Time Out posts AAA worst Memorial Day times

Time Out on Tuesday pointed readers to AAA’s Memorial Day driving advisory as U.S. holiday travel is set to reach a record 45 million people between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25. AAA said 39.1 million of those travelers are expected to go by car, making road trips the dominant mode for the long weekend. INRIX, the transportation-data company cited by AAA, said the heaviest congestion is expected on Thursday and Friday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., with Monday afternoon also likely to be crowded. Time Out’s May 19 post told drivers to leave in narrower off-peak windows and stay flexible on routing. ### Which travel window is AAA talking about? AAA said its 2026 Memorial Day holiday period runs from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25, and counts travelers going at least 50 miles from home. The organization said this year’s forecast is slightly above 2025 and would set a new Memorial Day weekend record. The 45 million total includes 3.66 million domestic air travelers and 2.2 million people traveling by bus, train or cruise, but AAA said driving accounts for 87% of all Memorial Day travelers. (newsroom.aaa.com) That share is why the timing guidance around highway departures is central to the advisory. ### When does AAA say traffic will be worst? INRIX, in figures carried by AAA and regional AAA clubs, said drivers should expect the heaviest congestion on Thursday and Friday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. (inrix.com) Monday afternoon is also expected to be busy as holiday travelers return home. AAA South Jersey said Sunday should be the lightest traffic day, barring unexpected incidents on the road. Time Out’s post framed that guidance for readers as a practical scheduling issue: avoid the peak afternoon crush and choose tighter departure windows instead of broad “leave sometime Friday” plans. The article also advised drivers to stay flexible if traffic conditions change. ### What are the practical takeaways for drivers? (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said motorists should check their battery, tire pressure and fluids before leaving. The group said it handled more than 350,000 roadside-assistance calls over last year’s Memorial Day weekend for dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks. Hertz, identified by AAA as its car-rental partner, said Thursday and Friday are expected to be the busiest pickup days. (timeout.com) AAA said the five markets with the highest rental demand are Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston. ### Why is this year’s advisory getting attention? AAA said gas prices are higher than they were over Memorial Day last year, when the national average for regular gasoline was $3.17 a gallon, and said pump prices are now at their highest since the summer of 2022. (inrix.com) Even so, Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said demand remained strong and travelers were still prioritizing leisure trips over the holiday break. Time Out’s post landed as broader Memorial Day coverage focused on another record travel weekend. Its contribution was narrower: not a new national forecast, but a timetable for when road congestion is most likely to bite. ### Where can travelers check the underlying guidance? AAA’s national newsroom post dated May 11 carries the 2026 Memorial Day forecast, including the May 21-25 travel period, mode-of-travel estimates and INRIX timing guidance. (inrix.com) Regional AAA sites, including Mid-States and South Jersey, also carry the advisory and local framing for drivers heading into the holiday weekend. (newsroom.aaa.com) (timeout.com)