More than 1 million Virginians expected to travel Memorial Day weekend

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — If you're hitting the road or catching a flight this Memorial Day weekend, you're far from alone.

AAA projects more than 1 million Virginians will travel over the holiday weekend — about 30,000 more than last year. Though this marks the smallest holiday travel increase in nearly a decade, roads and airports are still expected to be packed.

Nationwide, over 45 million Americans are expected to travel, making this year the second busiest Memorial Day weekend on record.

In Virginia, nearly 90% of travelers will drive to their destinations. Despite a slight uptick in gas prices in recent weeks, they remain roughly 40 cents lower than this time last year, averaging under $3 a gallon across the state.

Air travel is also seeing a slight increase, with more than 100,000 Virginians expected to travel by plane. And it’s not just cars and planes getting attention — bus, train and cruise travel is also up nearly 7% across the Commonwealth.

Travel experts recommend drivers avoid hitting the road between 3 and 6 p.m. on Friday, May 23, which is expected to be the peak time for congestion. The best times to travel? Either early in the morning or later in the evening on Friday.

Whether you’re heading to the beach, the mountains or just visiting family nearby, experts urge travelers to plan ahead, stay safe and make the most of the long weekend.