Experts believe Memorial Day weekend 2024 will be the busiest travel period in two decades

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – While high temperatures in the 90s are being forecasted for the 2024 Memorial Day holiday weekend, experts are projecting record-high numbers will be set nationwide. May 22-29 will be the busiest travel period in 20 years, with a total of 43.8 million people nationwide traveling 50 or more miles, according to AAA.

“I can tell you in the Carolinas, that’s for both states, it’s going to be the highest we’ve ever seen,” said AAA Director of Public Affairs Tiffany Wright.

AAA says drivers should buckle up for what they believe will be the most crowded commuting weekend on the roads. They project nearly 38.4 million people will be traveling by car, the highest number for Memorial Day since AAA began tracking in 2000.

AAA also believes roughly an additional 1.5 million more Americans will be on the road in comparison to 2023.

“It’s a time to remember to be more mindful and vigilant out there,” Wright said.

AAA also expects Memorial Day Weekend 2024 to be the most crowded at airports since 2005. They say 3.51 million Americans will travel by air over the course of the weekend, a 4.8% increase from 2023, and a 9.3% jump from 2019.

Wright believes this could also be the case at Columbia Metropolitan Airport, as the number of total monthly passengers that came through the airport in the month of May has increased from 95,499 in 2022 to 104,267 in 2023.

“Just looking at our bookings, even with the amount of people that have moved here over the last few years, we predict it’s going to be very busy,” Wright said.

South Carolina Highway Patrol also says they will use their Enforcement Plan to help crack down on speeding and DUIs and patrol the roads throughout the Palmetto State.

The full Enforcement Plan can be found below: 

Highway Patrol:

Throughout the Memorial holiday period, enforcement efforts will focus on DUI, speeding, seatbelts, and distracted driving with an additional focus on pedestrian / vulnerable roadway user safety. 

Enforcement efforts will be focused on routes leading in and out of coastal communities and waterways throughout the state. Special enforcement will be taking place on all interstates from May 24 through May 27.   

State Transport Police: STP will be focusing on high visibility enforcement of commercial motor vehicle traffic including impaired driving; reckless driving; and out-of-service violations.

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