Share the Vehicle, Save Fuel and Cut Traffic Congestion

Second homeowners and some visitors, including families with children, pets and lots of summer gear, find that driving to Cape Cod is a necessity. If so, please use one vehicle, rather than two or three, and share it during your stay. That will save expensive gasoline and help to reduce seasonal traffic congestion. Here are some other tips:

Best Times to Drive to The Cape
Sunday-Thursday – anytime
Fridays before 2 p.m. or after 9 p.m.
Saturdays before 8 a.m. or after 2 p.m.

Best Times to drive Off the Cape
Monday-Friday (except Monday holidays between 2-9 p.m.)
Saturdays after 2 p.m.
Sundays before 1 p.m. or after 9 p.m.

Travel Times to Avoid
Arriving: Fridays 2-9 p.m. Saturdays 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Departing: Sundays or Monday holidays 1-9 p.m.

Tips from People Who Live Here
Use the Bourne Bridge (Rtes. 195 & 495) instead of the Sagamore Bridge (Rte. 3). Many fewer cars use the Bourne Bridge so you’ll save time and fuel.

On cloudy summer days, Route 28 between Yarmouth and Falmouth can get congested, so consider a bus ride on The Breeze. For maps and schedules call 800 352-7155.

Share the Ride and the Experience

Social networking and ride sharing have hooked up.  Find out more. 

Driving On the Islands
Too many cars and charming but narrow roads make public transportation a much better travel choice. So leave your car behind and fly, or take the ferry. Both islands have excellent, affordable bus service that goes most everywhere. On Nantucket, use The Shuttle. On Martha’s Vineyard, ride with VTA. Don’t forget your bikes!

Traffic Updates
Tune in to WBZ (AM-1030) for updates every 10 minutes throughout the day and night.  On Cape, tune WQRC (FM-99.9) for traffic reports during peak travel periods. Channels 4, 5 and 7 have TV traffic reports from helicopters during rush hour newscasts.

511 Massachusetts
511 Massachusetts provides real time traffic, transit, weather, construction and event information for Eastern Massachusetts. Simply call 511 from your cell phone. 511 helps reduce travel times, decreases fuel consumption and tailpipe pollution, and cuts the number of accidents. From your land line, call 508-888-1981 for the Upper Cape (Falmouth region) or 508-394-7120 for the Mid-Cape (Hyannis region).

511 Massachusetts is available from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends. You may also go online to Smart Traveler.

The Cape Cod Commission also maintains an informative website with useful traffic and travel information.