Memorial Day Traffic: Here's The Worst Time To Leave NYC

NEW YORK – Nearly 43 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles this year to observe Memorial Day, the majority of them — 37.6 million — in cars. In a city in which the normal rush hour creates gridlock, New York City motorists would be well advised to stay off the roads.

The worst time to try driving – when experts at the American Automobile Association expect trips to take twice as long as usual – is predicted to be between 4:45 and 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, May 23.

And heading into the city is going to be just as bad as trying to get out – NYC is the nation's second most popular destination for visitors during the long weekend, coming in only after Orlando, Florida.

“Drivers in the most congested metros should expect much worse conditions than normal,” Trevor Reed, a transportation analyst at the transportation analytics company INRIX which created the data used by AAA.

“Travelers should anticipate delays to start on Wednesday and continue through Memorial Day. Our advice to drivers is to avoid the morning and evening commuting times or plan alternate routes.”

AAA is expecting that 2019 will see the second-highest Memorial Day weekend traffic by volume since it started keeping track in 2000 and the most travelers since 2005. Nationally, there will be 1.5 million more people traveling by car, train or plane than there were in 2018, for an increase of 3.6 percent.

Those traveling by automobile are doing so despite a rising national gas price average close to $3 a gallon. The national average for a gallon of gasoline was $2.86 on May 14, which compares to last year’s national average of $2.87 a gallon on the same date a year ago.

“When gas prices are expensive, travelers may shorten the distance of a road trip, eat out less or look for free activities,” AAA gas price expert Jeanette Casselano said. “But, overall, prices are very similar to this time last year and, like then, they aren’t letting that deter them from taking summer road trips.”

The auto club said 3.25 million people will fly to their Memorial Day destinations, 4.8 percent more than last year. It will be the busiest holiday in the skies since 2005.

About 1.9 million people, an increase of 3.8 percent over last year, will travel by train, bus or cruise ship, according to the release.

And though gas prices are increasing, car rental and hotel rates are down a bit this Memorial Day. AAA’s Leisure Travel Index shows car rental prices are down 7 percent, compared to last year, with an average daily rate of $55. Mid-range hotels are between 2 percent and 3 percent cheaper this year, with an average nightly rate of $146 and $183, respectively for the AAA Two and Three Diamond-rated properties.

Airfares are holding steady compared to last Memorial Day with an average roundtrip price of $171, Triple-A said.