SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Memorial Day weekend will see the most travelers out and about than in the last 12 years.
More than 41.5 million Americans will be traveling this weekend, a five percent jump from last year, according to AAA. The increase in nearly 2 million travelers also means longer delays. Transportation analytics company INRIX predicts travel delays could be up to three times longer than normal in some areas of the country.
The worst times to hit the roads, rails, or the sky will be Thursday and Friday, as commuters and weekend travelers mix, AAA says.
BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT: Check updated San Diego traffic conditions
"Drivers should expect congestion across a greater number of days than in previous years, with the getaway period starting on Wednesday, May 23. Our advice to drivers is to avoid peak commute times in major cities altogether – traveling late morning or early afternoon – or plan alternative routes," Graham Cookson, head of research at INRIX, said.
The majority of travelers will be on the road, about 36.6 million drivers. Another 3.1 million will take to the air to travel and 1.8 million will travel by train, bus, or cruise.
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AAA says drivers will pay the most expensive Memorial Day weekend prices since 2014, while on average prices for air travel, car rentals, and mid-range hotels are lower than previous years.
So where is everyone going? AAA says travelers will be heading to mainly warmer destinations:
- Orlando, Fla.
- Seattle, Wash.
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Las Vegas, Nev.
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Phoenix, Ariz.
- Anaheim, Calif.
- Boston, Mass.
- Denver, Colo.
- New York, N.Y.
Internationally, the most popular destinations will be Rome, Italy; Dublin, Ireland; and London, England.
