AAA lists best, worst Memorial Day times

AAA said on May 11 that 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over Memorial Day, a forecast that would set a holiday-weekend record. The travel window runs from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25, according to the group. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said 39.1 million of those travelers are expected to go by car, making road trips the dominant mode again this year. INRIX, the traffic-data company cited by AAA, said the worst congestion is expected on Thursday and Friday afternoons and again on Monday afternoon. ### When are the worst times to leave? INRIX said the heaviest congestion over Memorial Day weekend is expected on Thursday, May 21, and Friday, May 22, between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., as travelers mix with regular commuter traffic leaving metro areas. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA’s national travel forecast said Monday afternoon is also expected to be heavily congested as travelers return home. AOL, citing AAA guidance for Michigan travelers, reported that drivers leaving after 9 p.m. on May 21 or before 11 a.m. on May 22 would likely face lighter traffic. The same report said travelers returning on Memorial Day, May 25, should aim to be on the road by 10 a.m. to reduce delays. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### Is Sunday actually the easiest day to drive? AAA’s forecast, citing INRIX, said Sunday should be the lightest day for traffic, barring unexpected road incidents. That guidance applies to the broad national pattern laid out in the forecast rather than every local corridor. (inrix.com) USA Today’s traffic guidance, reflected in syndicated reports, also said Sunday is expected to have the least traffic of the holiday weekend. The same guidance said the best times to be on the road are after 9 p.m. on Thursday and before 11 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. (aol.com) ### How many people are expected to drive? AAA said 39.1 million Americans are expected to travel by car over the five-day holiday period, or about 87% of all Memorial Day travelers. The organization said total holiday travel is projected at 45 million people, slightly above 2025’s 44.8 million. (newsroom.aaa.com) Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the May 11 release that “travel demand remains strong” even with higher fuel prices. AAA said gas prices are above last Memorial Day’s national average of $3.17 a gallon and are at their highest levels since the summer of 2022. (usatoday.com) ### What about flights and rental cars? AAA said 3.66 million travelers are expected to fly domestically over Memorial Day weekend, while another 2.2 million are expected to travel by bus, train or cruise. The group said round-trip domestic flights are 6% cheaper than a year earlier based on booking data, with the average ticket at $800. (newsroom.aaa.com) Hertz, identified by AAA as its car-rental partner, said Thursday and Friday are expected to be the busiest pickup days. AAA said the five markets with the highest rental-car demand are Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### Why are local stories mentioning places like the Jersey Shore? Regional AAA clubs and local news outlets have used the national forecast to tailor departure advice for specific corridors. An Asbury Park Press report published May 16 said AAA’s guidance for Jersey Shore travel highlighted the same broader holiday pattern of late-afternoon congestion and lighter travel windows outside peak periods. (newsroom.aaa.com) Michigan guidance carried by AOL said more than 1.3 million state residents are expected to travel over the May 21-25 period, with nearly 1.2 million going by car. Adrienne Woodland, a spokeswoman for AAA — The Auto Club Group, said in that release that Memorial Day travel is “still reaching record levels,” though the year-over-year increase is the smallest in more than a decade. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### What happens next for travelers? Thursday, May 21, is the first day of AAA’s Memorial Day travel window, and the organization’s forecast says that afternoon will be one of the most congested periods on the roads. Monday, May 25, is expected to bring another peak as return trips build in the afternoon, according to AAA and INRIX. (app.com) (newsroom.aaa.com) (aol.com)