The outlook for traffic on the Maine Turnpike is down slightly from last year, with the authority anticipating that stormy weather will impact travelers.
That doesn’t mean that the turnpike won’t be busy, with just under a million vehicles expected to travel throughout the weekend. Memorial Day traffic in Maine was on a steady rebound since travel was stunted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020, but this year’s numbers are predicted to mirror 2022 data.
Friday will most likely be the busiest day of travel.
The Maine Turnpike Authority anticipates that northbound traffic will reach its peak between the hours of 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, both north and southbound traffic will likely peak between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
As travelers prepare to head back home after the holiday weekend, a high volume of southbound travelers is expected between 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The state could see rain over the long weekend, with high temperatures reaching the high 40s and low 50s. Some southern areas will likely experience periods of high wind gusts, and snow is possible in the mountains.
The outlook isn’t much different for northern Maine, with rain predicted through Sunday evening. The state could see up to 2 inches of rainfall over the weekend.
The forecast is looking promising for Memorial Day, with clearer skies and highs in the 60s. Some clouds may linger, but persistent rain is not expected at this time.
Last year, the Maine Turnpike Authority saw a record number of travelers over the holiday weekend, with around 1.5 million vehicles recorded on the road.
