2023 Memorial Day weekend travel – statistics and tips
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- If you're a frequent traveler over Memorial Day weekend, you may notice gas prices are lower than last year. That being said, roads and flights will be packed this year.
The American Automobile Association predicts that 42.3 million Americans will travel this weekend, beating out most recent pre-pandemic years.
Air travel alone is expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels, which experts say is surprising because plane tickets are relatively expensive. AAA expects 3.4 million people to fly this weekend; an 11 percent increase from last year.
Road trips, on the other hand, are up six percent with an estimated 37.1 million Americans planning to hit the road this holiday weekend. The Texas Department of Transportation says it is important to stay safe during over the weekend.
"Make sure that your car and your tires are in good shape. That means check fluid levels, check your tread depth, check your hoses, and make sure that you're gonna be fit for travel before you go," said TXDOT spokesperson Jennifer Wright. "Another thing that we really encourage people to do is to pack a survival kit."
Wright also said that people should plan to have a sober ride before they drink, and be aware of how fast they are driving. And as always, she says everyone in a vehicle should buckle up.
