An additional 1.8 million travelers are expected to make this Memorial Day holiday weekend the busiest in nearly two decades.
Between today and Monday, 43.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home, according to AAA, making it the second highest total since the drivers organization started tracking Memorial Day travel in 2000. Only 2005 had more Memorial Day travelers – approximately 44 million.
The number of travelers is expected to be 4% higher than last year’s holiday, and 1.9% more than 2019 – marking the first year that Memorial Day weekend travel has fully recovered from the pandemic.
“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. “We’re projecting an additional one 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.”
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On the road
The vast majority of travelers will travel by car – 87.6%. AAA is predicting highways will be the busiest since it started tracking Memorial Day travel in 2000 – with about 38.4 million people taking road trips.
Leaving early in the morning will be key as additional traffic could increase travel times by up to 90% during the heaviest periods, according to INRIX, a transportation data firm.
The worst times to travel are expected to come during the afternoon hours throughout the weekend: Today from noon to 6 p.m., Friday from noon to 7 p.m., Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m. and Monday from 3 to 7 p.m.
Gas prices should be similar to a year ago, according to AAA and GasBuddy.com, with the national average for a gallon of regular at $3.57. GasBuddy.com predicts that throughout the summer, prices will stay around those levels and possibly drop even lower.
In Lancaster city the average is higher – $3.77 on Wednesday, according to GasBuddy.
Travelers should expect a variety of summer weather – with temperatures reaching into the 80s and a chance of thunderstorms through much of the holiday weekend, according to Accuweather.com. Storms are possible this afternoon, Saturday and Monday, according to the site.
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In the air
AAA is predicting airports will be busier than any Memorial Day Weekend since 2005. About 3.5 million air travelers are expected between today and Monday, a 4.8% increase over last year and 9% more than 2019.
The Transportation Security Administration predicts it will screen 6.4% more passengers than it did in 2023 – which also includes business travelers. Friday will be the busiest day of the weekend, according to TSA.
“In close coordination with airport, airline and travel partners, we are more than ready to handle this summer’s increased travel volumes,” TSA administrator David Pekoske said.
Airline ticket prices are up roughly 1% to 2%, according to AAA. The cheapest day to fly over the Memorial Day weekend was yesterday, and the most expensive is today, travel search engine KAYAK said in its annual summer preview.
KAYAK predicts the average price of a domestic flight this summer will be $455, 13% less than last summer. The cheapest destinations include Minneapolis, Minnesota and multiple beach locations in Florida.
Buses, trains and cruises are also expected to be busier this Memorial Day weekend, with a combined 1.9 million travelers.
Some Amtrak Keystone Service trains traveling between Harrisburg and New York will have delays up to 35 minutes this weekend as part of a $122 million track rehabilitation project between Lancaster and Harrisburg, which is scheduled to be finished in November. Check amtrak.com for schedule updates. Keystone Service trains stop in Lancaster city, Mount Joy Borough and Elizabethtown while traveling between Harrisburg and New York City.
“This category took the biggest hit during the pandemic with fewer people taking public transportation or not cruising at all,” AAA’s Twidale said. “Now – five years later – we’re back to 2019 numbers. Travel demand has been soaring, and long holiday weekends create the perfect windows for getaways.”