Monday expected congested for most U.S. travel

Yahoo’s Memorial Day traveler guide said on Sunday, May 24, that Monday is expected to be congested for most of the day across U.S. roads and airports. The warning came as AAA projected a record 45 million Americans would travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday period running from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25. (yahoo.com) Of that total, AAA said 39.1 million people were expected to travel by car and 3.66 million were expected to fly domestically. (midstates.aaa.com) The Yahoo guide, updated May 23 and surfaced May 24, framed Monday as the toughest day for return trips rather than outbound travel. ABC News, citing transportation analytics company INRIX, reported that the worst traffic on Memorial Day itself was forecast from noon to 5 p.m., with travelers advised to leave before 10 a.m. (abcnews.com) ### Why is Monday expected to be the hardest day to travel? Monday, May 25, is the main return day for Memorial Day weekend travelers, and Yahoo said congestion was expected for most of the day. ABC News reported that INRIX expected the heaviest road traffic between noon and 5 p.m. on Monday, after earlier holiday departures had already spread traffic across Thursday and Friday. (yahoo.com) AAA’s forecast adds scale to that warning. The group said 45 million Americans were expected to travel over the five-day holiday window, which would top last year’s 44.8 million and set a new Memorial Day weekend record. (yahoo.com) ### How many people are flying and driving? AAA said 39.1 million travelers were expected to drive and 3.66 million were expected to fly during the Memorial Day travel period. That leaves road travel as the dominant mode, but the air-travel number is also high enough to keep airports busy through the end of the weekend. TIME and NBC Washington also reported that Memorial Day 2026 travel was expected to break records, citing AAA’s forecast. (yahoo.com) NBC Washington said heavy traffic and congested airports could be in store as the holiday period closed out on Monday. ### What timing advice are travelers getting? INRIX’s advice for Monday was straightforward: leave before 10 a.m. if possible. (midstates.aaa.com) ABC News said the worst period for return traffic was expected from noon to 5 p.m., while Yahoo’s guide described Monday as congested for most of the day, suggesting that even travelers outside the peak window should expect delays. For travelers who already delayed their return, the practical effect is longer drive times on major corridors and more crowding at terminals. (midstates.aaa.com) Yahoo’s guide grouped roads and airports together in its Monday warning, indicating that both car and air travelers should expect a busy finish to the holiday weekend. (time.com) ### How does this fit into the broader holiday travel picture? AAA said the 2026 Memorial Day travel forecast was slightly higher than in 2025 and would set a new record for the holiday. The organization’s forecast covered the period from May 21 through May 25, making Monday the final day of a five-day travel surge. (abcnews.com) ABC News reported that American Airlines expected Friday, May 22, to be its busiest travel day of the holiday weekend, underscoring how the travel rush was split between early departures and Monday returns. ### What should travelers watch for next? Monday, May 25, remains the key date for return travel, with INRIX forecasting the worst road congestion from noon to 5 p.m. (yahoo.com) Yahoo’s traveler guide is the published reference point for its all-day congestion warning, while AAA’s Memorial Day forecast provides the latest national estimates for road and air volume. (abcnews.com) (midstates.aaa.com)