Approximately 44 million Americans plan to travel over Memorial Day weekend by car, plane, train, and even boat, marking a record-setting late-May holiday since 2005. is approaching.
“We haven't seen these kinds of Memorial Day weekend travel numbers in nearly 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. . “We expect an additional 1 million more people to travel this weekend compared to 2019. Not only does this mean we have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, but it also marks the arrival of a very busy summer travel season. It means to.”
All of this will lead to road congestion, as more than 38 million people will be driving out of town, according to AAA estimates. This represents a 4% increase over last year and is the largest since the automotive group began its research in 2000.
This year's gas prices are about the same or slightly lower than last year, when the national average was $3.57, but drivers could remain stuck in traffic and burn more gas if they leave or return during peak hours. be.
“Nothing can ruin a vacation faster than traffic,” said Jamie Holter of Seattle-based traffic analytics company INRIX.
This means drivers should avoid going out between noon and 6pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and returning home between 3pm and 7pm on Sundays or Mondays. Specifically, INRIX says the area's most congested stretch will be westbound Interstate 94 between Eau Claire and the Twin Cities, Wisconsin. The company predicts peak traffic will be at 8:45 a.m. Monday, when it will take one hour and 47 minutes to travel 82 miles.
Airport terminals are also expected to be crowded, especially on Friday, which the TSA says is the busiest travel day, with 3 million people passing through security checkpoints. More than 18 million passengers will be tested between Friday and Wednesday, the agency said, an increase of 6.4% from a year ago.
Bus, train and cruise travel is also recovering, deeply affected by the coronavirus pandemic, Tweedale said.
“We're back to 2019 figures,” she said, noting that 1.9 million people will use these modes this year, up 5.6 percent from last year. “We're seeing a surge in travel demand, with long holiday weekends providing the perfect opportunity to get away.”
MSP airport road construction
If you plan on picking up or dropping off someone on Minneapolis Street, here are some things to keep in mind: Paul International Airport this summer. The upper road (departure level) of Terminal 1 is under construction and some sections of it will be closed from time to time. Parts of the lower road outside baggage claim are also closed periodically.
Work began this month on the street side closest to the parking lot, but will be moved to the curb side of the terminal before the joint replacement, sealing and cleaning project is completed in September.
Access to the terminal will be maintained, but the Metropolitan Airports Commission has warned that maintenance could cause delays and traffic congestion.
The committee that operates the airport says, “Please allow plenty of time.''
