The Best and Worst Times to Drive Over Memorial Day Weekend, According to AAA
Heading out for Memorial Day weekend? According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), you won’t be alone: The organization estimates that 43.8 million Americans will drive at least 50 miles from home this Memorial Day weekend (Thursday, May 23 through Monday, May 27). – 4 more. % compared to last year.
“We haven’t seen this level of travel over Memorial Day weekend in nearly 20 years,” Paula Tweedale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in a recent press release . The current record was set in 2005, when 44 million people celebrated the unofficial start of summer by heading out of town.
This year, AAA predicts that approximately 3.51 million Memorial Day weekend travelers will fly to their destination (up 4.8% from 2023) and about 1.9 million will take trains. buses and cruises, which is 5.6% more than last year.
Road trips are proving to be the most popular way to kick off summer 2024. AAA projects that 38.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, more than in any year since the organization began tracking that figure in 2000.
While this will likely increase your chances of getting stuck in traffic—whether you’re traveling local or long-distance—some days will be busier than others. To help you plan your trip, AAA has predicted the best and worst times to drive this Memorial Day weekend. Here’s what you need to know.
The best and worst times to drive over Memorial Day weekend in 2024
Using data from INRIX , a transportation information company, AAA experts determined this is the best and worst time to travel this Memorial Day weekend. The times listed below apply to your local time zone.
Thursday, May 23
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Worst time : 12–18 hours.
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Best time : before 11:00 / after 19:00.
Friday, May 24
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Worst time : 12–19 hours.
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Best time : before 11:00, after 20:00.
Saturday, May 25
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Worst time : 14–17 hours.
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Best time : before 13:00/after 18:00.
Sunday, May 26
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Worst time : 15–19 hours.
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Best time : before 13:00.
Monday, May 27
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Worst time : 15–19 hours.
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Best time : after 19:00.
Other things to pay attention to:
Gas prices should be similar to last year’s national average of about $3.57 per gallon, although AAA experts indicate fuel costs could increase as the summer driving season gets into full swing.
Additionally, if your trip takes you to any area of one or more of the country’s major metropolitan areas, AAA will provide additional information about when traffic will be worst, broken down by city and route.
Bottom line: There will be a lot of people traveling over Memorial Day weekend, so give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.
“Travelling times are expected to be 90% longer than normal,” said Bob Pichu, transportation analyst at INRIX, in a AAA press release. “Travelers should stay updated with traffic apps, 511 services and local news stations to avoid sitting in traffic longer than necessary.”