AP forecasts 45 million travelers

AAA said 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the Memorial Day travel period from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25, setting a record for the holiday. The group said 39.1 million of those travelers will go by car, while 3.66 million are expected to fly. The forecast is slightly above last year’s 44.8 million travelers, according to AAA. ABC News reported that rain and thunderstorms could complicate trips in parts of the country as the weekend begins. ### Where is the biggest surge happening? AAA said road travel will account for the vast majority of trips, with 39.1 million people expected to drive over the five-day holiday window. That makes driving the dominant mode even with gas prices running higher than last Memorial Day weekend, the group said. (newsroom.aaa.com) The same AAA forecast said 3.66 million people are expected to fly, a figure that also points to heavy airport traffic through the long weekend. ABC News reported that Delta Air Lines plans to operate more than 25,600 flights between Thursday and Monday, while American Airlines expects Friday, May 22, to be its busiest day of the holiday stretch. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### When will the roads be most crowded? INRIX, in guidance carried by ABC News, said Friday, May 22, is one of the key congestion days for drivers. The traffic analytics company said the best time to leave Friday is before 11 a.m., and warned that traffic will be heaviest from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (newsroom.aaa.com) ABC News also said the holiday period will bring concentrated pressure on major corridors as travelers depart and return over a compressed five-day span. The network’s travel report framed the guidance as a way for drivers and fliers to avoid the worst bottlenecks rather than a sign of reduced demand. (digital.abcaudio.com) ### Which days matter most at airports? American Airlines told ABC News that Friday, May 22, is expected to be its busiest day of the Memorial Day weekend. Delta, by contrast, expects Thursday to be its most crowded day as travelers begin leaving earlier in the week. Those airline-specific forecasts fit with AAA’s broader estimate that millions of people will take to the skies despite a road-heavy travel mix. (abcnews.com) AAA said average ticket prices were lower than last year for travelers who booked early, a factor it cited in the higher holiday forecast. ### How much could weather interfere? (abcnews.com) ABC News reported that much of the United States will not see beach-friendly weather over the weekend, even as travel demand reaches a record. Its forecast said widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected across parts of the South, while the Northeast is set for mostly cloudy conditions and temperatures below average for late May. (newsroom.aaa.com) Other outlets citing the same travel surge also pointed to storms as a risk to both driving and flying. That means the headline number — 45 million travelers — is arriving alongside a forecast that could slow highways, disrupt airport operations or force itinerary changes in some regions. ### What should travelers watch next? (abcnews.com) Thursday, May 21, marks the start of AAA’s official Memorial Day travel window, which runs through Monday, May 25. Travelers looking for the most current conditions can track airline updates, local forecasts and INRIX timing guidance as departure peaks build on Thursday and Friday. (inrix.com) (aol.com)