Memorial Day Traffic: Plan Ahead to Avoid the Gridlock

Memorial Day weekend is a big deal for travelers, with lots of people hitting the roads. This year, it falls from May 22 to May 26. Experts say 45. 1 million people will travel within the U. S. That's 1. 4 million more than last year. Most folks will be driving to their destinations. So, expect rental cars to be in high demand, especially on Friday, May 23. Traffic jams are a given during this time. Some roads are notorious for backups. In San Francisco, the Central Freeway is a hotspot. In Los Angeles, Route 60 sees heavy traffic. Chicago's Kennedy Expressway and New York's Washington and Verrazano-Narrows bridges are also trouble zones. Detroit has seen a big jump in weekend traffic jams recently. New York and Los Angeles are notorious for their traffic. New York has the most highways, and a lot of them saw increased congestion from April to May. Los Angeles, with nearly 3, 000 highways, had a third of them get more congested. Road closures can make things worse. Keep an eye out for issues on the Pacific Coast Highway in Los Angeles, I-10 in Phoenix, and the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago. Timing is everything when it comes to avoiding traffic. Generally, mornings are better for driving. On Thursday, May 22, and Saturday, May 24, try to leave before noon. On Friday, May 23, head out before 11 a. m. For the trip back, leave before 1 p. m. on Sunday, May 25, and before 2 p. m. on Monday, May 26. Traveling during Memorial Day doesn't have to break the bank. Many families opt for simple road trips to the beach or to visit friends. Long weekends are perfect for travel because of the extra day off work and school. So, plan ahead, be flexible, and enjoy the ride.