Hitting the road this Memorial Day weekend? Here are the best times to leave
The Memorial Day holiday travel period starts tomorrow through Monday as drivers across Ohio hit the road for celebrations, cookouts and planned excursions.
Roads could be busier than ever this Memorial Day weekend, according to Bevi Powell, senior vice president of AAA East Central.
“Long holiday weekends like Memorial Day are the perfect way to kick off the summer travel season and Americans will be traveling in record-breaking numbers this year,” said Powell. “Whether it’s a family road trip, a luxury cruise, or a train trip across New England, travelers are making choices that will ensure they have the trip of a lifetime.”
Americans are packing the cars and hitting the road this weekend, with an estimated 38.4 million people expected to travel by car, according to AAA.
It’s the highest number for the holiday since AAA began tracking in 2000, and this year’s total number of travelers is a 4% increase compared to last year.
What are some of the best and worst times to travel this weekend?
Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said travel times are expected to be up to 90% longer than normal.
“Travelers should stay up to date on traffic apps, 511 services and local news stations to avoid sitting in traffic longer than necessary,” said Pishue.
If you’re hitting the road on Thursday or Friday, the worst travel time frame is between noon and 6 p.m.
INRIX experts recommend drivers leaving Thursday or Friday should hit the road early to avoid mixing with commuters. Hit the road by 11 a.m. or after 8 p.m. on these two days heading into the weekend.
On Saturday, the worst time to leave is between 2 and 5 p.m.
It’ll be less congested for drivers on the roads before 1 p.m. and after 6 p.m.
Then on Sunday, the worst time to leave is between 3 and 7 p.m.; hit the road before 1 p.m. to avoid the delays.
On Memorial Day, the best time to travel is after 7 p.m. It’ll still be busy on the roads between 3 and 7 p.m. as Memorial Day weekend wraps up.
Top U.S. travel destinations for this weekend include Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami in Florida, as well as Seattle, New York and Las Vegas.
Fueling up
The national average for a gallon of gas is about the same as last year’s Memorial Day weekend, around $3.60.
In Ohio, the average price at the pump is $3.58, and a year ago, it was $3.49.
Check the AAA gas prices website for regional data.
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This story was originally published May 23, 2024 at 7:22 AM with the headline "Hitting the road this Memorial Day weekend? Here are the best times to leave."
