Worst Day To Get Out Of Town: NJ Memorial Day Travel Guide

More than a million residents in New Jersey area will travel this year to observe Memorial Day, the majority of them — 942,395 — in cars. If you want to avoid traffic jams, stay off the roads Friday when afternoon commuters mix with holiday travelers.

Already, traffic was piling up on New Jersey's major highways and roads as commuters and beachgoers were competing for road space as they try to head to their destinations (see road conditions below).

Read more: Route 202 Closed Because Of Downed Tree

The weather will also impact travel as beachgoers should expect the usual traffic jams (especially after 4 p.m.) leading to beach destinations at Sandy Hook (Route 36), Point Pleasant Beach (Routes 34 and 88), Seaside Heights and Island Beach State Park (Route 37), Long Beach Island (Route 72), the Atlantic City Expressway and Ocean City (Route 52). See weather conditions below.

In New Jersey, about 90 percent of the population will be on the road, according to estimates. That would represent a 3.8 percent increase from last year, AAA's statistics show.

“The unofficial start of the summer season is here and New Jerseyans are ready to kick off the Memorial Day weekend with a trip,” said Tracy E. Noble, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “After a long winter and soggy spring, locals are ready to pack up the car to enjoy a getaway to enjoy sun, sand and the start the summer travel season.”

The federal holiday set aside to remember members of the military who died while serving their country is often considered the unofficial start of summer.

The weather outlook is mixed, with the potential for thunderstorms on Sunday, but sunny skies in between. This could potentially impact local parades and celebrations. Be sure to follow along for any cancellations and other announcements.

Here's the forecast, per the National Weather Service:

• Friday afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 77. Northwest wind around 16 mph.
• Friday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. North wind 6 to 9 mph becoming east after midnight.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. South wind 6 to 10 mph.
• Saturday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southwest wind 11 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Sunday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. West wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Memorial Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 81.
• Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Here are the road conditions:

