Memorial Day Traffic Expected to Reach Record Levels Across the U.S.

Memorial Day weekend is quickly approaching. Along with the long weekend comes heavy traffic on roads across the United States—so much so that the American Automobile Association (AAA) expects a record-breaking number of trips during the holiday period.

According to AAA estimates, more than 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25, representing approximately 200,000 more travelers than last year. Of that total, more than 39 million people are expected to travel by car despite rising gas prices.

Worst Times to Hit the Road During Memorial Day Weekend

Due to the massive increase in vehicles on the road, AAA partnered with S&P Global and INRIX, a transportation data analytics firm, to identify the best and worst times to travel during the holiday weekend.

According to INRIX, the worst times to drive will be Thursday and Friday afternoons, when traffic congestion is expected to peak. In contrast, Sunday is expected to be one of the best days for driving.

AAA warned that departure time will be crucial for avoiding delays and stress during holiday travel, so knowing this information could save many drivers valuable time.

In addition to traffic congestion, authorities also warned about an increase in aggressive driving. Data from AAA and Cambridge Mobile Telematics show that Memorial Day sees a 29% increase in speeding incidents compared to other Mondays throughout the year, especially between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m.

Routes Expected to Experience the Heaviest Congestion

Although traffic increases are expected nationwide, these are the routes projected to see the biggest traffic surges during Memorial Day weekend, along with the worst times to travel on them, according to AAA data shared in a recent article by Reader’s Digest.

Baltimore via the Northbound Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Washington, D.C.

• Peak congestion: Thursday, May 21, 4:15 p.m.
• Estimated travel time: 1 hour 56 minutes
• Increase compared to a normal day: 116%

Fort Collins via I-25 North, Denver

• Peak congestion: Monday, May 25, 5:00 p.m.
• Estimated travel time: 1 hour 47 minutes
• Increase compared to a normal day: 113%

Jersey Shore via the Southbound Garden State Parkway, New York City

• Peak congestion: Friday, May 22, 2:15 p.m.
• Estimated travel time: 2 hours 57 minutes
• Increase compared to a normal day: 102%

Hyannis via the Southbound Pilgrims Highway, Boston

• Peak congestion: Friday, May 22, 3:15 p.m.
• Estimated travel time: 2 hours 45 minutes
• Increase compared to a normal day: 94%

Palm Springs via I-10 East, Los Angeles

• Peak congestion: Friday, May 22, 5:30 p.m.
• Estimated travel time: 4 hours 21 minutes
• Increase compared to a normal day: 88%

So now you know—this Memorial Day weekend, take the necessary precautions to reach your destination safely.