Record-Breaking Memorial Day Traffic Expected For IL: Here Are Best, Worst Times To Travel

ACROSS ILLINOIS — Chicago-area drivers could see jam-packed highways starting Friday as a record number of travelers hit the road for the Memorial Day weekend.

An estimated eight million vehicles are expected on the Chicago-area Tollway system starting on Friday and continuing through Tuesday. This is a projected 4.4 percent increase over last year's holiday weekend, Illinois Tollway officials announced this past week.

Meanwhile, domestic travel across the U.S. is expected to see a slight increase this holiday weekend. AAA projects 45.1 million people will travel at least 50 miles or more from home, which is an increase of 1.4 million from last year.

Not factoring in the dramatic jump in travel volume from 2020 to 2021 — following the COVID-19 shutdown — this year should see the lowest year-over-year growth rate for Memorial Day weekend travel in nearly a decade, AAA officials said.

The economy, and Americans continuing to tighten their belts because of economic concerns, is among the reasons travel is not a priority for many.

“Economic uncertainties and concerns over rising prices are on the minds of travelers,” said Ragina Cooper Ali, manager of public and government affairs for AAA. “However, despite those concerns, many Americans are expected to take advantage of the long holiday weekend to spend time with loved ones, even if the trips are closer to home.”

Which Day Will Be The Busiest On IL Tollways?

For those staying local, you may want to avoid Illinois Tollways on Friday.

Tollway officials predict May 23 should see the most-congested roadways, with 1.9 million vehicles expected to use the Tollway system. On a typical day, around 1.6 million vehicles travel on the Tollway.

According to AAA, the best travel times are:

• Before noon Thursday
• Before 11 a.m. Friday
• Before noon Saturday
• Before 1 p.m. Sunday
• Before 2 p.m. Monday

The worst travel times are:

• 1-9 p.m. Thursday
• Noon-8 p.m. Friday
• 2-6 p.m. Saturday
• 1-5 p.m. Sunday
• 4-7 p.m. Monday

In the Chicago area, the worst time to travel will be between 1 to 6 p.m. on Friday, said Dan Rozek, senior manager of communications for the Illinois Tollway.r. Manager of Communications

"We expect the heaviest traffic on our system to occur on Friday, May 23, between about 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. as drivers begin traveling to their holiday destinations and commuters make their evening drives home," he said.

Car, Plane Or Train?

The majority of U.S. travelers will be hitting the road for their Memorial Day trips, with 39.4 million opting to get to their destination by car. Meanwhile, an estimated 3.61 million will be air passengers, and 2.08 million will travel by train, bus or cruise ship.

In Illinois, about 1.91 million are expected to travel by car for Memorial Day, in addition to regular traffic, with another 110,000 traveling by airplane.

Chicago airports will see extra traffic, with Chicago being one of the top 10 domestic holiday travel destinations for Memorial Day weekend, according to AAA.

The good news for the 87 percent of Memorial Day travelers who are driving this weekend, gasoline prices haven't seen a typical seasonal spike this year. Last Memorial Day, the national average for a gallon of regular gas was $3.59. This year, that average is around $3.20 per gallon nationwide, according to AAA.

“Memorial Day weekend getaways don’t have to break the bank and are ideal for travel,” Ali said. “With many people having an extra day off from work and school for the holiday, many families may opt to pack up the car and head to the beach or take a road trip to visit family or friends.”

If You Need Roadside Assistance

Cassaundra Rouse, executive director for the Illinois Tollway, said those who may run into trouble on the roadways, and need roadside assistance, can dial 999.

"Our road crews will be out in force during the holiday weekend to provide prompt help to drivers whose vehicles become disabled on our system," Rouse said. "We’re also urging drivers to protect themselves, other drivers and emergency responders by following posted speed limits, especially in work zones, and by putting away their phones so they can focus on driving safely.”

When calling *999, drivers should provide as much information about their location as possible to ensure rapid assistance. This information should include: the Tollway on which they’re traveling, the direction they’re driving and the nearest milepost, cross street or exit.

Drivers who need assistance should turn on their hazard lights, move their vehicle, if possible, onto the shoulder and remain inside until help arrives, according to an Illinois Tollway news release.

Construction Work Zones To Watch Out For

Drivers should be prepared for construction work zones on the Illinois Tollway. The Illinois Tollway, construction activity will be restricted to better serve Tollway customers and most temporary maintenance and construction lane closures will be suspended from noon on Friday, May 23, through 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28.

Some work may continue behind barriers to keep work on schedule. All work is weather-dependent.

Areas where ongoing work zones may impact traffic include:

Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80)

• On northbound I-294 between St. Charles Road and North Avenue, traffic is shifted to the left into a counterflow configuration.
• On southbound I-294 between St. Charles Road and I-55, traffic is shifted into a split configuration with three left lanes operating as express lanes. There is no access to exit to eastbound I-290, westbound I-88, Ogden Avenue or I-55 from these three express lanes. Traffic must remain in the right lane to exit.
• On the ramps connecting westbound I-290 to northbound I-294 and westbound Roosevelt Road to southbound I-294 closures and detours are in place.
• On southbound I-294 access to I-55 in both directions has moved further north and is located between 55th Street and the Hinsdale Oasis.

Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88)

• On eastbound I-88 between Illinois Route 23 and the DeKalb Oasis traffic is reduced to a single lane.

Construction zone speed limits are in effect in all construction zones 24/7 and drivers should continue to watch for changing traffic patterns and use caution, especially when workers are present.