Approximately 470,000 Connecticut residents are expected to travel 50 miles or more over Memorial Day weekend, an increase of more than 4% compared to 2023, according to AAA's annual travel forecast. This is the highest number of holiday travelers in nearly 20 years.
With the start of the traditional summer travel season, road trips will account for 91% of trips taken by Connecticut residents and will be attended by 427,000 residents, according to AAA. The number of Connecticut residents planning to drive to their destination has increased by 4% compared to 2023, according to AAA.
“Despite inflation, we are above pre-pandemic levels and are anticipating a very busy summer travel season,” said Tracy Noble, spokesperson for the AAA Club Alliance.
AAA says travel is up even though gas prices are about 10 to 15 cents more per gallon than in 2023.
Airports are also preparing for a surge in travellers.
About 40,000 Connecticut residents plan to fly, up 4 percent from 2003 and accounting for 8 percent of all travelers to the state this year, according to AAA.
AAA said Memorial Day ticket prices will be about the same as in 2023, with ticket prices increasing 1% to 2%, according to AAA's booking data. AAA says ticket prices can vary widely depending on fare class, whether the flight is direct or requires a connection, and options such as seat selection and carry-on baggage.
According to AAA, 5,000 Connecticut residents are expected to choose to travel by bus, train or cruise ship, an increase of 1% from a year ago.
Across New England, 2 million people plan to travel over the holiday weekend, up 4 percent, with 91 percent of trips being by car, according to AAA.
AAA offers these travel tips:
driving:
- Planning ahead includes making sure your car is ready for a road trip. AAA recommends vehicle inspection. Always check your battery, fuel system, tires, brakes, and fluid levels before hitting the road.
- Prepare your summer emergency kit. If a breakdown occurs, it's important to have everything on hand to keep you and your passengers safe and comfortable while you wait for help to arrive. An emergency kit should include a fully charged cell phone, an extra cell phone charger, jumper cables, a first aid kit, a flare or flashlight with extra batteries to see and be seen, and extra blankets. , water, snacks, and extra medication should be included.
- Travel during off-peak times: Thursdays and Fridays are expected to be peak traffic days for those heading out.
Flight:
- Please check your flight status before leaving for the airport. Don't waste your trip. Download airline apps to check flight status before you fly.
- Get there early. The airport will be busy, so arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before for domestic flights and 3 hours before for international flights.
Understand expectations. Check the TSA guidelines for passing through security checkpoints and pack accordingly. To learn more about which airports have the longest security wait times, visit TheExtraMile.com.
Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at kgosselin@courant.com.
