Are you planning on heading up to the mountains this weekend or heading down to see friends and family in the big city? On Wednesday, the American Automobile Association (AAA) released a report predicting that this will be the busiest Memorial Day for travelers in over a decade.
In the report, AAA predicts that 39.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home this Memorial Day weekend. That number marks an increase of one million travelers from 2016 and represents the highest number of American travelers since 2005.
Of the more than 39 million Americans who are traveling this Memorial Day weekend, AAA predicts the vast majority — 34.6 million (or 88.1 percent) — will drive to their destinations, meaning that the highways in and around major cities across the country could be hellish for travelers.
“With 34.6 million people traveling by car over Memorial Day weekend, drivers should plan for crowded highways, remember to pack their patience, and allow plenty of extra time to get to their destinations safely,” AAA spokeswoman Julie Hall told NBC News.