AAA predicts jump in Memorial Day travel
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AAA officials are urging travelers to book early and remain flexible as they predict a jump in Memorial Day weekend travel volumes.
AAA predicts more than 39 million people will travel 50 miles or more this Memorial Day weekend – an 8.3% increase over 2021 travel volumes. For forecasting purposes, AAA defines the Memorial Day travel period as Thursday, May 26 through Monday, May 30.
“Based on our projections, summer travel isn’t just heating up, it’ll be on fire,” said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Morgan Dean.
Air travel volumes are expected to rise more than 25% from 2021 and reach almost pre-pandemic levels this Memorial Day weekend. AAA also found that airfare has risen since 2021, with Saturday being the most expensive and Monday the least expensive days to fly. Thursday will likely be the busiest day for air travel and Monday the lightest, according to AAA booking data.
For those driving, INRIX (a company that provides location-based data and analytics) predicts Thursday and Friday to be the peak traffic days and drivers could experience double the travel times compared to a normal trip.
To save money, AAA suggests traveling on off-peak times and staying closer to home or in an all-inclusive resort.
AAA also suggests reducing stress by:
• arriving to the airport at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours for international;
• booking during non-peak travel periods;
• hitting the road when there is less traffic;
• if driving, getting your vehicle fully inspected in advance;
• using a travel agent and getting travel insurance.
Also, while most COVID-19 restrictions have eased AAA suggests the to take the following precautions to stay safe while traveling:
• travel and stay with your group;
• look for accommodations that prioritize cleanliness and have implemented additional housekeeping standards since the pandemic. Hotels that meet AAA’s new cleanliness standards are recognized as “Inspected Clean” and can be found here;
• follow CDC guidance, including wearing a mask indoors, while traveling.
