Memorial Day 2021: Best, Worst Times To Travel From FL Cities

TAMPA BAY, FL — Travel this Memorial Day weekend will look a lot different than it did a year ago in much of the country, Florida included, as coronavirus vaccines boost confidence in getting out to restaurants, concerts, sports and other activities.

Fourteen months into the coronavirus pandemic, people in multiple Florida cities are yearning to travel, especially now that more than 119 million Americans are fully vaccinated against the deadly virus and have more flexibility on wearing masks.

That desire will likely manifest in a surge of travelers this Memorial Day 2021 weekend, the American Automobile Association predicts, adding that between May 27-31, more than 37 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home.

The number represents a massive, 60 percent increase from last year when 23 million people traveled over the holiday, the lowest on record since AAA started tracking travel in 2000.

Most Memorial Day travel will consist of road trips by car, AAA predicts. Auto travel is expected to increase 52 percent compared with 2020, and more than 9 in 10 Memorial Day travelers plan to drive to their destinations. Orlando ranks No. 2 in the nation for road trips during the holiday weekend, and No. 1 on AAA travel bookings.

Partnering with travel analytics firm INRIX, the auto club predicts that drivers will encounter the longest travel delays during the afternoons of May 27 and May 28.

If you plan to travel by car from St. Petersburg, Tampa, Miami, Sarasota, Orlando or Miami, and prefer to avoid the rush, be aware that the peak travel time is expected to be 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., according to AAA.

Everything You Need For An Amazing Memorial Day Weekend

In Florida, more than 2 million residents are forecast to take a trip during the holiday weekend, AAA said. That’s a 62 percent increase from last year, when fewer than 1.3 million residents traveled, due to the pandemic.

Delays will be widespread, AAA predicts, but drivers in several major U.S. metros could experience double the travel times compared to a normal trip. Drivers in Atlanta, Houston and New York could see more than three times the delay on the busiest corridors.

Here’s another question: Is it safe to travel?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its guidance to state that fully vaccinated people can travel domestically at low risk to themselves.

Vaccinated or not, travelers should take the proper precautions and heed a few tips before they hit the road:

• Plan ahead. Check with state and local authorities where you are, along your route, and at your planned destination to learn about local circumstances and any restrictions that may be in place.

• Minimize stops along the way. Pack meals, extra snacks and drinks in addition to an emergency roadside kit.

• Follow public health guidance and new mask guidance. If you’re unvaccinated, wear face masks and remember to socially distance. Wash your hands regularly and be sure to pack disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer.

• Check with your hotel. Prior to any hotel stay, call ahead to ask what precautions it is taking and what requirements are in place to protect guests.

For other travel guidance from AAA, visit the organization’s COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Map for the latest state and local travel restrictions. You can also use TripTik.AAA.com to plan your road trip and help determine which rest stops, gas stations, restaurants and hotels are open along your route.