It’s looking like one for the record books.
AAA is expecting 45.1 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the five-day Memorial Day holiday beginning Thursday.
That figure is an increase of 1.4 million travelers over last year and breaks the previous travel record of 44 million in 2005.
Although Americans are concerned about rising prices, AAA says many indicated they are taking advantage of the long holiday weekend to spend time with loved ones, even if the trips are closer to home.
“Memorial Day weekend getaways don’t have to be extravagant and costly,” Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the organization’s announcement of the projection. “While some travelers embark on dream vacations and fly hundreds of miles across the country, many families just pack up the car and drive to the beach or take a road trip to visit friends.
“Long holiday weekends are ideal for travel because many people have an extra day off work and students are off from school.”
AAA projects 39.4 million people will travel by car over the holiday weekend. That’s up by 1 million travelers compared to last year.
Driving is the preferred way to travel during holiday, with 87% of Memorial Day travelers choosing to take road trips.
Gas prices
This year, drivers have the benefit of cheaper gas prices.
As of Wednesday, the national average for a gallon of regular was $3.18, according to AAA. Last Memorial Day, the national average was $3.59.
This spring — thanks to lower crude oil prices — gasoline prices haven’t seen typical seasonal spikes, AAA said.
With the unofficial start of summer kicking off the busy driving season, demand is expected to rise, and pump prices may creep up. Gas prices typically peak in the summer and start declining when schools go back in session in the fall.
As of Wednesday, Pennsylvania’s average price was $3.31, compared with $3.75 a year ago.
Gas prices in the region as of Wednesday:
• Berks County, $3.27.
• Chester County, $3.21.
• Delaware County, $3.22.
• Lehigh County, $3.26.
• Montgomery County, $3.20.
• Schuylkill County, $3.20.
Other modes
Airports are bracing for another bustling holiday weekend.
AAA projects 3.61 million air passengers, a nearly 2% increase over last year when 3.55 million travelers took to the skies.
This Memorial Day weekend isn’t expected to break the air travel record of 3.64 million travelers in 2005, but it is projected to surpass pre-COVID-19 levels by 12%.
Travel by other modes continues to steadily rise since the pandemic.
AAA projects 2.08 million people will travel by train, bus or cruise this weekend, an 8.5% increase over last year. This category is surpassing prepandemic numbers from 2018 and 2019 but doesn’t reach the record numbers of the early 2000s when more people were choosing trains and buses post-9/11.
Travel times
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects the afternoons over Memorial Day weekend to be the most congested.
Travelers are advised to leave during the morning hours.
The worst and best times to travel, respectively:
• May 22: 1 to 9 p.m.; before noon.
• May 23: noon to 8 p.m.; before 11 a.m.
• May 24: 2 to 6 p.m.; before noon.
• May 25: 1 to 5 p.m.; before 1 p.m.
• May 26 (Memorial Day): 4 to 7 p.m.; before 2 p.m.
PA turnpike
Pennsylvania Turnpike officials said they are preparing for a busy Memorial Day weekend and the start of the summer travel season.
They are projecting 2.19 million motorists will travel the turnpike from May 23 to 26, a 2.9% increase over the same period last year.
Officials offered the following breakdown of total traffic:
• May 23: 715,000
• May 24: 530,000
• May 25: 470,000
• May 26 (Memorial Day): 475,000
Turnpike maintenance and construction crews will suspend all work beginning May 22 at 3 p.m. until May 26 at 11 p.m.
Turnpike personnel will have increased patrols on the road, along with state police.
Weather
Temperatures are expected to be more reminiscent of early spring for most of the holiday weekend, AccuWeather said on its website.
Temperatures are forecast to be in the 50s and 60s, 10 to 20 degrees below the average for late May.
• May 22: Cool with occasional rain and drizzle; high temperature, 54.
• May 23: Clouds, breaks of sun and cool with a couple of showers; high, 61.
• May 24: Some sun, a shower in spots, cool; high, 64.
• May 25: Remaining cool with intervals of clouds and sun; high, 65.
• May 26 (Memorial Day): Intervals of clouds and sunshine; high, 69.
Source: Berkshire mont
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