BOISE, Idaho — According to AAA, Idahoans are splashing into summer with big travel plans for Memorial Day Weekend. An estimated 262,000 Idahoans will hit the roads this holiday weekend, which is higher than pre-pandemic numbers.
AAA reports that 43.8 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles over the holiday weekend which is 1.8 million more than last year, which was record breaking.
"In recent years, travel has recovered in phases, and now we anticipate the second highest travel volume for Memorial Day weekend, just below 2005 numbers," said AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde. "Travel and discretionary spending are still increasing despite lingering concerns about the economy. Clearly, many people see vacations as an important investment in their quality of life."
For those wanting to hit the roads, AAA suggests that the best time to drive will be Thursday and Friday morning, before the holiday begins. The worst times will be Thursday and Friday afternoon, when the roads are shared with commuters. Monday afternoon will also be hard, as people will want to get home.
"Please buckle up and drive at appropriate speeds. Getting there safely is always more important than getting there sooner," Conde said. "You may want to build in some extra time if you're heading up into the backcountry on a two-lane road for a camping or RV trip."
The top 10 travel destinations for Idahoans for Memorial Day were also released by AAA and can be seen below:
- Anaheim, CA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Las Vegas, NV
- Yellowstone/Grand Teton National Parks
- Orlando, FL
- Honolulu, HI
- Oregon Coast
- Seattle, WA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Denver, CO
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