Record Travel Expected For Memorial Day 2024: Here’s When To Leave IL

ILLINOIS — If you’re planning to get out of Illinois for the three-day Memorial Day weekend, knowing when to avoid the busiest times on major routes can make the difference between a stress-free holiday or one the kids will never let you forget.

Some 43.8 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home to celebrate Memorial Day in 2024. That’s a 4 percent increase from last year, AAA said in its annual Memorial Day travel forecast. Travel this year could approach the record set in 2005, when 44 million people took Memorial Day trips.

Memorial Day, the unofficial start to summer, has always been a big road trip holiday. About 38.4 million people plan to take off in their cars, the highest number for the holiday since AAA began tracking Memorial Day travel in 2000.

Airports are expected to be busier than last year, too, with about 3.51 million people flying to their Memorial Day destinations, 4.8 percent more than last year and 9 percent more than pre-pandemic 2019. Crowds could rival the post 9/11 recovery in 2005, when 3.64 million people flew, AAA said.

“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years.” Paula Twidale, a senior vice president at AAA Travel, said in a news release. “We’re projecting an additional 1 million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”

The number of people taking road trips this year is projected to be 4 percent higher than last year, and 1.9 percent higher than before the pandemic in 2019. If you’re looking for some fun things around Illinois, here are a few long-time favorite places:

• Route 66 from Chicago to St. Louis, about 300 miles: If you can’t manage the entire cross-country route, the first leg of the Route 66 road trip does come with a lot of flat stretches and cornfields, but there are still plenty of iconic diners and gas stations and giant roadside statues to make the drive worthwhile. Route 66 starts at South Michigan Avenue and East Adams Street in downtown Chicago, and the Route 66 Welcome Center is in Joliet, where the Old Joliet Prison Historic Site draws a steady stream of the curious. Route 66 is dotted with giant fiberglass “Muffler Man” statutes from the 1960s, including Wilmington’s Gemini Giant, who sports a rocket ship, and Atlanta’s Paul Bunyon (intentionally spelled with an “o”), who grips a giant hot dog in his oversized hands. Before you leave Illinois, stop in Collinsville to see the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle. In St. Louis, there’s plenty to see, including Gateway Arch National Park, St. Louis Union Station, the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum and the Laumeier Sculpture Park & Museum. By the way, Route 66 also goes through Springfield, Illinois’ state capital and worth a trip on its own. About 35 minutes north of there in Lincoln, you don’t want to miss the Guinness World Record holding Railsplitter Covered Wagon featuring Abraham Lincoln reading law.
• Springfield, about 220 miles southwest of Chicago: Springfield is the state capital of Illinois, and both the current and Old State Capitol Building are worth touring. But the reason many people make the trip is to learn more about Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. president, who in 1863 issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring forever free slaves within the Confederacy. The Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is in Springfield, and visitors can also see Lincoln’s tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery and the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the house he lived in before becoming president.
• Starved Rock State Park, about 95 miles southwest of Chicago: If you’re craving fresh air and outdoor adventure, Starved Rock State Park is the place to go. Known for steep sandstone canyons formed by glacial meltwater, 14 of them with waterfalls, the state park is a choice destination for hiking, kayaking and white water rafting. Camp overnight, or stay at the Starved Rock Lodge. There are plenty of places to see and things to do in the charming Illinois River valley towns near the park. Some of the attractions are museums and mansions, brewery and winery tours, zip lining, horseback riding and canal boat tours.
• Galena, about 165 miles northwest of Chicago: This Mississippi River town is set against a backdrop of the steep, forested ridges, deeply carved valleys and spring-fed waterfalls typical of the Driftless Area, a 24,103-square-mile area in four states that escaped the flattening effects of glaciers in the last ice age. A former precious minerals mining mecca, Galena recalls a simpler time with its historic downtown filled with shops, cafés and restaurants that cater to multiple styles and tastes, and historic hotels. The area is prolific with golf courses and wineries, and hiking opportunities are endless. Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa offers golf and pampering. For people who want more adventure, Long Hollow Canopy Tours offers zip line tours through the woods. The home of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th U.S. president, is a classic example of the Italianate style of architecture and is packed with hitory. Trolley tours take visitors to historical and architectural landmarks, or visitors can tailor their trip to include original experiences.
• Gurnee, about 55 miles north of Chicago: If you’re short on time, adventure awaits in Gurnee, a village that hosts about 23 million visitors a year. It’s home to Six Flags Great America, which has high-speed roller coasters and other thrill rides, and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago, which offers water rides galore, as well as Gurnee Mills, a shopping mecca with nearly 200 stores. Year-round ice skating is available at Top Shelf Ice Arena, and there are also plenty of day spas, restaurants and speakeasy bars.

