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With the COVID-19 pandemic truly i the rearview mirror, AAA is projecting that 42.3 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles away from home, representing a possible 7 percent increase over 2022, marking the beginning of the busy summer travel season.
In the region, those looking to get away for the weekend are being advised to leave before noon on Friday, May 26, if they hope to avoid gridlocks and headaches on the road while they’re joined by millions of other travelers.
"The TSA has warned travelers that it expects summer travel numbers at checkpoints to be ‘Comfortably Above’ pre-pandemic levels," AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Morgan Dean said in a statement.
"If the Memorial Day forecast numbers are an indicator for what we can expect for the summer, it could be a very busy season at the airports."
The best times to leave would be early in the morning or after 6 p.m. on Friday, though the lightest traffic days are expected to be on Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28.
“This is expected to be the third busiest Memorial Day weekend since 2000, when AAA started tracking holiday travel,” Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel, said. “More Americans are planning trips and booking them earlier, despite inflation. This summer travel season could be one for the record books, especially at airports.”
Of those traveling, 3.4 million are expected to take to the skies to fly to their holiday destinations, up 11 percent from year to year, despite increased ticket prices and demand for flights.
“With lower fuel prices and more travelers on the road compared to last year, drivers should expect long delays this holiday weekend, especially in and around major metros as commuters mix with Memorial Day travelers,” Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX stated.
“Knowing when and where congestion will build can help drivers avoid the stress of sitting in traffic. Our advice is to avoid driving during peak hours or use alternative routes.”
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