The price of a getaway this Memorial Day weekend may be a headache at the airport or on the highway as the hectic summer travel season kicks off.

As travelers set out for a brief vacation over Memorial Day weekend before heading home, it’s likely that jams will hold up highway traffic and clog airport security lines over the coming days.

AAA predicts that this Memorial Day weekend may be the busiest in terms of holiday travel in nearly 20 years. Amid this summer’s potentially record-breaking travel season, here’s how to speed up your commute this Memorial Day weekend.

How many Americans will travel for Memorial Day?

AAA anticipates that from Thursday to Monday (Memorial Day), 43.8 million Americans will be traveling at least 50 miles away from home. Road trips seem to be especially popular, with AAA projecting that nearly 9 in 10 of these Americans will travel by car, the highest number of Memorial Day weekend road trippers since AAA started tracking these numbers in 2000.

While the association projects that more than 38 million Americans will be traveling by car, airports won’t be immune to jams either.

In fact, the Transportation Security Administration is preparing for more than 18 million people to pass through airport security checkpoints from Thursday to Wednesday, May 29.

“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, in a press release. “We’re projecting an additional 1 million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”

The travel headache over Memorial Day weekend may be only the start of a potentially record-breaking summer travel season, as U.S. airlines are projecting that 271 million passengers will fly from June 1 to Aug. 31, up from last summer’s record of 255 million travelers. In fact, the TSA has forecasted that it will see the highest volumes of travelers passing through airport security checkpoints ever this summer travel season.

What is the busiest travel day for Memorial Day weekend?

As Americans have widely reported in polls that they are concerned about the country’s economy, road tripping has emerged as a popular method of travel this Memorial Day weekend due to its flexibility and convenience, according to AAA.

Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst at the traffic management company INRIX, predicted that travel times for drivers would be up to 90% longer than they typically are. Sunday, May 27 and Memorial Day itself were expected to be especially busy, as trips back home would peak then, according to INRIX.

For those picking up rental cars, rental car company Hertz expected that Thursday and Friday, May 24 would be the busiest days.

In terms of air travel, the TSA anticipated that Friday, May 24 would rank as the busiest travel day for the entire Memorial Day weekend, with nearly 3 million people passing through airport security checkpoints on that day alone.

“In close coordination with airport, airline and travel partners, we are more than ready to handle this summer’s increased travel volumes,” David Pekoske, a TSA administrator, said in a press release. “We are also continuing to deploy state-of-the-art checkpoint technology that increases security effectiveness, efficiency and enhances the passenger experience, and our retention and recruitment numbers are the highest they’ve ever been.”

When is the best time to travel on Memorial Day weekend?

For the millions predicted to hit the road for a weekend getaway in the coming days, INRIX advised that drivers setting out on Thursday or Friday get on the road early to avoid running into traffic from other travelers. In addition, the company said that drivers heading home on Sunday, May 26 or on Memorial Day should avoid traveling during the afternoon, as trips home would peak then.

AAA predicted that these would be the best times for drivers to travel over Memorial Day weekend:

• Thursday: Before 11 a.m. and after 7 p.m.
• Friday, May 24: Before 11 a.m. and after 8 p.m.
• Saturday, May 25: Before 1 p.m. and after 6 p.m.
• Sunday, May 26: Before 1 p.m.
• Memorial Day: After 7 p.m.

What time is heaviest traffic on Memorial Day weekend?

AAA projected that these times would be the busiest for drivers:

• Thursday: Noon to 6 p.m.
• Friday, May 24: Noon to 7 p.m.
• Saturday, May 25: 2-5 p.m.
• Sunday, May 26: 3-7 p.m.
• Memorial Day: 3-7 p.m.

Tips for speeding up travel time on Memorial Day weekend

With weekend highway closures for maintenance, like the unpopular closures of portions of Interstate 17 last weekend and Mother’s Day weekend that led to hours-long traffic jams, drivers should carefully plan their trips in accordance with highway conditions. Pishue advised that drivers avoid being stuck in traffic by doing the following:

• Checking services like az511.com, which shows Arizona highway conditions in real-time
• Staying up to date on traffic through local news outlets. The Republic publishes a list of Valley freeway closures for the weekend using data from the Arizona Department of Transportation that drivers can consult to plan their commutes.
• Looking at traffic apps, like Waze, which displays a live traffic map. Chandler became the first Arizona city to share traffic information through Waze, meaning that users can view the locations of street closures, construction sites and maintenance projects in Chandler based on official information from the city itself.

