Beating Labor Day weekend traffic on Cape Cod: Tips to reduce the toll
Wouldn't it be great if there was a surefire way to beat Labor Day weekend traffic on Cape Cod? I've never been able to find the entrance to the legendary Cape Cod Tunnel — I hope it exists, but I'm beginning to wonder. Barges, cargo planes and helicopters sound interesting, but for the foreseeable future, crossing the Cape Cod Canal is a game of bridge.
We seem to be stuck with a traffic equation on holiday weekends that looks like this: lots of people in cars want to roll onto the Cape on Friday, then roll home on Monday — let the beeping begin!
But there are ways to increase your odds of a smoother ride to and from Cape Cod over the Labor Day weekend. The simple version, according to David Nolan, senior transportation planner for the Cape Cod Commission sounds like this:
"I tell family and friends the earlier you can come down, the better. On Monday, either get up early and go, or stay for dinner."
The idea here is to avoid peak travel times. According to the Cape Cod Commission, traffic in the early morning and late evening is generally less busy. But Nolan added that weather can also play a factor in the traffic flow, especially on summer weekends, when folks might be tempted to stay later on a Sunday or Monday to enjoy a fine beach day.
Nolan also advises folks to "check those traffic apps" before starting to or from Cape Cod. This can be especially helpful when a crash or fender bender temporarily snarls traffic, and alternate routes are sometimes suggested. Apps like Google Maps, Waze and Mass511 provide this kind of information.
Folks might also want to consider public transportation options, like the CapeFLYER train service that runs from South Station in Boston to Hyannis. The service runs through Labor Day. To get around the Cape without a car, check out the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority website for schedules and information about bus service. Carpooling and ridesharing can also keep vehicles off the road and reduce traffic.
But given the fact that the Sagamore and Bourne bridges are the only way for folks to drive onto and off Cape Cod, Nolan thinks there is one key to remember.
"The biggest thing is patience," he said.
After all, it's Labor Day weekend on Cape Cod, the unofficial end to summer, and some level of traffic is likely. Aggressive driving could lead to an unfortunate situation, perhaps a disabled vehicle or worse. No one needs that.
Cape residents might also want to consider skipping off-Cape travel over the holiday, and perhaps follow Nolan's personal Labor Day weekend traffic strategy.
"I avoid it," he said. "I'm not leaving the Cape on Labor Day."
Eric Williams, when not solving Curious Cape Cod mysteries, writes about a variety of ways to enjoy the Cape, the weather, wildlife and other subjects. Contact him at ewilliams@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @capecast.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Labor Day weekend traffic on Cape Cod: When to arrive, when to leave
