Rush hour traffic question heading south in the afternoons (Seattle: hotel, homes)

[MtnSurfer]

Hello,

We are planning a trip to Seattle in a couple weeks to visit colleges for our son. We will be driving from Seattle to Vancouver in the afternoon on a weekday. I realize traffic is really bad during rush hour which we've sat in before. But my question is, approximately what time does it start getting a 'little better' even if moving slowly? We'll be visiting UW Bothell in the afternoon. Then head a bit south on I405 to grab dinner, maybe as far as Bellevue or Renton. From there we'll head to Vancouver.

Thanks,

Derek

[Gardyloo]

Presumably you're talking about Vancouver WA.

I wouldn't be concerned heading south from Bellevue or Renton; just use the HOV lanes and you'll probably evade most of the traffic crunch. Note that the HOV I-405 lanes north of Bellevue are tolled (in both directions) so use the general purpose lanes after you leave UW/B until you get to Bellevue. https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Tolling/405/default.htm

[NWarty]

Depends. Mon/Tues/Wed in the afternoon commute is tolerable. Thursday and Friday is a s***-show.

Federal Way slows down from Hwy 18 to Hwy 16 through Tacoma. Then, JBLM causes back ups to Hwy 512. It can take upwards of an hour and a half to go from Tacoma to Olympia on a Thursday or Friday.

South of Olympia is smooth sailing.

[homesinseattle]

7PM would be a decent time, 8 even better.

[CrazyDonkey]

Check the Washington State Travel Alerts before leaving: https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts/

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by homesinseattle

7PM would be a decent time, 8 even better.

Yeah, that was about what I was thinking. Although 8pm is pushing it a bit for a drive south to Vancouver, WA. We'll be checking into a hotel pretty late as it is. So maybe start inching our way south ~ 7pm and hopefully by the time we hit some of the crazier crunch zones mentioned they won't be quite as backed up.

Thanks,
Derek

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by NWarty

Depends. Mon/Tues/Wed in the afternoon commute is tolerable. Thursday and Friday is a s***-show.

Federal Way slows down from Hwy 18 to Hwy 16 through Tacoma. Then, JBLM causes back ups to Hwy 512. It can take upwards of an hour and a half to go from Tacoma to Olympia on a Thursday or Friday.

South of Olympia is smooth sailing.

Bummer, it will be on a Thursday. I wonder why so much crazier then? Do you think folks are busting out of town for a long weekend, perhaps?

Derek

[CrazyDonkey]

You'll be a carpool, so eligible to use the SR-167 HOT lanes for free:

SR 167 HOT Lanes - Who can use the lanes | WSDOT

Same with the I-5 HOV lanes.

https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/HOV/Map.htm

[Flightoficarus87]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

Bummer, it will be on a Thursday. I wonder why so much crazier then? Do you think folks are busting out of town for a long weekend, perhaps?

Derek

It could be - but in any case, I will second everything NWarty said. Traffic doesn't really start getting better until after 7 these days, and most of I-5 from Federal Way to Olympia is going to be pretty rough due to road work and multiple choke points. It does improve quite a bit after Olympia though.

[Hemlock140]

A lot of people have Friday or every other Friday off, so leave after work Thursday for weekend trips. Add to that the commuters and it’s a mess. From here in Sammamish, Issaquah, or even Bellevue it might be best to take Front Street in Issaquah which turns into Issaquah-Hobart Rd. To highway 18 through Maple Valley and Auburn, then joins I5 in Federal Way. That avoids the 405/5 mess, and is also more scenic though it will still be somewhat heavy. The worst will be Fife and Tacoma, then around JBLM and DuPont. Then it usually thins out some. On weekdays that trip you are making is best done late morning, but it can have jams at places any time of day, even 10-11pm.