I'm heading to Cape Cod/Wellfleet Aug 30th. We land at Logan around 1:30pm. I've rented a car to travel to the Cape. How aweful is this commute to the Cape going to be if we get out of the airport by 2:30pm on Thursday? How long should I expect the trip out to the Cape to take? Any suggestions on "must sees" or the best restaurants to visit and things to do at night are welcomed!

I made that drive a few years ago, and generally if you're out of Logan by 2:30 on a Thursday, it's not bad. HOWEVER: There's the massive highway project in Boston, knowns as The Big Dig, that could have an effect. I haven't been through there since they started the project, so I can't help you avoid it, but maybe other posters know something about it.

On a Thursday you will hit traffic through the Sumner Tunnel and then on the Central Artery, through the South Station Tunnel onto the SouthEast Expressway until you get to the gas tanks (large natural gas tanks painted with a rainbow - at one time the largest original work of art in the world painted by Sister Corita - look for the sillouette of Ho Chi Minh in the blue stripe.) If there are 2 or more in your car you can use the HOV lane which starts around the gas tanks. Once past Boston and into Milton the traffic will ease out somewhat. Take Rt 3 South at the Braintree split (stay left). You should hit some congestion on RT 3 until the lane drop and then it should be okay after that. On a Thursday there should be little or no backup at the Sagamore Bridge. Listen to WBZ AM1030 for traffic reports every 10 minutes on the 3s (ie 2:03, 2:13 etc). Use the Ted Williams Tunnel if its open to all traffic.

Its really not hard so long as you have patience. Without traffic the trip to Wellfleet would be about 2 hours.

Thanks! I appreciate the insight! There will be two of us, so I'll be sure to jump in the HOV lane when possible. Patience will be with us, since we'll be happy just to be on vacation going to somewhere we've never been. Now coming back, I'm a little worried. It will be Labor Day, but I'm a little worried that everyone will be heading back that day. Our flight leaves boston back to atlanta around 11am (although this flight is always delayed, so I hear). Any thoughts on the return? Again, thanks for the tips, as we've never been through MA.

Returning from the Cape on Labor Day to Logan: Leave yourself plenty of time. There should be little traffic that early in the AM UNLESS it is raining - in which case, everyone packs up early and heads out early.
So much to do on the Cape - you will love Wellfleet. Be sure to see the view from the deck at the Provincelands Visitor Center (just before Provincetown). Walk the White Cedar Swamp trail - magical and it only takes about 15 minutes. Stop at any of the National Seashore visitors centers to get info on all the sites. Visit the "Marconi Beach" historical site where the first telegraph connection was made. Eat clams and lobster and visit all the wonderful art galleries and antiques. Enjoy our lovely Cape!