RELATED: 5 IL Road Trips — Iconic Route 66, Land of Lincoln, Six Flags And More

Gas Prices

Gas prices should be approximately the same as last year, when the national average for regular gasoline was about $3.57 per gallon. On Tuesday in Illinois, regular gasoline is selling for $3.90 a gallon, which is the same as this time in 2023.

Pump prices always creep higher as the summer driving season gets underway, and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East could roil the oil market, AAA cautioned.

Travel Times To Avoid

AAA’s transportation data partner, INRIX, says drivers who are leaving on Thursday and Friday should get on the road early to avoid peak commute time. Travelers returning from their getaways on Sunday and Monday should avoid the peak travel afternoon hours.

“Travel times are expected to be 90 percent longer than normal,” Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst at INRIX, said in a news release. He advised road trippers to remain up to date on traffic apps, 511 services and local news stations to avoid sitting in traffic any longer than necessary.

These are the best and worst times to travel by car (all times local):

Thursday, May 23

• Worst time: noon to 6 p.m.
• Best time: before 11 a.m., after 7 p.m.

Friday, May 24

• Worst time: noon to 7 p.m.
• Best time: before 11 a.m., after 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 25

• Worst time: 2-5 p.m.
• Best time: before 1 p.m., after 6 p.m.

Sunday, May 26

• Worst time: 3-7 p.m.
• Best time: before 1 p.m.

Monday, May 27

• Worst time: 3-7 p.m.
• Best time: After 7 p.m.

Peak Congestion Times

Here are the peak congestion times for busy metropolitan routes, the estimated travel time and the increase in traffic due to the holiday:

• Atlanta: Atlanta to Savannah via I–16E; 4:45 p.m. Saturday; 5 hours, 14 minutes, 54 percent longer than normal.
• Boston: Manchester to Boston via I-93S; 8:45 a.m Sunday; 1 hour, 48 minutes, 50 percent longer than normal.
• Chicago: Milwaukee to Chicago via I-94E; 4:30 p.m. Sunday; 2 hours, 25 minutes, 27 percent longer than normal.
• Denver: Fort Collins to Denver via I-25S; 4:15 p.m. Sunday; 1 hour, 24 minutes, 56 percent longer than normal.
• Detroit: Detroit to Kalamazoo via I-94E; 8:45 p.m. Sunday; 2 hours, 48 minutes, 40 percent longer than normal.
• Houston: Galveston to Houston via I-45N; 5 p.m. Sunday; 1 hour, 11 minutes, 73 percent longer than normal.
• Los Angeles: LA to Bakersfield via I-5N, 6:15 p.m. Thursday, 2 hours, 45 minutes, 84 percent longer than normal.
• Minneapolis: Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to Minneapolis via I-94W; 8:45 a.m. Monday; 1 hour, 45 minutes, 38 percent longer than normal.
• New York: New York City to Albany via I-87N, 11:45 a.m. Thursday; 2 hours, 37 minutes, 64 percent longer than normal.
• Philadelphia: Philadelphia to Baltimore/Washington, D.C., via I-95; 7:30 a.m. Friday, 43 percent longer than normal.
• Portland: Hood River to Portland via I-84W; 6:30 p.m. Monday; 1 hour, 20 minutes, 42 percent longer than normal.
• San Diego: San Diego to Palm Springs via I-5N; 6:30 p.m. Monday; 1 hour, 20 minutes, 34 percent longer than normal.
• San Francisco: San Francisco to Napa via I-80E; 11 a.m. Friday; 3 hours, 4 minutes, 56 percent longer than normal.
• Seattle: Ellensburg to Seattle via I-90E; 4:30 p.m. Sunday; 2 hours, 34 minutes, 58 percent longer than normal.
• Tampa: Gainesville to Tampa via I-75S; 9 a.m. Sunday; 3 hours, 47 minutes 88 percent longer than normal.
• Washington, D.C.: Washington to Baltimore via Baltimore/Washington Pkwy N; 2:15 p.m. Friday; 1 hour, 25 minutes, 72 percent longer than normal.

Other Means Of Travel Rebound

While most people are either driving or flying to their Memorial Day destinations, about 1.9 million people will take trains, buses and cruises, an increase of 5.6 percent from last year, AAA said.

“This category took the biggest hit during the pandemic with fewer people taking public transportation or not cruising at all,” Twidale said. “Now — five years later — we’re back to 2019 numbers. Travel demand has been soaring, and long holiday weekends create the perfect windows for getaways.”

Patch Editor Beth Dalbey contributed to this report.