Memorial Day Weekend 2021: Best, Worst Times To Travel From MD

MARYLAND — Holiday travel was only a fraction of normal volume for most holidays in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. With vaccinations on the rise, this Memorial Day should bring a surge of highway and air travel compared with a year ago, according to a recent forecast by the American Automobile Association.

Fourteen months into the coronavirus pandemic, Marylanders 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 weekend, AAA 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 recording in 2000.

In the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., region, AAA Mid-Atlantic predicts 746,900 people will travel for Memorial Day weekend, a 53 percent increase from last year. For the DC region, Maryland and Virginia as a whole, 2.78 million people will travel 50 miles or more.

“Optimism coinciding with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and growing consumer confidence are fueling a strong desire to travel this summer as the U.S. takes steps toward putting the pandemic behind us,” said Ragina C. Ali, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “The AAA poll shows that Marylanders have a pent-up demand for quick getaways and even longer, more extravagant trips — so called ‘Revenge Travel.’”

Best, Worst Times To Travel Memorial Day Weekend

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

INRIX predicts drivers will encounter the longest travel delays before the holiday weekend, particularly during the afternoons on Thursday, May 27 and Friday, May 28. Drivers in several major U.S. metros could experience double the travel times compared to a normal trip, while Atlanta, Houston and New York drivers could see more than three times the delay on the busiest corridors.

The Maryland Transportation Authority urged drivers to plan ahead and travel off-peak to avoid delays, especially when crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to reach the Eastern Shore.

Drivers should expect delays at the Bay Bridge and along the U.S. 50 corridor over the holiday weekend. Heavier eastbound traffic volumes should be expected Thursday through Saturday, May 27-29, with heavier westbound traffic volumes expected on Sunday and Monday, May 30-31.

The best times to travel the Bay Bridge Memorial Day weekend include:

• Thursday, May 27: Before 10 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
• Friday, May 28: Before 8 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
• Saturday, May 29: Before 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
• Sunday, May 30: Before 10 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
• Memorial Day Monday, May 31: Before 8 a.m. and after 11 p.m.

For Bay Bridge traffic information call 1-877-BAYSPAN (1-877-229-7726) or visit Baybridge.com. For real-time updates on Maryland toll roads follow the agency on Twitter at twitter.com/TheMDTA.

AAA expects the number of Marylanders traveling over the Memorial Day holiday this year to return to 89 percent of those who traveled pre-pandemic, in 2019, when a record number of Marylanders traveled for the holiday weekend.

Gas Prices

Those traveling by car will pay the most expensive Memorial Day weekend gas prices since 2014, according to AAA. The national average is $3.039, slightly down from the increases tied to the Colonial Pipeline shutdown. But prices will be well above the average of a year ago — $1.958.

Maryland's gas price average is $2.78 ahead of Memorial Day. A year ago, the gas price average was $1.750 in the region. AAA members can use the AAA gas price finder, and other tools such as GasBuddy are available to find prices near you.

Other Forms Of Travel

Air travel is predicted to rise significantly during the holiday period. The number of Marylanders flying in 2021 is expected to be almost six times what it was in 2020 when multiple factors kept most people from flying.

More than 56,400 Maryland residents will travel by air, a 582 percent increase from 2020.

Travelers are reminded that some airlines may still be limiting capacity and that TSA allows a liquid container of hand sanitizer up to 12 ounces on carry-ons. Masks are required at airports and on aircraft.

International travelers must show a negative COVID-19 test or proof of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the U.S. Testing is not required to travel domestically, except to and from Hawaii.

AAA Mid-Atlantic says travel by trains, buses, rails and cruise ships remains low at 2,800 but represents a 31 percent increase from 2020.

Safe Travels During COVID-19

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.