Sunday Night I-94 Traffic Question (Minneapolis, Monticello: home, construction, cabin)

[SoDak11]

So last Sunday my wife and I were coming back home from her parent's lake place in SD, and we ran into bumper to bumper traffic about 5 miles before we hit Albertville. This was about 8 PM. It lasted at least 10 miles with occasional respites where traffic would get going again before slowing back to stop and go. This was our first time on I-94 on a Sunday night since moving to Minneapolis, and I'm just wondering if this is normal. We never saw any evidence of construction or an accident, and it just seemed sort of weird the way it came to a halt, especially with the lack of any major on/off ramps right in the area it occurred. If this is normal, we will know to get back earlier or take a different route.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by SoDak11

So last Sunday my wife and I were coming back home from her parent's lake place in SD, and we ran into bumper to bumper traffic about 5 miles before we hit Albertville. This was about 8 PM. It lasted at least 10 miles with occasional respites where traffic would get going again before slowing back to stop and go. This was our first time on I-94 on a Sunday night since moving to Minneapolis, and I'm just wondering if this is normal. We never saw any evidence of construction or an accident, and it just seemed sort of weird the way it came to a halt, especially with the lack of any major on/off ramps right in the area it occurred. If this is normal, we will know to get back earlier or take a different route.

Cabin effect. Lot of people heading out on Thursday and Friday and comming back on Sunday. I35 is the same deal being gateway to places North. This is all summer long. I go back and forth to Ely, so I get this on I35 if I come back too soon. I tend to wait out the traffic which starts to wind down by dark. Lot of people want to make it home before dark.

[Grannysroost]

It is very normal, going west on Friday, east on Sunday. You either need to be early or late. Not sure where you went in SD,but is much easier and faster to take some back roads going west out of city on 169 or maybe 212 than 94

[JenLee]

I learned 30+ years ago that I should time my trips coming back from Up North Sunday nights so I don't hit either I-94 or Highway 10 from Monticello south to the Cities between 5 and 9PM in the summer. It would ruin the "relaxing weekend away" feeling every time I hit that area with every other crazed driver in the state.