Want to avoid Cruisin’ The Coast traffic and those orange cones? Check out these tips.

It’s the most colorful time of the year in South Mississippi when Cruisin’ The Coast draws 10,000 antique and classic car owners — plus their fans — to the Coast.

The $36 million economic impact from visitors also comes with traffic issues for locals trying to get to work, school or the store.

Just like in communities that are host to NASCAR races or week-long music or other sporting events, the local residents complain but learn how to avoid the heaviest traffic by changing their route or the times they drive.

Events are spread out all across the three Coast counties to disperse the crowds, said Woody Bailey, Cruisin’ The Coast executive director.

People are drawn to the event each year because of “the chemistry of Highway 90 and the beaches,” he said. That along with the friendliness of the people, the food and the casinos draw more people every year at an otherwise slow time of year for the owners and staff at Coast hotels, restaurants, attractions and shops.

“We’ve got a great thing going here,” Bailey said.

Traffic tips for Cruisin’ The Coast

Here are some ways to avoid traffic backups this week:

▪ The heaviest Cruisin’ traffic is along the beach, from Interstate 110 to Edgewater Mall near the Biloxi-Gulfport line.

▪ Traffic also backs up at Cruise Central at Centennial Plaza in Gulfport on Monday and Tuesday, when cruisers register. Early registration ended in mid-August and opened at 11 a.m. Monday. Mississippi Department of Transportation began sending out traffic congestion advisories around noon Monday. Registration is from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday.

▪ The heaviest traffic days are Friday and Saturday. Biloxi will be setting up orange cones before dawn Friday from I-110 to DeBuys Road and the cones will be more spaced out than in past years. The traffic plan will be activated Friday and Saturday if needed, limiting traffic to the right or outside lanes on Beach Boulevard and reserving the left or center lanes for emergency vehicles only.

▪ For real time traffic advisories, text BILOXI to 99411

▪ Expect heavy traffic around the Cruisin’ sites each day. Check the daily schedule to see the Cruisin’ sites where streets will be closed.

▪ Site locations and maps are available on the Cruisin’ website.

▪ Go early. Traffic generally is light in the morning before 9-10 a.m. and you’ll get to admire the cruisers sharing the road.

▪ Arrive early. The best parking and display spaces for cruisers fill up fast. For Wednesday’s Cruisin’ The Coast Block Party in Downtown Biloxi, the city advises cruisers to arrive as early as 6 a.m. Those who come late to the party may have trouble finding a place to park.

▪ Only cruisers can park at the venues. Spectators will park off site and walk to admire the cars and trucks, chat with their owners and listen to the bands. Volunteers direct traffic at the venues.

▪ If you’re not going Cruisin’, stay off U.S. 90 this week. Shop early. Take Pass Road or if you are a local who knows the back roads, use them to avoid most of the traffic.

▪ If you are driving Beach Boulevard, slow down this week and admire the cars and the beach. It’s one of the few places in the country where you’ll see so many rare, fun and exotic cars and trucks riding along the beach.