Worst Travel Times, Locations In NoVA Predicted For Memorial Day Weekend

VIRGINIA — Travelers heading out to beaches or other destinations from Northern Virginia will encounter busier than usual roads over the 2023 Memorial Day weekend.

Nearly 1.2 million Virginians will travel 50 or more miles over the Memorial Day weekend, AAA Mid-Atlantic predicts. That's 6 percent higher than last year's level, but about 2 percent lower than the pre-pandemic level of 2019.

AAA has been tracking the Memorial Day weekend travel forecast since 2000 and expects this to be the fourth-busiest holiday weekend on record in Virginia.

In the DC metro area and Maryland, over 1 million residents are expected to travel, which is over 6 percent higher than last year but 6 percent lower than the pre-pandemic level of 2019.

Across the U.S., AAA expects 42.3 million people to travel long distances over the holiday weekend. The nationwide travel prediction would make it the third-busiest Memorial Day weekend AAA has recorded since 2000.

"Americans, including those in our region, are ready to kick off the Memorial Day weekend with a trip,” said Ragina Cooper Ali, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. "In the Washington, D.C. metro area and Maryland, AAA expects this to be the fourth-busiest Memorial Day weekend since 2000."

The majority of Virginians — 1.03 million — will travel by car, AAA says. But the 98,398 air travelers expected in Virginia is higher than last year and pre-pandemic numbers.

"The TSA has warned travelers that it expects summer travel numbers at checkpoints to be ‘Comfortably Above’ pre-pandemic levels," says AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Morgan Dean in a statement. "If the Memorial Day forecast numbers are an indicator for what we can expect for the summer, it could be a very busy season at the airports."

AAA anticipates about 34,279 Virginians will travel by other methods such as buses, trains or cruises.

Busiest Travel Times

Those hitting the roads for Memorial Day weekend should be aware of which times are forecast to be the busiest.

In the DC region, transportation analyst INRIX expects the worst congestion to happen around 5 p.m. Monday, May 29 on northbound I-95 and connecting interstates from Williamsburg to Washington, DC. The anticipated travel time between Williamsburg and Washington, DC during that peak time will be four hours and 30 minutes. Typically, the travel time is 2.7 hours.

For travelers departing the DC region in the early weekend, the peak is expected 1 p.m. Friday on eastbound U.S. Route 50 between DC and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The travel time between these destinations will be 3.8 hours at the peak, compared to 2.5 hours normally.

The Virginia Department of Transportation released its own predictions for the worst congestion based on historical data.

VDOT expects heavy congestion on northbound I-95 between Fredericksburg and DC Friday and Saturday and northbound I-95 between Richmond and Northern Virginia Monday.

Southbound I-95 congestion is expected between DC and Richmond Friday and Saturday and in Northern Virginia Sunday and Monday.

In the Hampton Roads region, VDOT anticipates congestion especially on Interstate 64 approaching the eastbound Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and westbound on Friday and Monday.

In the western part of Virginia, VDOT says "pockets of congestion" are possible on northbound I-81 between Roanoke and Winchester Monday.

VDOT will help alleviate traffic by suspending most work zones and lifting most lane closures from Friday, May 26 to noon on Tuesday, May 30. A list of continuing lane closures and work zones is available here.

In Northern Virginia, rush hour tolls on the I-66 Express Lanes inside the Beltway will be suspended on Monday, May 29. Information on the reversible I-95 and I-395 Express Lanes is available at expresslanes.com.

In Hampton Roads, HOV restrictions and Express Lane tolls will be lifted on I-64/I-264/I-564 HOV Diamond Lanes and 64 Express Lanes on Monday, May 29. Travelers to Virginia Beach and Outer Banks are encouraged to use the I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel instead of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.

Virginia travelers can see VDOT's full travel prediction map for Memorial Day weekend.

Across the U.S., INRIX predicts Friday, May 26 to be the busiest travel day of the holiday weekend. Travelers heading out that day can avoid the worst traffic by driving before 12 p.m. or after 6 p.m. As an alternative, Saturday and Sunday are forecast to have lighter traffic with no major impacts expected.

Here are the best and worst travel times over the Memorial Day weekend nationwide:

• Thursday, May 25: Worst travel time from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., best travel time before 1 p.m.
• Friday, May 26: Worst travel time from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., best travel time before 12 p.m.
• Saturday, May 27: Minimal traffic congestion expected
• Sunday, May 28: Minimal traffic congestion expected
• Monday, May 29: Worst travel time from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., best travel time before 10 a.m
• Tuesday, May 30: Worst travel time from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., best travel time before 2 p.m. or after 6 p.m.

Gas Prices

Prices at the pump will be lower this year for Memorial Day weekend travelers.

According to AAA, Virginia's current gas price average is $3.336 as of Thursday, compared to $4.459 a year ago. Northern Virginia's average price is $3.46, down from $4.61 a year ago.

The national gas price average sits around $3.55 a week before Memorial Day weekend, about a dollar less than last year. Rising demand for gas leading up to the holiday weekend is causing prices to inch up, according to AAA.

"The rise in demand for gasoline is helping to push pump prices higher for now," said Andrew Gross, an AAA spokesperson. "But the increase is mitigated by the low cost of oil, which is wobbling around in the low $70s per barrel. Pump prices could stabilize or fall once this long weekend is in the rearview mirror."

AAA members can use the AAA Fuel Finder or use the AAA mobile app to find the lowest prices. Others can search gas prices by ZIP code or town using Gas Buddy.