(NewsNation) — Tens of millions of Americans are expected to take to the roads, skies and waterways for the busiest Memorial Day travel period ever, according to the American Automobile Association.
AAA predicted more than 45 million people will travel at least 50 miles between Thursday, May 22, and Wednesday, May 28.
Roughly 90% of holiday travelers are driving, AAA estimated.
That could have something to do with gas prices, which are down to just $3.19 per gallon on average as of Friday morning, according to GasBuddy’s live fuel insights tracker. That average is 40 cents cheaper than last year’s.
With so many hitting the roads, authorities are urging travelers to stay sober, buckled and cautious.
“Anything could happen on the road. Something could run out on the road, there could be a tire, there could be debris,” Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Brice Nihiser told NewsNation.
“Make sure that you’re ready for that, make sure that you’re ready to respond to whatever’s in front of you.”
Peak travel times will be between 4 and 7 p.m., so it’s best to hit the road earlier to beat the traffic, per AAA.
REAL ID protocols in place ahead of Memorial Day flights
A record 3.61 million people are planning to fly, marking a nearly 2% increase over last year, AAA predicts.
The Transportation Security Administration said it is expecting to screen about 18 million passengers and crew members at airports nationwide over the extended holiday weekend.
Memorial Day is the first major travel holiday under REAL ID protocol, which requires a specific type of ID for domestic flights.
Travelers can still fly without a REAL ID so long as they have TSA-accepted forms of ID, like a passport — but it will likely add some time to security screenings.
Those without a REAL ID will likely be asked to complete a “certification of identity” form.
If TSA agents are able to confirm all the details provided, they will be allowed to proceed through the security checkpoint as normal.
Newark Airport concerns continue into Memorial Day weekend
Some of the most popular flying destinations this year are Chicago, New York, Orlando, Denver and Seattle.
One of the three major airports servicing the New York City area, Newark Liberty International Airport, has been the scene of a travel meltdown for weeks.
An air traffic controller shortage, multiple tech outages and runway construction have led to proposed cuts in flights in and out of the New Jersey airport — and some travelers avoiding it altogether.
