AAA predicts record travel over Memorial Day weekend, Arkansas roads to see surge

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Memorial Day serves as a day to honor and remember those men and women who lost their lives while serving for our country. Friday, May 24 was the start of the long holiday weekend.

The American Automobile Association, also known as AAA, predicts nearly 44 million people will travel 50 miles or more from their homes throughout the weekend.

AAA predicts the numbers will be record-breaking, possibly reaching the highest number since they first began tracking in 2000.

Here in Arkansas, Dave Parker with the Arkansas Department of Transportation said Memorial Day means more people will be on the roads.

“ARDOT does not track numbers per se like AAA does but we are anticipating because it is the first holiday of the summer, the official start of summer, we are anticipating a pretty heavy weekend travel wise,” said Parker.

He said the most heavily traveled areas in Arkansas are usually those heading to lakes.

“I think that here in Arkansas people will be, despite the weather now, are going to be heading out to the lakes, heading west on Highway 70,” Parker said. “Heading out to Garland County/Hot Springs area is going to probably be a little busier than normal. Anything heading east, Little Rock to Memphis, is always busy travel. I think that will be pretty heavy as well.”

ARDOT wants to remind everyone of the speed enforcement cameras that have been placed along interstate work zones.

“We do have those in construction zones,” said Parker. “The goal of those is not to write a bunch of tickets. He continued on to say, “It is very important that when you are in those construction work zones you be extra attentive and slow down and take it easy. Know those cameras are there for a reason and in many cases there is an officer downstream, that should you violate the rules, the speed limit, you could get a citation.”

According to AAA, gas prices in Arkansas are significantly lower than the national average.

The average in Arkansas sits at $3.09/gallon and the national average is $3.60/gallon.