If you're planning on hitting the road or flying over Memorial Day weekend, you're not alone. But if you want to avoid the crowds, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
According to AAA, travel numbers are expected to reach record levels this year.
“We haven't seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in nearly two decades,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president at AAA Travel, said in a statement. “We are projecting 1 million more travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019. Not only does this exceed pre-pandemic levels, it also signals a very busy upcoming summer travel season.”
On the roads, experts predict that 38.4 million people will travel by car across the U.S. over Memorial Day weekend, “the highest number for the holiday since AAA began tracking it in 2000.”
Meanwhile, the Chicago Department of Aviation reported that more than 1.67 million passengers are expected to depart from Chicago's airport between Thursday and Tuesday alone, an 8.6 percent increase over the same period last year, based on airline forecasts.
O'Hare is expected to see more than 1.38 million passengers over the holiday, about 10% more than in 2023, while Midway Airlines expects more than 294,000 passengers to use the airport, a 3.1% increase over last year. Friday is expected to be the busiest day for both airports.
“This summer travel season is expected to be the busiest in recent years, and O'Hare and Midway airports are ready to welcome travelers from around the world to Chicago,” Chicago Airports Development Authority Executive Director Jamie L. Lee said in a statement.
Want to avoid the worst of the mess?
If you plan to drive, AAA suggests the best and most convenient travel times.
| date | Worst travel time | Optimal travel time |
| Thursday, May 23 | 12:00 to 6:00 pm | Before 11am and after 7pm |
| Friday, May 24 | 12:00 to 7:00 pm | Before 11am and after 8pm |
| Saturday, May 25 | 2pm – 5pm | Before 1pm and after 6pm |
| Sunday, May 26 | 3pm – 7pm | Just before 1 p.m. |
| Monday, May 27 | 3pm – 7pm | After 7pm |
If you're traveling by plane, experts say you should arrive early and be prepared to go through security: The Transportation Security Administration recommends arriving at least 90 minutes early for domestic flights and two hours early for international flights.
Another factor that can hinder travel is the weather.
The Chicago area could see “slightly” severe weather on Friday, which could disrupt airport and road travel depending on when the storm arrives.
That “slight” risk extends across the Chicago area and northwest Indiana, where the threat of any type of severe weather could develop on Friday, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
Ground stop orders issued during the storm could result in planes being stopped at their departure points or prevent flights from departing O'Hare and Midway airports from mid-to-late afternoon.
You can catch all the latest developments, live radar and more on the NBC Chicago app, the NBC 5 Storm Team on TV and our 24/7 streaming service.
