Memorial Day 2021: Best, Worst Times To Travel From NoVA, DC

WASHINGTON, DC — Travel this Memorial Day will look a lot different than it did a year ago, according to a recent forecast by the American Automobile Association.

Fourteen months into the coronavirus pandemic, people in Northern Virginia and DC 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 Washington, DC metropolitan region, AAA Mid-Atlantic predicts just over 934,800 people will travel for Memorial Day weekend, a 60 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 US takes steps toward putting the pandemic behind us," said John Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic's manager of public and government affairs. "The AAA poll shows that residents in the District of Columbia have a pent-up demand for quick getaways and even longer, more extravagant trips – so called ‘Revenge Travel.’"

Travel forecast for Northern Virginia, DC region

Most Memorial Day travel will consist of road trips by car, AAA predicts. U.S. 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. In the DC region, 866,600 are expected to travel by car for the holiday weekend.

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 the DC region and prefer to avoid the rush, be aware that the worst area and time is expected to be Interstate 95 between I-395 in Springfield and Route 123 in Woodbridge on Thursday, May 27 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., according to INRIX. Even before the pandemic, this area experienced gridlock conditions during peak afternoon hours.

To help drivers plan ahead, the Virginia Department of Transportation has an interactive travel-trends map to show peak congestion periods on Virginia interstates during the 2018 and 2019 Memorial Day holiday periods. Interactive data is available for different times of the day on Friday through Monday. Real-time traffic information in Virginia is available at 511Virginia.org or by calling 511.

VDOT will suspend most highway work zones and lift most lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon on Friday, May 28 to noon on Tuesday, June 1. A list of lane closures that will continue are provided on VDOT's website.

In Northern Virginia, VDOT will lift HOV restrictions on Interstate 66 and rush-hour tolls on the 66 Express Lanes Inside the Beltway on May 31. Check back for schedules on the reversible 95 and 395 express lanes at www.expresslanes.com.

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.

Virginia's gas price average is $2.940, although average prices are still above $3 in all Northern Virginia localities except Prince William, Manassas and Manassas Park. A year ago, the gas price average was $1.750 in Virginia. DC's average is $3.160, compared to $2.166 a year ago. 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. About 65,300 DC metro area residents are expected to fly in 2021, a 573 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 helpful 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.