As families gear up for the unofficial start of summer this weekend, drivers will find the roads busier than usual as record numbers head out for Memorial Day adventures. maybe.
AAA travel forecasts predict that more than 43 million travelers will celebrate the weekend by traveling more than 50 miles from home, a 4% increase compared to the same season in 2023 . The early summer travel season of 2005 saw a continued increase in family travel plans.
“Long holiday weekends like Memorial Day are the perfect way to kick off the summer travel season, and a record number of Americans will be traveling this year,” said Bebe Powell, senior vice president of AAA East Central. “Whether it's a family road trip, a luxury cruise or a rail journey across New England, travelers are making choices that will ensure the trip of a lifetime.”
Vehicle movement expected to reach record levels, experts warn of heavy traffic
The company predicts that about 38 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend. Approximately 4.6 million motorists are expected to be on the roads in the Mid-Atlantic region, which includes New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. According to AAA, part of the driving force behind this personal form of travel is that it offers flexibility and convenience to travelers.
Traffic conditions are expected to worsen in urban areas and around other popular roads throughout the weekend due to increased car usage. To avoid heavy traffic jams, travelers are advised to avoid commuters, travel early in the morning and return home at the weekend.
“Travel times are expected to be up to 90% longer than normal,” said Bob Picheux, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Travelers should stay informed of transit apps, 511 services, and local news stations to avoid sitting in traffic longer than necessary.”
According to INRIX travel data, the best time to travel on Thursday is before 11 a.m. to avoid lunchtime traffic or after 7 p.m. to avoid the rush to leave work. A similar advisory was issued on Friday, with drivers encouraged to leave before 11 a.m. or after 8 p.m. to avoid commuters. On Saturday, an influx of local commuters will allow drivers to sleep a little longer as traffic conditions are not expected to reach their “worst” until 1pm.
When returning home from vacation, drivers are advised to leave by 1pm on Sunday to avoid the worst of the traffic jams. On Monday, travelers who want to avoid large crowds of cars may want to wait until the evening to travel, although INRIX suggests 7pm is the best time to travel that day.
Air travelers may also notice congestion at airports throughout the weekend, as an estimated 3.51 million travelers will be traveling by air in the Mid-Atlantic region. Airline ticket prices are on average about 1% to 2% higher than last year, but this year there has been a 4.8% jump in travelers using air travel in their planning. This year's air travel numbers are similar to 2005 and up 9% compared to pre-pandemic times.
Travel trends include more luxury, 'bucket list' style trips being planned and solo travel on the rise
As the summer travel season begins, there are already some interesting trends emerging in this year's travel plans being made across the country.
AAA Travel reports that more “bucket list” style trips are being planned this summer, with travelers using their own budgets to plan the trips of a lifetime. These include a variety of styles, from those styled as a kind of family reunion trip to luxury getaways for travelers seeking high-end destinations. Many travelers are also planning their own adventures, with women showing increased interest in this type of travel.
Several new destinations are also making waves in the travel planning industry, with nature-focused trips becoming more common. Some of these destinations include spots across Antarctica, Africa, and the South Pacific region. Japan, New England, Canada, and Europe are also popular destinations for those seeking city views, and locations where rail travel is available are of great interest to perspective travelers.
Popular destinations around the country for this Memorial Day itinerary include Orlando, Seattle, New York, and Las Vegas. For those planning to travel to other countries, some of the popular cities where travel is planned include Rome, Vancouver, London, Paris, and Dublin.
