By The Arkansas Black Vitality Staff

May 23, 2025 – If you are heading out for a bit of vacation for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, expect to face heavy traffic on the highways and at the airport if you plan to fly to your holiday destination.

At the start of the tradition beginning of the U.S. vacation season, which last through Labor Day weekend, the former American Automobile Association (AAA) is forecasting that there will be 39.4 million people who travel by car, 3.6 million by air, and another 2 million by train, cruise ship, or another mode of transportation.

Altogether, AAA projects that 45.1 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home during the Memorial Day holiday period, which runs from Thursday, May 22, to Monday, May 26. This year’s domestic travel forecast represents an increase of 1.4 million travelers compared to last year and establishes a new Memorial Day weekend record. The previous record, set back in 2005, was 44 million people. 

“Memorial Day weekend getaways don’t have to be extravagant and costly,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. “While some travelers embark on dream vacations and fly hundreds of miles across the country, many families just pack up the car and drive to the beach or take a road trip to visit friends. Long holiday weekends are ideal for travel because many people have an extra day off work and students are off from school.” 

Pump prices steady

Those traveling by automobile should expect lower gas and EV prices than a year ago and plan to face some traffic jams on the way. As of May 22, the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded remained the same as the previous week at $3.19.

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($4.87), Hawaii ($4.49), Washington ($4.38), Oregon ($3.99), Nevada ($3.93), Alaska ($3.64), Illinois ($3.44), Arizona ($3.37), Idaho ($3.32), and Pennsylvania ($3.31). 

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Mississippi ($2.66), Louisiana ($2.71), Alabama ($2.74), Tennessee ($2.77), Texas ($2.78), Arkansas ($2.80), South Carolina ($2.81), Oklahoma ($2.81), Kentucky ($2.85), and Missouri ($2.87). 

If you own an electric car or hybrid, the national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station stayed the same this past week at 36 cents. The nation’s top 10 most expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Alaska (51 cents), West Virginia (49 cents), Tennessee (48 cents), Hawaii (46 cents), Montana (45 cents), Louisiana (44 cents), New Hampshire (42 cents), South Carolina (42 cents), Arkansas (42 cents), and Kentucky (42 cents).  

The nation’s top 10 least expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Kansas (25 cents), Missouri (27 cents), Maryland (28 cents), Delaware (29 cents),  Nebraska (30 cents), Utah (30 cents), Iowa (32 cents), Massachusetts (32 cents), New Mexico (33 cents), and District of Columbia (33 cents).  

Detour: Highway construction, traffic jams up ahead

Once you’re gassed up or charged, most state highway officials are also urging Memorial Day travelers to plan ahead to avoid accidents and traffic snafus. Nationwide, hundreds of construction projects are underway to upgrade and repair aging highways, bridges, and interstates, made available through the $1.1 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.  

For example, the Washington State Department of Transportation has released Memorial Day weekend travel charts showing the best (and worst) times to travel on key routes like Interstate 5, US 2, I-90 and at the I-5/Canada border crossing. In that state, which sees higher traffic for vacationers traveling to the Mt. Ranier, the Seattle area and travel to Vancouver and British Columbia, most state highway construction will pause during Memorial Day to help ease congestion, though some temporary lane shifts, closures or adjusted bike lanes may remain in place for travel, officials said.

In nearby Tennessee, state Department of Transportation (TDOT) officials will suspend all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state routes from noon on Friday, May 23, through 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27.AAA predicts 948,388 Tennesseans will travel for Memorial Day, with the majority, 800,250, driving to their destination. That’s compared to 783,595 last year.

“We want to do our part to help everyone have an enjoyable and safe holiday weekend and keep traffic flowing as smoothly and efficiently as possible,” said Deputy Governor & TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “We also want to remind drivers that it is the law to move over and slow down for first responders and emergency vehicles, including TDOT HELP trucks that will be on patrol during the holiday weekend. So far this year, we’ve had 47 incidents where a driver hit a TDOT vehicle or equipment.”

Motorists may still encounter lane closures or restrictions while traveling through long-term construction projects. In addition, drivers should know that reduced speed limits will be in effect in work zones, TDOT officials said. Drivers convicted of speeding through work zones where workers are present face a fine of up to $500, plus court fees and possibly increased insurance premiums.

In Arkansas, the state Department of Transportation (ARDOT) reminds drivers to “know before you go” and visit IDriveArkansas.com before traveling during this Memorial Day Holiday due to construction work zones and extensive highway improvements across the state. ARDOT said it has been working hard to open as many lanes as possible to aid in your holiday travel. Still, travelers will likely face work zones and possible delays due to increased traffic volume, officials.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Arkansas Highway Safety Office (AHSO), and Arkansas law enforcement are urging drivers to buckle up as part of the national Click It or Ticket campaign. The national high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort coincides with Memorial Day and runs May 19 through June 1, 2025.

“Seat belt use should be an automatic habit for drivers and passengers alike,” said Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar. “It’s not just the safe thing to do — it’s the law. During the Click It or Ticket campaign, we’ll be working with our fellow law enforcement officers across local and state lines to ensure the message gets out to drivers and passengers. Buckling up is the simplest thing anyone can do to limit injury or save a life during a crash. We see the results of not wearing a seat belt all the time. So often, it could have been prevented.”

In 2023, Arkansas’s seat belt use rate was 80%, significantly lower than the national rate of 92%. The remaining 20% of Arkansans still need reminders that seat belts save lives. Officials said law enforcement agencies are adopting a “no-excuses approach” to enforcing seat belt laws, issuing citations day and night.

Real ID, real busy

Meanwhile, those traveling by air should also anticipate traffic jams and delays, particularly if they don’t possess a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification for domestic or international travel. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) estimates that about 18 million passengers and crew will be screened.

“TSA is ready for the additional passenger volume, and we look forward to welcoming families traveling during this peak period,” said TSA Acting Administrator Ha McNeill. “As a friendly reminder, to ensure a smooth screening experience, bring acceptable forms of ID like your REAL ID.”

Since implementing REAL ID on May 7, 93% of passengers have presented a REAL ID or another acceptable ID, such as a passport. Passengers 18 and older must show a TSA-accepted form of identification at TSA checkpoints.

As of Friday, May 23, TSA travel checkpoint numbers show passenger volumes heading into the weekend had reached 2,959,287, the highest total yet for 2025.