Thursday, Friday pegged worst Memorial Day driving times, AAA/INRIX warn

AAA said Memorial Day weekend drivers should expect the heaviest congestion on Thursday, May 21, and Friday, May 22, with the worst delays concentrated in the late afternoon. The group’s 2026 holiday forecast, based on INRIX traffic analysis, said 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. will be the most congested window on both days, with Monday afternoon also expected to be busy as travelers return home. AAA projected 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday and Monday, including 39.1 million going by car. NOAA forecasts also show thunderstorms and flooding risks in parts of the country heading into the holiday period. ### Which hours are expected to be the worst on the road? INRIX said Thursday and Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. will be the most congested driving period of the weekend. AAA’s holiday advisory said Sunday should be the lightest traffic day, barring what it called “unexpected events on the road,” and it urged drivers to leave in the morning if possible. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said the forecast covers the five-day period from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25. The motor club said Memorial Day travel is expected to set a new holiday record this year, slightly above 2025 levels. ### How many people are expected to drive? AAA projected 39.1 million travelers will drive over the Memorial Day holiday period. (newsroom.aaa.com) The organization said that figure is part of a broader forecast of 45 million Americans traveling at least 50 miles from home, with 3.66 million expected to fly. Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the group’s release that Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and that demand remains strong despite higher fuel prices. (mwg.aaa.com) AAA also said it expects about 350,000 roadside assistance calls nationwide over the weekend. ### What is INRIX saying about the traffic pattern? INRIX said holiday congestion will build in the afternoons as travelers leave metro areas and mix with commuter traffic. (southjersey.aaa.com) The company’s forecast, carried in AAA releases, said Monday afternoon will also be heavily traveled as people head home. (mwg.aaa.com) Hertz, identified by AAA as its car-rental partner, said Thursday and Friday are expected to be the busiest pickup days for rental vehicles. AAA said the top five rental-demand markets are Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston. ### Where could weather complicate holiday travel? The National Weather Service said severe thunderstorms and flooding are possible from the southern Plains into the lower Great Lakes. (inrix.com) NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center national forecast products for Thursday and Friday also show hazardous weather areas tied to severe thunderstorms and flash flooding. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center said in its May 19 hazards outlook that heavy precipitation risk could persist over parts of the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley into the next week. (inrix.com) That outlook does not name Memorial Day travel directly, but it points to continued wet conditions in parts of the central and southern United States. (weather.gov) ### What should travelers watch next? Thursday, May 21, is the first of the two peak departure days identified by AAA and INRIX, with Friday, May 22, expected to bring the same 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. congestion window. The National Weather Service and NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center are continuing to update national forecast charts and local advisories through the weekend. (newsroom.aaa.com) (cpc.ncep.noaa.gov)