AAA Predicts 1M+ DC Metro Travelers Memorial Weekend

AAA’s Memorial Day forecast points to another packed holiday on Washington-area roads and at the region’s airports. Local projections reported by regional outlets put the D.C. metro total at more than 1.05 million residents traveling 50 miles or more over the holiday weekend, even as national travel is expected to set a Memorial Day record. AAA said on May 11 that 45 million Americans would travel between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25. In the Washington region, most of that movement is expected to happen by car, with traffic expected to build before the holiday and again on the return trip. ### How many people from the D.C. area are expected to travel? More than 1.05 million Washington-area residents are expected to travel at least 50 miles over Memorial Day weekend, according to local reporting citing AAA. That is a slight decline of about 3,200 travelers from a year earlier, even as the national total rises. (fox5dc.com) AAA said nationally that 45 million Americans would travel during the five-day holiday period from May 21 to May 25, up slightly from 2025 and enough to set a new Memorial Day weekend record. The group said 39.1 million people would travel by car and 3.66 million would fly. ### Why are roads still expected to be crowded if the local forecast is slightly lower? (fox5dc.com) Nearly 89% of local travelers are still expected to drive, according to the Washington-area forecast carried by FOX 5 DC. That keeps highways crowded even with the small year-over-year dip in total travelers. AAA said driving accounts for 87% of Memorial Day travelers nationwide. (newsroom.aaa.com) The group also said higher fuel prices have not stopped road-trip demand, though local reporting said economic uncertainty and higher fuel costs may be keeping growth in the D.C. region flat. ### When is the worst time to be on the road? (fox5dc.com) Thursday, May 21, and Friday, May 22, were expected to bring the heaviest congestion in the Washington region between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., according to transportation data company INRIX as cited by FOX 5 DC. Monday afternoon was also expected to be busy as holiday travelers returned. Sunday was expected to have the lightest traffic. (fox5dc.com) FOX 5 DC also published daily driving windows from INRIX showing the worst periods as noon to 9 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. Monday. The outlet said the best times were after 9 p.m. Thursday, before 11 a.m. Friday, and before 10 a.m. Monday. ### What about flights and trains? (fox5dc.com) More than 91,000 Washington-area residents are expected to fly over the holiday weekend, according to the local AAA-based forecast. That would be a small decrease from last year. AAA said 3.66 million travelers nationwide would take domestic flights, and average round-trip domestic airfare booked through AAA was 6% lower than a year earlier at about $800. (fox5dc.com) The group also said 2.2 million people would travel by bus, train or cruise, up 5% nationally, while local reporting said bus, rail and cruise travel in the D.C. area was up 3.8%, driven largely by cruise demand. WMATA said Metro would operate weekend rail hours from 6 a.m. to midnight on Memorial Day, May 25, with Metrobus on a Sunday schedule. ### What should drivers in Washington watch for on Memorial Day itself? The Metropolitan Police Department said the National Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 25, would bring emergency no-parking restrictions and street closures in central Washington. (fox5dc.com) The advisory covers stretches of Constitution Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue approaches, Madison Drive, Jefferson Drive and parts of inbound I-395 during the event window. (wmata.com) MPD said many restrictions would begin as early as 4 a.m. and some closures would remain in place until 1 p.m. Motorists heading into downtown Washington on Monday morning will need to account for those closures on top of normal holiday return traffic. AAA said drivers should check batteries, tire pressure and fluids before leaving and should slow down, move over and drive sober. (mpdc.dc.gov) On Monday, May 25, parade-related closures in downtown Washington and Metro’s weekend holiday schedule will shape how travelers move through the region.