Bay Bridge Travel Tips for Memorial Day Weekend 2026
Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner, and if you are heading across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, you will want to plan your trip carefully. The Maryland Transportation Authority is expecting more than 335,000 vehicles to cross the bridge between Friday, May 22, and Memorial Day Monday, May 25. That is a lot of traffic, and delays are expected in both directions throughout the holiday period. Best Times to Cross Going East If you are heading to the Eastern Shore, your best bet is to leave early or wait until later in the evening. Here is a breakdown of the best eastbound travel windows: Thursday, May 21: Before 10 a.m. or after 10 p.m. Friday, May 22: Before 8 a.m. or after 10 p.m. Saturday, May 23: Before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Sunday, May 24: Before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Memorial Day Monday, May 25: Before 11 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 26: Before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m. Best Times to Cross Going West Heading back home to the Western Shore? Here are the best westbound travel windows: Thursday, May 21: Before 11 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Friday, May 22: Before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Saturday, May 23: Before 11 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Sunday, May 24: Before 11 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Memorial Day Monday, May 25: Before 9 a.m. or after 10 p.m. Tuesday, May 26: Before 6 a.m. or after 6 p.m. What to Know About Lane Signals Pay close attention to the overhead lane signals on US 50 and on the bridge. A red X means the lane is closed and you must not enter it. A yellow X means you need to move out of that lane. A green arrow means you are good to go. Police are actively enforcing lane signal violations. Commercial vehicles are required to use the right lane when crossing. How to Pay Your Toll Maryland tolls are collected three ways: E-ZPass, Pay-By-Plate, and Video Tolling. E-ZPass is the most affordable option and can save drivers up to 77 percent compared to other methods. If you are driving a rental car, you can add it temporarily to an existing E-ZPass or Pay-By-Plate account. Just make sure to check with the rental company before you hit any toll roads. A Few Safety Reminders Give yourself extra time to get where you are going. Speeding gives you less time to react and makes crashes worse when they happen. Set your GPS before you leave so you are not doing it while driving. If your vehicle breaks down, get off the road if you can. If you cannot, stay inside your car and call #77 for help. For emergencies, dial 911.
