JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Memorial Day weekend is officially underway, and with that, comes a warning for vacation goers.
According to AAA, this Memorial Day weekend is expected to be the third busiest on record, with over 200,000 Floridians expected to catch a flight this holiday weekend, even tough flight tickets also have jumped 40% from 2022.
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Action News Jax had the chance to talk with families at the Jacksonville International Airport Friday morning about what they’re expecting, including the Reuben family, who are going to Washington DC for their wedding.
“We booked quite a while back but it was pretty booked,” said Adam Reuben. “We’re flying out late on Monday, that’s what worries us, but we figured [Friday] morning we wouldn’t have too many issues.”
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Traffic is expected to be an issue as well according to AAA, as over 2,000,000 Floridians are expected to hit the open road for their vacation plans.
Prudence McKenzie is one of those road-trippers, headed to Miami for the weekend from Middleburg. She says she’s already expecting a challenging travel weekend ahead.
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“Right now there’s a lot of traffic on the route. So with the weather and the traffic, it’s gonna be a hectic trip I imagine,” McKenzie told Action News Jax with an anxious smile.
Orlando, New York City and Las Vegas are all also expected to be among some of the most popular destinations this holiday weekend according to AAA.
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And to avoid the holiday traffic, INRIX suggests driving during non-peak hours or using alternative routes. The best and worst times to hit the road are attached below:
| DATE | WORST TRAVEL TIME | BEST TRAVEL TIME |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, May 25 | 3:00-6:00 p.m | Before 1 p.m. |
| Fri, May 26 | 3:00-6:00 p.m | Before 12:00 PM |
| Sat, May 27 | Minimal Traffic Impact Expected | Minimal Traffic Impact Expected |
| Sun, May 28 | Minimal Traffic Impact Expected | Minimal Traffic Impact Expected |
| Mon, May 29 | 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. | Before 10:00 a.m. |
| Tue, May 30 | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Before 2:00 p.m., After 6:00 p.m. |
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