Record travel expected this Memorial Day weekend in North Carolina

People traveling both across the U.S. and North Carolina will hit record numbers this Memorial Day weekend, according to a forecast by AAA.

The organization says 1.3 million North Carolinians are expected to travel at least 50 miles, which is the highest since 2000, when AAA started tracking holiday travelers in the state.

The weekend will also see the second highest travel on record nationally, AAA said, with roughly 44 million people traveling.

“Memorial Day will be the start to a very busy summer of travel,” Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group, said in a release. “American travelers are forecast to surpass pre-pandemic levels, making this the busiest Memorial Day holiday weekend in nearly two decades. The main driver of the projection is strong consumer interest in traveling both domestically and abroad. Interest in traveling internationally is at the highest level in recent years.”

There will also be a 4% increase over last year in people hitting the road for their holiday weekend travels, according to data. Experts say while traveling by car offers the most flexibility and convenience, it won’t come without a price this year.

“Drivers should expect continued volatility at the pump as the summer driving season gets underway,” Tiffany Wright, spokesperson for AAA – The Auto Club Group in the Carolinas, said. “The wildcard remains the cost of oil, and unlike last year, there are now two wars – in the Middle East and Ukraine – that could roil the oil market.”

Gas prices will be 10 cents higher on average per gallon compared to last year, AAA said.

To help your travels through the country’s metro areas, AAA and INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, have recommended the following best and worst times to travel by car this holiday weekend. 

Credit: INRIX

For more information on travel trends, top destinations and more this Memorial Day weekend, click here.