Ep 19: Memorial Day Weekend Madness (and what to Expect from Holiday Traffic)

Mastering the Commute – Episode 19
🎙️ “Memorial Day Madness – What to Expect This Weekend”

Planning to hit the road this Memorial Day weekend? You’re not alone—and that’s the problem.

In this timely episode, Randy Keith breaks down:

• The classic 3-day weekend traffic pattern (Friday getaway + Monday return)
• Real-world congestion hotspots in Boston, Atlanta, Houston, LA, and more
• Smart travel timing strategies to avoid peak gridlock
• Pro driver tips for alternate routes, rest stop timing, and more
• Holiday-specific hazards like speed traps, surprise construction zones, and increased breakdowns

Whether you're heading to the beach, visiting family, or staying local, this quick-hit guide helps you plan smarter, drive safer, and beat the stress before it starts.

🚗 Have a holiday traffic story or tip? Send it to freewaytrafficexpert@gmail.com
 🎧 More at MasteringTheCommute.com

Chapters

• 0:17 Intro: Memorial Day and Summer Holidays
• 0:49 Regular Holiday (Weekend) Traffic Patterns
• 2:58 Sample Traffic Patterns in U.S. Cities
• 5:09 Holiday Weekend Driving Tips
• 6:27 Wrap-up

Transcript

 Mastering the Commute – Episode 19

“Memorial Day Madness – What to Expect This Weekend”

[Intro / Cold Open]

 "I took a little time off with my wife for her 40th birthday earlier this week— and we got back just in time for one of the most notorious driving weekends of the year” - Memorial Day.

Back in Episode 15, I covered times to expect traffic other than rush hour… and touched on it but today, since Memorial Day Weekend is upon us, and then summer and soon after 4th of July and Labor Day, I’m going to go into a little more detail about how best to plan your drive for the holiday weekend. 

 Segment 1: The Classic Holiday Traffic Pattern (Expanded)

Memorial Day weekend is one of those cases where traffic is almost completely predictable—but still brutal if you don’t plan ahead.

The traffic flow follows patterns getting “out of town” at the beginning of the weekend, then “back into town” at the end. This applies for Labor Day and Thanksgiving, and to a certain extent on Martin Luther King and President’s Day weekend as well. And of course 4th Of July, Christmas and New Years, though obviously those days can float and not necessarily be on the weekend.

So back to Memorial Day and the “classic” 3 day weekends… 

Here’s what to expect :

• Friday (Noon to 7 PM) is The “get out of town” wave.

Expect gridlock leaving major cities. The worst hours are 2 PM to 6 PM in most metros… lunchtime traffic (around 12–2 PM) will be heavier than usual, and commutes can even start earlier than noon in places like Southern California and the NY/NJ Tri-state area.

• Friday Night (7 PM to 10 PM) – “Late leavers” hit the road.

Those who had to work late try to squeeze in a drive, often running into construction or remaining outbound traffic.

• Saturday Morning (8 AM to 11 AM) – The second surge.

People who wanted to “wait out” Friday head out Saturday—but they run into local retail traffic, sports events, and beachgoers.

• Sunday – The Calm Between Storms

Historically, this is the lightest day for travel all weekend. It’s your best bet if you absolutely need to be on the road.

• Monday (2 PM to 9 PM) – The great return.

Afternoon and evening return traffic is usually even worse than the Friday getaway—especially around 4 to 7 PM. This is true even in smaller cities and rural vacation areas.

Bottom line:

There are two peaks—Friday outbound and Monday inbound. Most of Saturday and Sunday is your safe zone.

 Segment 2: Here are a few real US City examples – Where Holiday traffic  Hits Hardest (Expanded)

• Boston:

Outbound traffic hits I-93 north and I-95 toward New Hampshire and Maine on Friday afternoon. Cape Cod traffic via Route 3 and the Sagamore Bridge is notorious. Monday return? Brutal.

• Atlanta:

Expect I-75 south toward Macon and Florida to jam Friday afternoon. I-20 east toward Augusta and I-85 toward South Carolina will also be packed. Monday return via I-75 and I-85 north into the city can be bumper-to-bumper.

• Houston:

Friday gridlock on I-10, US-290, and I-45 toward Dallas, Austin, and Galveston.

Monday backups inbound from all directions.

• Chicago:

Outbound Friday on I-90, I-94, and I-55. Beach and lake traffic spike Saturday.

Monday: heavy northbound I-65 and all interstates returning to the Loop.

• Phoenix:

Outbound traffic spikes Friday on I-10 toward California and I-17 toward Flagstaff.  Expect return jams Monday on I-17 south.

• Los Angeles:

Outbound bottlenecks Friday on the 101, 5, and 10—especially toward the beach, Palm Springs, and Vegas.

Return jams Monday on the 210, 91, and 15.

If you live in or near a vacation destination like the beach or pretty much any metro city in Florida, you’ll see both waves—people coming in and leaving.

 Segment 3: Pro Driving Tips for the Long Weekend

• Leave early, or leave late – Beat the crowds by heading out before 10 AM Friday or waiting until after 8 PM.

• Return smart – Leave early Monday morning or push your drive to early Tuesday if you can.

• Alternate routes matter – Look for parallel highways, scenic bypasses, or even toll roads to save time.

• Rest stops = strategy – Avoid them at peak hours; time your stops off-hour for less stress.

Bonus tip: Don’t trust your GPS alone—use live traffic overlays, not just estimated times.

 Segment 4: Watch for Police, Construction & Breakdowns

Holiday weekends bring surprises:

• Speed traps and DUI checkpoints are more common—drive responsibly.

• Construction zones may still pop up, especially in rural areas or on side highways.

• Breakdowns increase in heat—check your tires, coolant, and battery before you go.

Don’t let poor prep turn a fun weekend into a roadside nightmare.

 Final Thoughts + Call to Action

Got a story from a Holiday weekend drive gone wrong—or right? Email me at freewaytrafficexpert@gmail.com