Memorial Day Travel Surge: Record Numbers Expected on Roads and in Skies, AAA Warns of Congestion Ahead". Source : google
Although spring officially continues for another month, Memorial Day weekend often marks the unofficial start of summer, bringing heavy traffic as a result. This year, travel forecasts predict an especially busy holiday on May 27, 2024, with record numbers on the roads and in the skies.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) has issued a warning about potential congestion on highways and crowded airports over the upcoming holiday weekend. AAA, which assesses travel conditions using various economic indicators, estimates that about 43.8 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday and Monday. This represents a 4% increase from 2023 and nearly matches the record of 44 million travelers set in 2005.
"We haven't seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years," said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA’s travel division. "We're projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we're exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead."
For those planning to travel this weekend, here’s what to expect:
Traffic Woes
AAA predicts a new record for road trips, with 38.4 million people expected to drive this weekend, the highest since AAA began tracking Memorial Day travel in 2000. Car rental company Hertz reports the highest rental demand in Atlanta, Boston, Las Vegas, and Orlando, especially on Thursday and Friday.
To avoid the worst traffic, AAA advises steering clear of the roads during peak hours. According to transit data from INRIX, the most congested times will be between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. The best times to drive are before 11 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Thursday, before 11 a.m. or after 8 p.m. on Friday, before 1 p.m. or after 6 p.m. on Saturday, before 1 p.m. on Sunday, and after 7 p.m. on Monday.
Busy Airports
Air travel is also expected to surge, continuing the trend from last year when air travel numbers exceeded pre-pandemic levels. AAA projects that 3.51 million people will fly this weekend, up from 3.35 million last year, making it the busiest Memorial Day weekend for air travel since 2005.
United Airlines expects over 500,000 passengers each day from Thursday to Tuesday, making it their busiest Memorial Day on record. Delta anticipates 3 million passengers over six days, while American Airlines projects 3.9 million travelers over the weekend.
Public Transportation
For the 1.9 million people expected to use public transit this weekend, INRIX data suggests significant congestion in major cities like Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington, D.C. The busiest times will be late afternoon, early evening, and mid-morning each day from Thursday to Monday.
D.C., Los Angeles, Houston, and Tampa are expected to see the largest increases in metro crowding. The worst congestion is forecasted for a route from Gainesville to Tampa on Sunday at 9 a.m., where traffic could be 88% higher than usual.
In summary, travelers should brace for busy roads and airports this Memorial Day weekend. Careful planning and avoiding peak travel times can help mitigate some of the expected congestion.
