CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – Memorial Day weekend is fast approaching and many Americans are making travel plans this year.
If you are planning a trip, know that you can expect some traffic and congestion at the airport as many people have the same idea.
AAA Northeast experts, including Mark Sealdrop, predict this year will be the second-busiest Memorial Holiday on record.
With Memorial Day fast approaching, Americans haven't hesitated to plan mini-trips for the long weekend. Sealdrop told 22News that pre-pandemic travel numbers are returning. “With millions of Americans expected to travel, roads will be especially busy. With the vast majority of people traveling by car, road trips will be big this year, and with the weather looking very nice for Memorial Day, all signs point to a very busy Memorial Day holiday.”
According to AAA, 38.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, and drivers expect gas prices to be similar to last year's average, when the national average was about $3.57. He says current gas prices won't deter him from planning a trip.
According to AAA, approximately 44 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home for Memorial Day this year. This is an increase of 4% compared to last year. While many people are traveling by car, airports are also gearing up for a busy weekend.
Memorial Day weekend will be the airport's busiest since 2005, according to the association. AAA predicts that 3.51 million people will fly this weekend, an increase of 4.8% from last year. Approximately 2 million people are also expected to travel by bus, train, and cruise.
Seildrop said the roads will be very busy on Thursdays and Fridays from noon until about 7 p.m. Therefore, if you are planning to travel, we recommend leaving early.
Kiara Smith is a reporter who has been part of the 22News team since March 2023. Follow Kiara on X @kiaraBSmith1 Check out her bio to see more of her work.
