It’s expected to be a warm Memorial Day weekend on the Gulf Coast and many South Mississippi residents are getting ready to hit the road to celebrate with a beach weekend.
If you’re one of the people hopping in the car to join the crowds on the sandy shores of Biloxi, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores or Pensacola, prepare yourself for heavy traffic as we get closer to actual holiday weekend.
Increased traffic doesn’t just present a major headache for drivers. It can also make the roads more dangerous.
Data from The National Safety Council , a nonprofit focused on health and safety in the U.S., shows summertime holidays including Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day have the highest average fatality rates.
In 2023, Louisiana saw eight fatal crashes on Memorial Day, according to the state Department of Transportation.
DOTD officials encourage anyone driving on the roads this weekend to wear their seat belt, never drink and drive or drive distracted and to be patient will other drivers. Many travelers who pass through Louisiana during holiday weekends may not know the roads as well.
Here’s some tips on when to leave, routes and traffic.
Best times to leave
In general, traffic toward the Gulf Coast will get heavier as we inch closer to Friday and hit its peak Friday and Saturday.
If you’re hoping to beat the weekend rush, it could be a good idea to leave a day or two earlier and make the drive Wednesday night or Thursday.
GPS apps, such as Waze and Google Maps , can also suggest the best times for you to leave or give you a preview of what traffic you’re expected to hit.
The morning are typically the best times to leave, and the earlier you get out the door the better.
If you’re driving on a weekday through larger cities like Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Mobile or others, keep in mind typical rush hours (lunch rush at noon, 5 p.m. rush hour) and try to avoid passing through during these times.
On the way home, the busiest driving day will of course be Monday, so it could be wiser to head home Sunday night instead, or take an extra day off work and head back Tuesday.
Beach town routes, travel on I-10
The easiest routes to travel along the Gulf Coast are on Interstate 10 or Highway 90.
However, parts of Highway 90 near the Louisiana-Mississippi line are closed, including the Pearl River bridge and the Chef Menteur Pass bridge.
Be warned that traffic will likely be the worst on I-10 near the Buc-ee’s construction in Pass Christian, at the tunnel in Mobile, near the Buc-ee’s store in Alabama and on roads getting closer to the beach near Gulf Shores, Orange beach or the 30A.
I-10 traffic at the Mississippi-Louisiana state line can also get congested during peak rush hour times or on the weekends.
How to check traffic
State or local agencies often report accidents, road closures or heavy traffic to motorists.
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida each have traffic website un by their transportation departments that show map views of traffic congestion, incidents and closures, and even live cameras to view what traffic looks like in real time.
Most also have their own accounts on X or Facebook where you can view traffic updates sometimes faster than on their website.
Here’s a list of links and accounts to follow based on the state.
Note: Do not use your phone to look these up while driving. Do it before, or have a passenger look it up for you.
Louisiana
Mississippi
Alabama
Florida
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