WILLOW GROVE, PA — Get ready for the gridlock once again this holiday weekend.
Despite higher gas prices than a year ago, AAA predicts that a record-breaking 45 million people are expected to hit the nation's roads and highways this Memorial Day weekend.
In the Philadelphia region, roads and highways will be just as clogged during the three-day Memorial Day weekend, which kicks off the unofficial start of summer.
AAA —the nation's leading travel membership organization with a regional office in Willow Grove — forecasts over 470,000 people will travel at least 50 miles on roads between Thursday and Monday, a slight uptick from last year.
AAA cautions drivers that trips could take double the amount of time due to the heavy congestion.
“Travel demand remains strong, and despite higher fuel prices, many people are prioritizing leisure travel during holiday breaks," said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel.
This holiday weekend, drivers are paying more at the pump compared with last year, when the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.17 on Memorial Day.
Currently, gas prices are the highest they’ve been since the summer of 2022, over $4.40 in the Philadelphia region.
According to transportation data from INRIX, to avoid peak holiday delays, plan your travel around these recommended windows:
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