While the TSA said that it’s prepared to deal with the influx of passengers that will be flooding airports nationwide this Memorial Day weekend, the administration and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport advised air travelers to follow these tips to keep from holding up lines through airport security checkpoints:

• Allow extra time to travel to the airport and get through security checkpoints amid the busy holiday travel season. The TSA advised that passengers factor in extra time for all the activities they may need to do before getting to their gates — from parking to returning rental cars to taking shuttles to the airport to checking in with their airlines to going through security. Check current wait times at Sky Harbor’s security checkpoints at skyharbor.com or at the flight information screens throughout the airport.
• Reserve parking at Sky Harbor beforehand at the airport’s parking website.
• Review the status of flights in advance through airline websites or skyharbor.com before arriving at Sky Harbor for a flight, picking up travelers or dropping off passengers.
• Make a free reservation in Sky Harbor’s PHX RESERVE program to save a spot in the TSA security checkpoint lines in Terminal Three and Terminal Four. Travelers are able to make reservations and walk-in appointments through PHX RESERVE from 4-11 a.m. at Terminal Three if they’re flying out any time from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. In Terminal Four, passengers are eligible for PHX RESERVE from 5:30-11 a.m. as long as their flight is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Because availability for walk-in appointments is limited, reservations, which travelers can make up to six days before their flight, are advised.
• Begin packing for the airport with an empty bag. The TSA said that travelers who empty their bags before packing them are less likely to be stopped by airport security due to having prohibited items. The administration advised that passengers consult TSA guidelines to learn what they can — and can’t — bring on flights. Travelers heading to the beach for Memorial Day weekend must pack sunscreen in containers that are larger than 3.4 ounces in check-in bags.

How much will gas prices be on Memorial Day weekend?

AAA projected that this Memorial Day weekend, pump prices will be similar to last year’s, when gas nationwide cost about $3.57 on average. While gas prices increased over the spring, the association said they’ve been relatively steady in the last few weeks.

AAA reported on Thursday that the national average price for a gallon of gas wavered only slightly as compared with the price a week before until it increased by a penny to $3.61, a nickel less than a month ago but 7 cents more than a year before. In Arizona, the average gas price on Thursday was over a quarter higher at about $3.88, which was still nearly a quarter less than it was a month ago and over 70 cents less than it was a year ago.

The lack of movement in pump prices in the days before Memorial Day was typical of the time, according to the association.

However, that may change as the summer driving season begins, which may cause gas prices to creep up. The business of Memorial Day weekend may also drive pump prices up — at least temporarily — AAA wrote.

“Since the pandemic, the summer driving season has not seen a surge in demand, which can push pump prices higher,” AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said. “So it will be interesting to see if this year bucks that trend.”

Geopolitical factors, like conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine, may also lead to changes in pump prices, as they could shock the oil market. In addition, Gross said that while the Biden administration’s decision to sell almost 1 million barrels of gas in northeastern states, which was announced Tuesday, may keep regional gas prices from surging, the national average pump price probably will not change much.

Do flight prices go up on Memorial Day weekend?

Even though this Memorial Day weekend is slated to be the busiest for airports in nearly 20 years, AAA found that plane ticket prices for this weekend were comparable to last year’s. Domestic flight ticket prices increased by up to 2%, according. Popular American destinations included Miami beaches, Seattle cruise ports, New York and Las Vegas while European cities like Rome, London and Paris dominated the list of frequently booked international spots, according to AAA booking data.

The association wrote that numerous factors determine plane ticket prices for passengers, including where they’re flying, how many stops they’re making and the fare class they choose. As a result, travelers who book a nonstop flight, seat selection and an included carry-on will probably pay more than passengers who opt for basic economy and a layover flight.

Why will Memorial Day weekend be so busy?

Lower travel prices may be behind the busyness predicted to hit airports and highways this Memorial Day weekend. Airfare decreased by 6% and hotel rates fell by 0.4% as compared with prices from a year before, according to data released this week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition, the cost of renting a car or truck has decreased by 10%.

For road trippers, however, the national average price of gas is still over a nickel higher than a year ago.

What is the weather like on Memorial Day weekend?

It’s expected that triple-digit weather will make its return in the Valley over Memorial Day weekend, meaning that Phoenicians are slated to see some of the highest temperatures all year so far over the holiday weekend.

The triple-digit weather is predicted to continue over the weekend into much of next week and perhaps longer, signaling a hot and dry June. While temperatures will fall from a 98-degree high on Friday, May 24 to a high of 91 degrees on Saturday, May 25, they’ll climb to a 102-degree high on Memorial Day. By Wednesday, May 30, temperatures are slated to creep up to a high of 105 degrees.

Madeline Nguyen is a breaking news reporter for The Republic. Reach her at [email protected] or 480-619-0285. Follow her on X @madelineynguyen.