If you intend it right, you may get out of Dodge faster for the long weekend.
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TThe American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts that 38.4 million people will probably be on the road over Memorial Day weekend, up 4% from last 12 months and the best number since Triple-A began tracking holiday traffic in 2000.
“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers this high in nearly 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice chairman of AAA Travel. “We’re forecasting one million additional travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re surpassing pre-pandemic numbers, but also suggests we’re in for a very busy summer travel season.”
Travel times over the long weekend are expected to be as much as 90% longer than normal, so INRIXa transportation data and analytics provider. “Travelers should stay informed through traffic apps, 511 services and local news channels to avoid being stuck in traffic longer than necessary,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX.
At the start of the weekend, the worst time for travel is between 11 a.m. and seven p.m. on Thursday and Friday. According to INRIX data, the time slots from 2 p.m. to five p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday usually are not suitable for the journey home.
According to INRIX, these routes will experience the worst traffic congestion within the country this weekend:
Avoid these early weekend traffic nightmares
Residents of Southern California should avoid I-5 N between Los Angeles and Bakersfield after 6 p.m. on Thursday, as INRIX estimates travel time could be 84% longer, making the trip 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Those fleeing Washington DC should avoid the Baltimore/Washington Parkway N on Friday afternoon, as traffic there peaks around 2:15 p.m. The drive to Baltimore takes 1 hour and 21 minutes, 72% longer than normal.
On Thursday, New Yorkers don’t need to get stuck on I-87 heading toward Albany around 11:45 a.m., because the trip will take 64% longer than usual at the moment.
San Francisco residents taking I-80 E into Napa Valley should avoid late Friday morning. Around 11 a.m., traffic will probably be 56% slower than usual.
Avoid those MDW end blues
Florida residents should avoid I-75 S between Gainesville and Tampa after 9 a.m. Sunday, as travel times might be 3 hours and 47 minutes, or 88% longer than usual.
Vacationers getting back from Galveston to Houston risk a 73% longer trip in the event that they get stuck on I-45 N around 5 p.m. on Sunday
Likewise, Seattle residents getting back from Ellensburg via I-90 E around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday will probably be penalized with a 58% longer drive, estimated at 2 hours and 34 minutes.
Bostonians getting back from Maine will notice that the stretch of I-93 S between Manchester and Boston is 50% slower than usual around 8:45 a.m. on Sunday.
