Here’s When You’ll Hit The Most Traffic This Weekend

If you’re hitting the road for Memorial Day weekend, expect to be joined by more than 36 million other drivers. AAA estimates that nearly 5 percent more vehicles will hit the roads this weekend compared to last year, and drivers should expect to see delays on major roads that could be three times longer than usual.

Around the Detroit area, AAA says the single worst time to drive this weekend is actually Friday between 4-5:30 p.m. Those behind the wheel during those times should expect to be on the roads 1.5 times longer than normal, AAA said, citing INRIX, a global transportation analytics company.

The busiest Memorial Day travel days nationwide are Thursday and Friday in the late afternoon as commuters and holiday travelers hit the road at the same time, AAA says. This can be as early as 3 p.m. and as late as 7 p.m., depending on the city.
Several major metros could experience double the travel times compared to a normal trip. New Yorkers could see delays of up to three times their normal commute.

“Drivers should expect congestion across a greater number of days than in previous years, with the getaway period starting on Wednesday, May 23,” said Graham Cookson, chief economist and head of research at INRIX. “Our advice to drivers is to avoid peak commute times in major cities altogether – traveling late morning or early afternoon – or plan alternative routes.”
And high prices at the pump, usually a deterrent for potential drivers, aren’t expected to have much effect this year. Drivers — who account for 88 percent of Memorial Day weekend travelers — will pay the most expensive gas prices in four years. Gas prices averaged $2.72 in April, up 33 cents from last year.

“The highest gas prices since 2014 won’t keep travelers home this Memorial Day weekend,” said Bill Sutherland, senior vice president, AAA Travel and Publishing. “A strong economy and growing consumer confidence are giving Americans all the motivation they need to kick off what we expect to be a busy summer travel season with a Memorial Day getaway.”

Orlando, Florida, is expected to be this year’s most-visited Memorial Day destination in the U.S., AAA said. Other popular destinations this year include Seattle, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Boston, Denver and New York City.

Patch reporter Dan Hampton contributed to this report.

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