Traveling for Memorial Day? See best and worst times to drive in Washington state

Memorial Day means a lot of things in Washington state.

It’s an opportunity to honor U.S. military service members, and a chance to relax away from work and school. The federal holiday also marks the unofficial start of summer.

In 2026, Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 25.

Millions of travelers are expected to head out as the summer travel season begins.

“This year’s domestic travel forecast is slightly higher than last year and sets a new Memorial Day weekend record,” AAA said in a May 11 news release.

AAA said an estimated 45 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25.

“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 the release. “Travel demand remains strong, and despite higher fuel prices, many people are prioritizing leisure travel during holiday breaks.”

If you’re planning to travel for Memorial Day weekend, here are the best — and worst — times to hit the road in Washington state:

How expensive is gas in Washington state?

According to AAA, approximately 39.1 million people are expected to travel by car during the holiday weekend.

Travelers are paying significantly more at the pump this year compared to Memorial Day in 2025, when a gallon of regular gasoline cost $3.17 a gallon nationwide on average.

As of Tuesday, May 19, the average price for a gallon of regular gas in Washington state was about $5.78 — $1.25 higher than the national per-gallon average of $4.53.

According to AAA, Asotin County had the cheapest gas in Washington state as of Tuesday.

There, a gallon of regular gas cost about $5.03 on average.

The highest price was in San Juan County, where gas was averaging roughly $6.60 per gallon.

Drivers can check the AAA website for current fuel prices in their area.

What are the worst days to drive for Memorial Day 2026?

According to AAA, these are the worst times to hit the road in Washington state during Memorial Day weekend:

• Thursday, May 21 — Noon to 9 p.m.
• Friday, May 22 — 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, May 23 — Noon to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, May 24 — Minimal traffic expected
• Monday, May 25 — Noon to 5 p.m.

If you’re driving from Ellensburg to Seattle on eastbound Interstate 90, you’re likely to encounter “peak congestion” on Monday around 2:30 p.m., AAA said.

The automobile association predicted that the trip could take 3 hours and 28 minutes, 56% longer than usual.

The Washington State Department of Transportation has created travel charts indicating when key routes will be the most congested this Memorial Day weekend.

These include the stretch of Interstate 5 between Lacey and Tacoma, the section of US 2 between Stevens Pass and Skykomish and I-5 from Bellingham to the U.S.-Canada border.

When are best times to drive on Memorial Day weekend?

AAA said these are the best times to hit the road on Washington state for Memorial Day weekend travel:

• Thursday, May 21 — After 9 p.m.
• Friday, May 22 — Before 11 a.m.
• Saturday, May 23 — Before 11 a.m.
• Sunday, May 24 — Minimal traffic expected
• Monday, May 25 — Before 10 a.m.

How much do flights for Memorial Day cost?

“While gas prices are higher than last Memorial Day weekend, average ticket prices for flights are lower than last year for those who booked early,” AAA said.

AAA said about 3.7 million travelers will fly domestically over Memorial Day weekend, making air travel about 8% of holiday trips.

On average, costs for roundtrip tickets to domestic destinations are down about 6% compared to Memorial Day 2025, with average fares around $800.

“Most of those trips were booked before rising jet fuel prices started affecting airfare,” AAA said.

What are top Memorial Day weekend destinations?

According to AAA, Seattle was one of the top destinations for travelers this Memorial Day weekend, trailing after Orlando, Florida.

These were the top 10 domestic destinations for travelers, based on AAA booking data:

1. Orlando, Florida
2. Seattle
3. New York City
4. Las Vegas
5. Miami
6. San Francisco
7. Anchorage, Alaska
8. Chicago
9. Denver
10. Boston

Julia Hawkins

The Bellingham Herald

Julia Hawkins joined The Herald as a service journalism and general assignment reporter in December 2025. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Western Washington University in Bellingham.

Angela Rodriguez

The Modesto Bee

279-386-2738

Angela Rodriguez is a service journalism reporter for The Bee. She is a graduate of Sacramento State with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. During her time there, she worked on the State Hornet covering arts and entertainment.