AAA: Most North Carolinians Traveling for Memorial Day Since 2005

With the holiday weekend upon us, AAA Carolinas says to expect busy roadways.

AAA Carolinas is projecting that more than 1.5 million North Carolinians will travel 50 miles or more from home for the Memorial Day weekend – the unofficial start of summer.

That figure would represent a nearly three-percent increase over last year and would be the highest Memorial Day travel number since 2005.

Gas prices do not appear to be stopping families from piling into the car and hitting the road with 88 percent of travelers expected to set out on their holiday trek by vehicle. And those Tar Heel travelers will pay approximately $2.20 per gallon of gas for their trip, nearly identical from last year.

While the state’s thoroughfares will bear the brunt of those traveling, AAA is also projecting a 5.5-percent increase in air travel.

The top five destinations for Carolina travelers are Alaska, California, Florida, New York and Arizona, according to AAA. For those sticking closer to home, Myrtle Beach, Charlotte, Raleigh, Wilmington and Greenville, South Carolina, are expected to be the most popular holiday hosts.

Most major road construction projects are put on hold during the holiday weekend travel period, but you can stay up to date on potential barriers at the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s website.

Memorial Day weekend also marks the beginning of the “100 Deadliest Days,” the period when teen traffic deaths historically rise, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Last year, 20 North Carolina motorists and eight South Carolina motorists died on the roads during the Memorial Day holiday.

The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 25, through Monday, May 29.

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