HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) – AAA predicted that more than 470,000 people from Connecticut planned to travel 50 miles or more over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

The auto club released its statistics on Tuesday.

It said the number would be an increase of more than 4 percent over last year, and the highest since 2005.

Across New England, AAA said almost 2 million would travel for the holiday weekend. That too would mark a 4 percent increase.

AAA defined the Memorial Day holiday travel period as the five-day span from Thursday, May 23 to Monday, May 27.

“In Connecticut we haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Tracy Noble, spokesperson for AAA Club Alliance. “Despite inflation, we are surpassing pre-pandemic levels and expecting a very busy summer travel season ahead.”

The driving prediction came even though gas prices were about 10 to 15 cents higher than last year.

Airports braced for a spike in travelers.

Almost 40,000 Connecticut travelers were expected to fly to their destinations this Memorial Day, AAA said. Like driving, that would mark an increase of more than 4 percent compared to last year. It also would accounts for over 8 percent of those traveling.

In New England, 162,000 were expected to take to the skies, up over 4 percent year over year. This Memorial Day weekend, air ticket prices were comparable to last year. AAA booking data showed a 1 percent to 2 percent increase in prices for domestic flights. Several factors played into how much travelers paid for airfare, including destination, number of stops, and fare class.

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