The good news for your Memorial Day Weekend escape: The weather is looking nice, at least for Friday and Saturday. The bad news: Whether you are traveling by plane, train or automobile (or ferry), you can expect crowds – and high gas prices if you’re filling a tank.

The Washington State Department of Transportation offers a variety of weekend travel tips on its website, including this visualization of peak travel times for weekend to plan the least crowded departure times on Interstate 5 (other routes here.)

Traffic is building on state Route 512 this morning after a car fire near the interchange with Interstate 5.

Two right lanes are blocked as flames engulfed the cars. The fire is out but DOT reports there is lots of smoke in the area.

Drivers were backing up on southbound I-5.

A crash that was blocking all lanes of westbound state Route 512 this morning has been cleared, the state DOT reports.

All lanes were back open by 5:30 a.m.

The crash occurred near the off-ramp to southbound Interstate 5.

Crews have cleared away a serious-injury crash that blocked three lanes of westbound state Route 18 near state Route 167 this morning, the state DOT reports.

Drivers were backed up for a mile at one point.

UPDATE as of 2:58 p.m. WSDOT reports that all lanes are open but traffic backups extend about five miles.

INITIAL POST: A collision is blocking the two right lanes of southbound Interstate 5 just south of 54^th Avenue in Fife, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The crash occurred just after 2 p.m.

Washington State Patrol troopers and paramedics are at the scene.

UPDATE as of 6 p.m.: All lanes are now open but WSDOT reports that backups extend seven miles.

INITIAL POST: A collision is blocking the two left lanes on southbound Interstate 5 at state Route 16.

The wreck was reported at 5:15 p.m.

State Patrol troopers, paramedics and state Department of Transportation workers are on scene.

A collision is blocking the left lane of eastbound state Route 18 in Auburn, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The accident, which occurred at 4:15 p.m. at C Street, is causing traffic delays.

UPDATED at 6:35 a.m.

Crews have cleared away the vehicles involved in a two-vehicle crash that blocked two lanes of northbound Interstate 5 near the Tacoma Dome this morning.

A semi truck hit a private contractor truck that had gotten stuck while pulling into traffic, Washington State Patrol trooper Guy Gill reported. One minor injury was reported.

The crash blocked the two right lanes.

Drivers were backed up past South 56th Street, DOT reported just after 6 a.m.