Cape Cod Traffic

Tips for Driving to Cape Cod in Summer Traffic

But there's no reason to get stuck in it. With a little advance planning (and armed with my detour suggestions below, just in case), you'll be here in no time - easy as can be.

This might seem obvious, but it bears repeating:

Cape Cod is surrounded by water. We're connected to the "mainland" by two traffic bridges - the Bourne Bridge and the Sagamore Bridge.

If you try to cross either bridge when traffic is heavy, you'll have a long, frustrating wait ahead of you.

And this simple (but seemingly often ignored/forgotten) fact brings me to my #1 tip for a stress-free Cape Cod road trip:

Plan your travel time so you'll reach the Bourne or the Sagamore bridge when traffic is at its lightest.

It's easy to do ...

1. Just figure out approximately how long it'll take you to get here. Be sure to factor in a little extra time for food, fuel, etc. "pit stops" along the way.


2. Then decide what time you'll need to get on the road so you'll reach the the bridge before (or after) the predictable traffic jams at the bridges.

"Ugh! That early?", you say?

Well, it's up to you. But believe me ...

You'll be glad you took my advice when you're having a leisurely stroll on the beach - while hundreds of other people are still stuck in traffic, miles away from their first glimpse of the Cape Cod Canal!

That's when it's time to re-group and consider taking a little detour.

Now, before I tell you about these Cape Cod traffic detours, I have to warn you. They have what I call a "crap shoot" factor to them.

Once you get off the interstate highway and onto the side roads, speed limits are slower, and you'll have some local traffic and stop lights to contend with along the way.

So, if you hear a traffic report saying there's a tie-up ahead, is it better to stay the course on the interstate and hope for the best? Or should you detour onto one of these side roads instead?

Who knows! Either way, it's pretty much a crap shoot.

With that caveat held firmly in mind,

Here are some of our favorite detours:

• From Rhode Island: Take a look at Route 6 as an alternative to the interstates. Route 6 goes south of Providence (Rhode Island), then parallels I-195 and Route 25 to Cape Cod. Route 6 will bring you to the Bourne Bridge, the Sagamore Bridge, and all the way down the center of Cape Cod.


• From I-495 South: If you run into Cape Cod traffic on the southern end of I-495, try detouring over to Route 28 south. Route 28 is part of the "old" Cape Cod travel route. It's the route we used before I-495 was completed. You can pick up Route 28 south from Exit 5, 4, 3, or 2 off I-495. Route 28 will bring you to the Bourne Bridge. From there, it meanders all along the south side of the Cape from Falmouth to Orleans.
• From Boston and the North Shore: Most people coming from Boston to the Cape take I-93 south to Route 3 south to the Sagamore Bridge. But you can also hop off I-93 south and pick up Route 3A southbound. Rt 3A is the shore route. It's definitely not the quickest way to drive from Boston to Cape Cod. But it sure is pretty! Plus, Route 3A goes right through the historic town of Plymouth. If you're in the mood for some sightseeing, stop for a visit to Plimoth Plantation, go see Plymouth Rock, or walk along the harborfront and tour a replica of the Mayflower. From Plymouth, you're only about 15 miles away from the Sagamore Bridge.