Memorial Day is the unofficial kick-off to Summer. It’s coming up on Monday, May 28th, 2024, and for many people, it’s a 3-day weekend. Whether you’re planning to be by the pool or lake, or on a roadtrip, we hope you have a wonderful weekend and stay safe.
Memorial Day 2024 Travel
According to AAA, this will be the second highest Memorial Day holiday travel weekend since they first began tracking the statistics back in 2000. This year, they project 43.8 million travelers will venture 50 miles or more away from their home over the weekend. This is a 4% increase from last year. The highest record was back in 2005, with 44 million travelers.
The Senior Vice President of AAA Travel, Paula Twidale, highlights that these numbers exceed pre-pandemic levels. She also says this indicates “a very busy summer travel season ahead.”
If you are looking for a place relatively close by, be sure to check out these Georgia and South Carolina towns that made a list for best Memorial Day weekend getaways.
When it comes to the type of travel, road trips are expected to set a record with around 38.4 million people traveling by car during the holiday weekend. This is the highest numbers since AAA started tracking.
Thankfully, when it comes to gas prices, we can expect numbers close to what it was last year, with the national average sitting around $3.57. But prices could go higher as Summer rolls in.
As for air travel, an expected 3.51 million people will travel by plan. This is an increase of 4.8% from 2023, and a 9% increase over 2019.
Best Time To Travel For Memorial Day Weekend
If you’re leaving on Thursday or Friday, it’s best to leave early to avoid commuters. And when it comes to your return trip, avoid afternoon hours on Sunday or Monday, since that’s when most people will also be returning.
See more of the best and worst times to travel during Memorial Day weekend HERE.
Staying In Town For Memorial Day 2024
If you’re not one of nearly 44 million people who will be traveling this year, the good news is that there are still plenty of events and activities going on around the CSRA for you and the family.
Let’s take a look at some events, and if we’re missing some, be sure to send us an email.