Memorial Day Traffic Expected: Orange County Hits The Road

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — If you're headed out of Orange County this Memorial day -- from Friday May 24 to Monday, May 27 -- expect to sit in a lot of traffic, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.

Orange County residents tend to stay closer to home, according to an informal Facebook poll. Of the 100 people asked, more than 75-percent stated they would be staying home this Memorial Day Weekend, particularly if the weather cooperates.

"We live where other people go to vacation," was the number-one polled answer. That is true, when you consider beach cities of San Clemente, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Seal Beach are all gearing up to support the influx of visitors.

Trolley services in San Clemente and Laguna Beach will be up and running to ferry visitors from parking areas into the city centers and beach locations. Visitors are advised to utilize those free transportation options to keep roadways clear. Bicycle and pedestrian safety in local beach towns will also be of primary concern.

The Auto Club defines a holiday trip as one at least 50 miles away from home. For southern California travelers, the top five Memorial Day destinations for Southern California travelers this year are:

• Las Vegas
• San Diego
• the Grand Canyon
• San Francisco
• Yosemite

If you are flying from home, you won't be alone. A record 1.4 million travelers are expected to pass through Los Angeles International Airport between Thursday and Tuesday as people hit the roads and airways for Memorial Day weekend.

Airport officials said Friday are expected to be the busiest travel days, so they advised people to give themselves plenty of extra time.The airport also unveiled a new social-media tool to help people navigate their way through LAX.

The Twitter page @flyLAXstats provides travelers with real-time updates on the availability of parking at airport structures, traffic delays on the loop road through LAX and wait times at security lines at all of the terminals.

Travelers can also get updates on conditions and possible impacts of construction work at the airport at www.flyLAX.com.According to the Automobile Club of Southern California, 3.35 million Southern California residents will travel at least 50 miles to mark Memorial Day -- a 4.3 percent increase over last year and the eighth consecutive year the number has risen.

Among Southern California travelers, 2.78 million -- or 83 percent of all travelers -- are expected to travel by car, a 4.1 percent increase from last year, according to the Auto Club. Another 340,000 residents are expected to go by plane, which is a 5.3 percent increase over the 2018 holiday. About 227,000 local travelers will take a cruise, bus, train or other mode of trip -- a 6 percent increase from last year.

City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.