This Memorial Day weekend will be a busy one. Here’s what to expect
Memorial Day weekend is only a few short days away and brace yourselves, travelers, because it looks to be a busy one.
According to AAA, this year will be the “third busiest Memorial Day weekend,” in over two decades. A report by travel app Hopper, notes that travel by plane will be the most popular mode of transportation, which means airports are slated to be bustling with MDW travelers. The report states that there are “nearly 17 million passengers expected to depart from U.S. airports from Thursday to Monday of the holiday weekend.” There is also a 17 percent increase in seat capacity compared to Memorial Day weekend 2022.
“We’re seeing strong demand for MDW with nearly 17 million passengers scheduled to depart from U.S airports this coming weekend,” Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper, told USA Today. “Demand remains high for summer, particularly for international travel, as many popular destinations were still closed for tourism this time last year.”
Atlanta (ATL), Dallas (DFW), and Denver (DEN) airports are anticipated to be the busiest according to the report. Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is expecting over 1.1 million departing passengers, while Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport expects 739,151 departing passengers. Denver International Airport rounds out the top three with 683,724 expected departing passengers. Hopper also reports that the busiest departing times for all three airports will be between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Travelers will mainly be departing for their getaways on Thursday and Friday, with the latter expected to be the busiest travel day of the two. USA Today states that over 3.5 million airplane seats are anticipated to be filled by passengers on Friday. Monday is expected to be the day most travelers return home, which means long lines and major crowds.
This Memorial Day weekend will give travelers a taste of what will be a hectic travel season this summer.
“Expect long lines and potential disruptions over this first peak summer weekend as airlines and airports work to manage schedules as we head into the busiest time of the year for travel,” Berg said.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that airlines have been working to improve on-time performance throughout the last few months. The Department of Transportation also reported that cancellations were less than 2 percent lower compared to last year’s rate of 2.7 percent. Buttigieg said that those numbers have been holding throughout May, but that “this weekend will be a test of the system.”
People who still want to vacation this weekend, but want to avoid the hectic airports may opt for driving as an alternative. USA Today states that 37.1 million U.S. travelers will hit the road this weekend, which is a 6 percent increase from last year. Roads, much like the airports, will be congested on Friday afternoon, which is why transportation analytics firm INRIX suggests traveling prior to 12 p.m. Those leaving on Thursday should do so before 1 p.m. On Monday, plan to leave before 12 p.m. or after 3 p.m., as that timeframe is when traffic will be at its peak.
“Knowing when and where congestion will build can help drivers avoid the stress of sitting in traffic,” INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said in a statement to USA Today. “Our advice is to avoid driving during peak hours or use alternative routes.
Roshae Hemmings is an arts and culture magazine journalist from St. Louis, MO. A graduate from the Missouri School of Journalism, Roshae has bylines in the Columbia Missourian, Vox Magazine and 5280 Magazine discussing topics ranging from pop culture, social justice and eat and drink. She is a foodie at heart and enjoys eating food as much as learning about the story behind it. You can reach Roshae via email at roshaehemmings@detourxp.com.
This story was originally published May 24, 2023 at 3:50 PM with the headline "This Memorial Day weekend will be a busy one. Here’s what to expect."