From Thursday to Monday, AAA projects that 43.8 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home — which would be a 4 percent increase over 2023, and just shy of 2005′s record of 44 million Memorial Day travelers. Of that total, about 38.4 million are expected to travel by car, the highest number for the holiday weekend since AAA began keeping track in 2000, the association said in a statement .
Drivers leaving Thursday or Friday should get on the road early to avoid traffic, and the best time to return home on Monday is after 7 p.m., according to the American Automobile Association.
Memorial Day is almost upon us, and travel experts at AAA predict a record-breaking number of people will take to the road this weekend.
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“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in the statement. “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.”
Nationwide, the worst times to travel by car are Thursday, noon-6 p.m.; Friday, noon-7 p.m.; Saturday, 2-5 p.m.; Sunday, 3-7 p.m.; and Monday, 3-7 p.m., according to AAA’s travel forecast.
But you should still use your smartphone and check the news for the latest traffic conditions.
“Travel times are expected to be up to 90 percent longer than normal,” Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, the company that analyzed traffic data for AAA, said in the statement. “Travelers should stay up to date on traffic apps, 511 services, and local news stations to avoid sitting in traffic longer than necessary.”
Airports are expected to be busy, too. AAA predicts that 3.51 million people will take to the skies this holiday weekend, which would be an increase of 4.8 percent over last year, and a 9 percent increase compared to 2019.
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“This will be the most crowded Memorial Day weekend at airports since 2005, when 3.64 million flew for the holiday as the travel industry finally rebounded post 9/11,” AAA said in the statement.
AAA also projects 1.9 million people will take other modes of transportation — including buses, cruises, and trains — an increase of 5.6 percent compared to last year.
“This category took the biggest hit during the pandemic with fewer people taking public transportation or not cruising at all,” 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.”
Emily Sweeney can be reached at emily.sweeney@globe.com. Follow her @emilysweeney and on Instagram @emilysweeney22.
Memorial Day traffic is expected to be heavy. These are best and worst times to hit the road.
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