new record for Memorial Day weekend. The previous record was 44 million in 2005. This year, 39.4 million will travel by car, up 1 million from last year. AAA defines the Memorial Day travel period as May 22-26.
Massachusetts drivers will see the worst Memorial Day weekend traffic on Friday, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).
“As we approach the unofficial beginning of summer, we historically see increased travel volumes in the days leading up to Memorial Day weekend,” said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver, in a statement. “So, we want to remind people to plan for extra time, avoid driving distracted, consult with available travel and weather resources, and arrive safely at your destination.”
Advertisement:
In Massachusetts, Friday will be the busiest day on the road and drivers should avoid morning travel on Saturday, according to MassDOT. Traffic will ease up on Saturday evening and will be heaviest on Sunday and Monday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Drivers traveling from Boston to Manchester on I-93 N will find one of the most congested routes in the nation, according to INRIX, a provider of transportation data. Motorists will experience a 123% increase over normal traffic levels and at its peak congestion on Monday at 12:15 p.m. it will take 1 hour and 36 minutes, according to INRIX.
Due to the holiday, the I-93 Boston-Quincy HOV lane will deploy earlier on Thursday and Friday, at 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. The lane will not be deployed on Monday and return to its regular schedule on Tuesday, according to MassDOT.
Advertisement:
According to INRIX, in general the worst time to travel by car over the holiday weekend is between 1 and 9 p.m. on Thursday; between noon and 8 p.m. on Friday; between 2 and 6 p.m. on Saturday; and between 1 and 5 p.m. on Sunday; and between 4 and 7 p.m. on Monday.
The best time to drive this weekend is before noon on Thursday; before 11 a.m. on Friday; before noon on Saturday; before 1 p.m. on Sunday; and before 2 p.m. on Monday, according to INRIX.
Travelers can download the Mass511 mobile app or visit www.mass511.com to view live cameras, travel times, and real-time traffic conditions. Users can subscribe to receive text and email alerts. Motorists can also follow @MassDOT on X to receive updates on road and traffic conditions or dial 511 and select a route to hear real-time conditions.
AAA named Boston among the top Memorial Day destinations in the U.S.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com