Best and worst travel times for Memorial Day weekend

GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – Before you hit the road for Memorial Day, make sure you’re leaving at the best time! AAA expects a surge in travelers with nearly 44 million people leaving town for the holiday weekend.

“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”

INRIX, a transportation data provider analyzed the best and worst times to be on the road if you’re traveling by car:

Thursday, May 23

Best Travel Time – Before 11 a.m., after 7 p.m.

Worst Travel Time – 12 to 6 p.m.

Friday, May 24

Best Travel Time – Before 11 a.m., after 8 p.m.

Worst Travel Time – 12 to 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 25

Best Travel Time – Before 1 p.m., after 6 p.m.

Worst Travel Time – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, May 26

Best Travel Time – Before 1 p.m.

Worst Travel Time – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday, May 27

Best Travel Time – after 7 p.m.

Worst Travel Time – 3 -7 p.m.

“Travel times are expected to be up to 90% longer than normal. Travelers should stay up to date on traffic apps, 511 services, and local news stations to avoid sitting in traffic longer than necessary,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX.

If you’re traveling through Atlanta, AAA says peak traffic congestion will be at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday.

Atlanta is one of the cities displaying the highest demand for rental vehicles according to Hertz.

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