Crater Lake: Single-Lane Traffic on East Rim Drive on Certain Days
Road work has East Rim Drive down to one lane near Phantom Ship Overlook, with delays on two specific days from 7am to 5pm.
If you're driving around Crater Lake soon, note this before you lock in your route. Road construction is affecting the East Rim Drive, just east of Phantom Ship Overlook. On that stretch, only one lane stays open, with traffic alternating in each direction. You'll still get through, but one vehicle at a time.
Here's the detail that changes your timing: the delays only hit on set windows. Expect slow going between 7am and 5pm on Saturday, August 22, then again on Monday, August 24. Outside those two days and that time frame, the delays don't apply. That's good news if you're flexible on when you go.
Our two cents if your visit lands on one of those days: give yourself some extra time. The scenic road that loops around the lake is already a drive you take slow, with plenty of photo stops. Add the wait at an alternating-traffic point, and a simple loop of the lake can stretch out fast. Start early in the morning, or save this section for late in the day, to keep the line short.
Nothing here closes the park or cuts off access to the overlooks. It's a one-time project on a single stretch of road. The rest of your plans hold. To see where East Rim Drive fits into the full loop, map out your stops, and figure out which viewpoints are worth pulling over for, lean on the Crater Lake park guide. You'll see how this road connects with the other access points, and why we suggest keeping a full half-day to take the loop without rushing.
Always check road conditions with the park the day of, since a project like this can shift as the work moves along.