Holiday highway traffic could be heavy
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Holiday highway traffic could be heavy

Northbound traffic on Loop 1 Austin TX

May 21, 2026

By Staff

AUSTIN — Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer travel in Texas, and drivers across the state should prepare for heavy traffic on major highways as thousands head out for holiday getaways.

The Texas Department of Transportation is urging travelers to plan ahead, stay alert behind the wheel and check road conditions before leaving home. Using traffic data, TxDOT released forecasts showing when congestion is expected to peak May 22-25 on some of the state’s busiest interstates.

Among the busiest corridors this holiday weekend is I-35, where heavy traffic is expected Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Denton, Fort Worth, Dallas, Waco, Temple, Round Rock, Austin and San Antonio. Moderate traffic is expected throughout much of the weekend, especially around Central Texas and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Father south, I-10 is expected to see significant congestion Friday afternoon and evening through El Paso, San Antonio, Houston and Beaumont.

In North Texas, drivers on I-20 and I-30 should expect major slowdowns Friday as holiday travelers leave the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Heavy traffic is forecast on I-20 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Weatherford, Fort Worth, Arlington and Dallas, while I-30 could see backups from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Fort Worth, Arlington, Dallas and Rockwall.

Between Dallas and Houston, I-45 is expected to be another hotspot Friday, with heavy traffic developing late morning and continuing into the evening through Dallas, Ennis, Conroe, The Woodlands and Houston. Coastal traffic toward Galveston could increase Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

South Texas travelers heading toward Corpus Christi may encounter moderate traffic Friday afternoon on I-37 and Future I-69E (US 77), particularly near San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Kingsville.

Meanwhile, I-40 and Future I-69C (US 281) are expected to experience relatively light traffic throughout the holiday weekend.

TxDOT encourages drivers to avoid peak travel periods when possible, buckle up, eliminate distractions and never drive impaired or fatigued. Travelers can check real-time road conditions, closures and traffic updates at DriveTexas.org.