Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer vacation, with tens of millions of people expected to hit the roads and planes for the long weekend. Friday is expected to be the worst day for travel as people want to get out early.
Airports like Boston Logan are preparing for a surge in travelers, as AAA expects 3.51 million people to fly somewhere over the holiday weekend. The Massachusetts Port Authority told NBC10 Boston that it has been handling about 70,000 outbound travelers per day in recent weeks, and that the daily forecast is the same for the long weekend.
Travel experts expect air travel numbers to exceed pre-pandemic Memorial Day weekend numbers, and Federal Aviation Administration officials have said airports across the country will in fact see this year's Memorial Day weekend be their busiest in two decades.
“The FAA's No. 1 goal is safety. We are preparing for this weekend and planning ahead. We don't anticipate any delays in staffing, but we can't control the weather,” Kevin Morris said. “Be sure to check with your airline to make sure your flight is on schedule. The FAA does not cancel flights, but flights may be delayed due to weather or other factors, so get that information before you board.”
The Massachusetts Port Authority encourages passengers to plan in advance how they will travel to and from Logan Airport, using public transportation when possible.
According to AAA, roads are busiest between noon and 7 p.m. Follow NBC10 Boston… Instagram: instagram.com/nbc10boston TikTok: tiktok.com/@nbc10boston Facebook: facebook.com/NBC10Boston X: twitter.com/NBC10Boston
According to AAA, popular domestic destinations include Florida, New York, Las Vegas and, now that warmer weather is finally here, Boston.
As we all know, Memorial Day weekend is primarily a “drive to your destination” holiday, meaning the majority of travelers will be traveling by car. AAA Northeast predicts road trips will break records this year, with 43.8 million travelers expected to drive at least 50 miles to their destination between May 23-27.
“We expect heavy traffic on the roads and in the air over Memorial Day weekend,” said Mark Shieldrop, senior spokesman for AAA Northeast. “We expect 1 million more travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019. Not only does this mean that the pandemic-era lull is behind us, but it also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”
Thursday is expected to be the busiest day on the roads ahead of the holiday weekend, and airports are expected to be busy on Friday. Follow NBC10 Boston… Instagram: instagram.com/nbc10boston TikTok: tiktok.com/@nbc10boston Facebook: facebook.com/NBC10Boston X: twitter.com/NBC10Boston
Here's what else you need to know about traveling over Memorial Day weekend:
The best and worst times to drive
Drivers leaving on Thursday or Friday can expect traffic to be heaviest in the afternoon, when travelers and commuters mix, according to data from traffic analytics firm INRIX, according to AAA.
Travelers returning home on Sunday or Monday should avoid the afternoon hours, when there is likely to be a peak in returning travelers.
For each day of the holiday weekend, we'll show you the best and worst times to travel by car.
Friday, May 24
Worst time: 12pm to 7pm
Best time: Before 11am, after 8pm
Saturday, May 25
Worst time: 2pm-5pm
Best time: Before 1pm, after 6pm
Sunday, May 26
Worst time: 3pm to 7pm
Best time: Before 1pm
Monday, May 27
Worst time: 3pm to 7pm
Best time: After 7pm
Popular Destinations
According to AAA data, travelers are looking to Orlando, New York, Las Vegas and California for theme parks and entertainment, while Florida's beaches and cruise ports are also expected to be busier.
According to AAA booking data, the top 10 domestic destinations are Orlando, FL, Seattle, WA, New York, NY, Las Vegas, NV, Anaheim/Los Angeles, CA, Denver, CO, Anchorage, AK, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Miami, FL and Boston, MA.
Hertz reports that Orlando, Denver, Atlanta, Boston and Las Vegas have the highest demand for rental cars this weekend.
According to AAA bookings data, the top 10 international destinations for this weekend are Rome, Italy; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; London, England; Paris, France; Dublin, Ireland; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Athens, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; St. George, Bermuda; and Edinburgh, Scotland.
Boston's peak congestion
According to AAA, traffic congestion from Manchester to Boston on I-93 South will peak at 8:45 a.m. on Sunday. Travel times will be about an hour and 48 minutes, a 50% increase from normal.
