Whether it be through highways, airports or waterways, millions of Floridians are expected to be on the move during the holiday weekend.<\/p>\n
TAMPA, Fla. \u2014 Memorial Day is often considered the unofficial start of summer<\/a>, and whether it be through highways, airports or waterways, millions of Floridians are expected to be on the move during the holiday weekend.<\/p>\n Driving remains the most popular way to travel, with AAA projecting\u00a0<\/a>more than 2.3 million Floridians will be hitting the road between Thursday and Monday.\u00a0<\/p>\n With heavier traffic expected, AAA is urging drivers to slow down and\/or move over for disabled vehicles and roadside responders. Also, make sure to check tires, battery and fluid levels before starting your car this weekend.<\/p>\n Additionally, AAA says 236,000 Florida travelers will be flying during the five-day period, while nearly 75,000 will travel through other modes, such as bus, train or cruise.<\/p>\n Overall, the top destination in the US for travelers is Orlando, followed by Seattle, New York, Las Vegas and Miami.<\/p>\n AAA noted that Memorial Day travel is still reaching record levels, but with the smallest year-over-year increase in more than a decade.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTravel costs remain a mixed picture this year,\u201d Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA The Auto Club Group, said in a statement. \u201cTravelers who booked early may have secured lower airfares, but rising fuel costs are putting upward pressure on prices.\u201d<\/p>\n
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says drivers should expect the heaviest congestion between 3-6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, as well as Monday afternoon. Meanwhile, Sunday should be the lightest day for traffic, barring any unexpected events on the road.\u00a0<\/p>\n “According to INRIX, as congestion moves out of metro areas during holiday periods and onto highways, the risk of crashes increases as many drivers navigate unfamiliar routes outside of their normal commuting patterns,” the AAA wrote in its report.<\/a> “This stresses the importance of getting a good night\u2019s rest before a road trip, planning your route ahead of time and driving undistracted and sober.”<\/p>\n
\nBest and worst times to travel by car on Memorial Day weekend <\/p>\n