• US 202: Downed tree and downed wires on US 202 in both directions North of CR 613/Finney Av/Childs Rd in Bernardsville. All lanes closed and detoured 5-10 minute delay.
• NJ 3: Jack-knifed tractor trailer on NJ 3 westbound West of NJ 21 in Clifton. 2 center lanes closed 10 minute delay.
• New Jersey Turnpike: Accident on the New Jersey Turnpike outside exit Interchange 8A - NJ 32 in Monroe Twp. All lanes open to traffic.
• Garden State Parkway: Accident on the Garden State Parkway outer roadway southbound North of Exit 109 - CR 520 in Middletown Twp. All lanes open.
• NJ 139: Accident on NJ 139 Lower eastbound area of Jersey Ave in Jersey City. Left lane closed.
• Garden State Parkway: Accident on the Garden State Parkway local lanes southbound South of Exit 117 - NJ 36 in Hazlet Twp. Left lane blocked.
• New Jersey Turnpike: Accident on the New Jersey Turnpike southbound North of Interchange 1 - Delaware Memorial Bridge in Carneys Point Twp. All lanes open to traffic.
• US 130: Delays on US 130 southbound approaching I-76 in Gloucester City delays due to volume.
• New Jersey Turnpike - Eastern Spur: Delays on the New Jersey Turnpike - Eastern Spur southbound from North of Interchange 17E - NJ 3/Lincoln Tunnel in Secaucus to North of Interchange 15W - I-280 in Kearny 4 mile delay, due to volume.
• I-295: Delays on I-295 southbound from Exit 29 - US 30 in Barrington to Exit 26S - NJ 42/I-76/I-676 in Bellmawr delays due to volume.
• New Jersey Turnpike - Western Spur : Delays on the New Jersey Turnpike - Western Spur southbound from North of Interchange 18W - I-80/US 46/George Washington Bridge in Carlstadt to South of Interchange 15W - I-280 in Newark 7 mile delay, due to volume.
• NJ 42: Delays on NJ 42 southbound from Exit 13 - NJ 55 in Deptford Twp to Atlantic City Expressway in Washington Twp delays due to volume.
• NJ 70: Delays on NJ 70 in both directions East of NJ 41/CR 154 in Cherry Hill Twp delays due to volume.
• NJ 73: Delays on NJ 73 northbound approaching CR 673/Fellowship Rd in Mount Laurel Twp delays due to volume.
• US 206: Delays on US 206 southbound approaching NJ 38/CR 530 in Southampton Twp delays due to volume.
• Garden State Parkway: Delays and pockets of volume on the Garden State Parkway southbound from South of Exit 129 - New Jersey Turnpike in Woodbridge Twp to South of Exit 117 - NJ 36 in Hazlet Twp 11 mile delay, due to volume.
• NJ 47: Delays on NJ 47 southbound from North of NJ 347 to CR 610/Petersburg Rd in Dennis Twp delays due to volume.
• NJ 47: Delays on NJ 47 southbound from NJ 55 to NJ 347 in Maurice River Twp delays due to volume.
• NJ 168: Pockets of Volume on NJ 168 southbound from I-295 in Bellmawr to CR 681/Lower Landing Rd in Gloucester Twp delays due to volume.
• NJ 55: Delays on NJ 55 southbound from south of Exit 21 - Schooner Landing Rd to NJ 47 in Maurice River Twp delays due to volume.
• NJ 55: Delays on NJ 55 northbound approaching NJ 42 in Deptford Twp delays due to volume.
• NJ 42: Delays on NJ 42 southbound approaching CR 639/Ganttown Rd in Washington Twp delays due to volume.
• US 9: Delays on US 9 southbound from Gordons Corner Rd in Manalapan Twp to CR 522/Throckmorton St in Freehold Twp delays due to volume.
• US 9: Delays on US 9 southbound approaching CR 601/Avalon Blvd in Middle Twp delays due to volume.
• US 9: Delays on US 9 southbound approaching NJ 47/Delsea Dr in Middle Twp delays due to volume.
• US 9: Delays on US 9 southbound approaching CR 14/Hillard Blvd in Stafford Twp delays due to volume.
• US 9: Delays on US 9 northbound approaching CR 528/Central Ave in Lakewood Twp delays due to volume.
• NJ 70: Delays on NJ 70 eastbound approaching N. Elmwood Rd in Evesham Twp delays due to volume.
• NJ 42: Delays on NJ 42 southbound ramp to Atlantic City Expressway in Washington Twp delays due to volume.
• US 322: Delays on US 322 eastbound approaching CR 653/Swedesboro Rd in Woolwich Twp delays due to volume.
• US 322: Delays on US 322 westbound approaching CR 551/Kings Highway in Woolwich Twp delays due to volume.
• Delays Delays US 322 As of 12:40pm, there are Delays on US 322 eastbound approaching NJ 45 in Harrison Twp delays due to volume.
• I-676: Heavy traffic on I-676 southbound from Exit 3 - Morgan Blvd in Camden to I-76 in Gloucester City delays due to volume.
• I-76: Heavy traffic on I-76 eastbound from Walt Whitman Bridge in Gloucester City to Exit 1A - NJ 42/I-295 in Bellmawr delays due to volume.
• NJ 73: Delays on NJ 73 southbound from North of Maple Ave to CR 544/Evesham Rd/Marlton Pkwy in Evesham Twp delays due to volume.
• NJ 55: Delays on NJ 55 northbound approaching NJ 42 in Deptford Twp delays due to volume.
• Garden State Parkway: Delays on the Garden State Parkway local and express roadways southbound from South of Exit 109 - CR 520 in Middletown Twp to North of Exit 105 - NJ 36 in Tinton Falls 2 mile delay, due to volume.
• NJ 36: Delays on NJ 36 southbound approaching CR 520/Rumson Rd in Sea Bright delays due to volume.
• NJ 34: Delays on NJ 34 southbound approaching CR 537/Colts Neck Rd in Colts Neck Twp delays due to volume.
• NJ 4: Delays on NJ 49 eastbound from CR 548/Tuckahoe Rd to CR 617/Woodbine Rd in Upper Twp delays due to volume.
• NJ 71: Delays on NJ 71 in both directions from CR 18/16th Av in Belmar to CR 47/Warren Av in Spring Lake Heights delays due to volume.
• NJ 35: Delays on NJ 35 northbound approaching CR 47/Warren Av in Wall Twp delays due to volume.
• NJ 4: Delays on NJ 4 westbound from River Rd in Teaneck Twp to Spring Valley Rd in Paramus delays due to an incident on Forrest avenue.
• NJ 35: Delays on NJ 35 southbound approaching CR 528/Herbert St in Mantoloking delays due to volume.
• NJ 347: Delays on NJ 347 southbound approaching NJ 47 in Dennis Twp delays due to volume.
• NJ 37: Delays on NJ 37 eastbound approaching CR 527/Lakehurst Rd in Toms River Twp delays due to roadwork on CR 527., use caution.
• NJ 7: Delays on NJ 72 eastbound from CR 105/Lighthouse Dr to CR 6/Mill Creek Rd in Stafford Twp delays due to volume.
• Garden State Parkway: Delays and pockets of volume on the Garden State Parkway southbound from South of Exit 149 - CR 506 in Bloomfield to Exit 140 - US 22/NJ 82 in Union Twp 9 mile delay, due to volume.
• New Jersey Turnpike: Delays on the New Jersey Turnpike southbound in the vicinity of Interchange 4 - NJ 73 in Mount Laurel Twp 2 mile delay, due to volume.

“Drivers in the most congested metros should expect much worse conditions than normal,” Trevor Reed, transportation analyst, INRIX, said in a news release. “Travelers should anticipate delays to start on Wednesday and continue through Memorial Day. Our advice to drivers is to avoid the morning and evening commuting times or plan alternate routes.”

AAA says 2019 will see the second-highest Memorial Day weekend traffic by volume since it started keeping track in 2000 and the most travelers since 2005. Overall, there will be 1.5 million more people traveling by car, train or plane than there were in 2018, for an increase of 3.6 percent.

Those traveling by automobile are doing so despite a rising national gas price average close to $3 a gallon. The national average for a gallon of gasoline was $2.86 on May 14, which compares to last year’s national average of $2.87 a gallon on the same date a year ago.

The average in New Jersey is $2.90 a gallon.

“When gas prices are expensive, travelers may shorten the distance of a road trip, eat out less or look for free activities,” AAA gas price expert Jeanette Casselano said in the release. “But, overall, prices are very similar to this time last year and, like then, they aren’t letting that deter them from taking summer road trips.”

The auto club said 72,880 New Jersey travelers plan to fly, marking a 5 percent increase from 2018. Nationwide, it will be the busiest holiday in the skies since 2005.

About 1.9 million people nationally, an increase of 3.8 percent over last year, will travel by train, bus or cruise ship, according to the release.

And though gas prices are increasing, car rental and hotel rates are down a bit this Memorial Day. AAA’s Leisure Travel Index shows car rental prices are down 7 percent, compared to last year, with an average daily rate of $55. Mid-range hotels are between 2 percent and 3 percent cheaper this year, with an average nightly rate of $146 and $183, respectively for the AAA Two and Three Diamond-rated properties.

Airfares are holding steady compared to last Memorial Day with an average roundtrip price of $171, AAA said.