Hitting the road for Memorial Day Weekend? AAA says it's going to be another record-breaking travel period. Memorial Day weekend runs from Thursday, May 22 to Monday, May 26, and is set to kick off the summer travel season with a bang. According to AAA, 45.1 million Americans are expected to travel domestically for the holiday—that's 1.4 million more than last year.
Air travel is up for the weekend—AAA is seeing a 2% jump in passengers—but more than 87% of people traveling at least 50 miles for the big weekend will be opting for road trips. That, of course, means traffic, but AAA has the scoop on the busiest and best days to drive for Memorial Day weekend.
Why is Memorial Day weekend a busy travel time?
Memorial Day weekend is known as the unofficial start to summer, and most people have a day of work. The long weekend is an ideal time to squeeze in a quick getaway.
"Memorial Day weekend getaways don’t have to be extravagant and costly," said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, in a press release. "While some travelers embark on dream vacations and fly hundreds of miles across the country, many families just pack up the car and drive to the beach or take a road trip to visit friends."
What is the busiest travel day for Memorial Day weekend?
INRIX, a transportation analytics firm, warns that peak congestion will hit between 1pm and 9pm on Thursday, May 22 and from noon to 8pm on Friday, May 23. Saturday will see the worst traffic from 2pm to 6pm If you're traveling through major metro areas like Boston, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco or D.C., brace yourself for even heavier delays.
What is the best day to travel on Memorial Day weekend?
If you want to avoid bumper-to-bumper traffic, the experts recommend leaving early: before noon on Thursday, May 22 and Saturday, May 24, and before 11am on Friday, May 23. When you're heading home, aim to be on the road before 1pm Sunday or 2pm Monday.
Bottom line: travel smart, leave early and make sure you're flexible.